Category Archives: Chill Out

2024, Ambient, Chill Out, Ear & Drum Session

Ear & Drum: Session 280 – Call the Ambience 20: Sedation

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Time to take a minute and breath with some Ambient D&B to smooth the mind. First up Kid Drama’s take on the Autonomic sound Keys to Kill Time should be on everybody’s radar as it is a master work. In a similar vein Holgenix’ most recent LP Passions and Eschaton’s Ambient Artifacts II have some extremely nice Ambient takes on the D&B sound that are well worth checking out.

Other tracks to keep an ear out for include new work from Klute with the floaty and relaxing Solar Heat, Heron Flow’s ever-green Blame Game and Rainforest’s incredible Paths End. I can’t get enough of this sound, and the only issue I have with it is that it takes me soooo long to collect enough tracks to string together mixes like this.

Call the Ambience 20: Sedation – 1hr of Ambient D&B

Kid Drama – Sorrow Skyline
Kid Drama – Top Down
Kid Drama – Boarderline
Sorse – Whimsical (Alegria Remix)
Eschaton – Artifact 35: The Maze
Synkro – Contact
Heron Flow – Blame Game
Kharm & Akuratyde – Artifacts (Stillhead Remix)
Calibre – Living Without Your Love
Halogenix – An End By Any Other Name
Eschaton – Artifact 31: Unmanned Mission
Klute – Solar Heat
Eschaton – Artifact 26: Secret Biology
Rainforest – Paths End
Ink & Sin – You Are
Coco Bryce – Hunning Away Towards Me
Mystic State – Expectations
Microfunk Crew – Aura
Etherwood – Water In Your Veins
Kublai – Back Home
Halogenix – Keeping You Close

 

2024, All Label Mix, Ambient, Chill Out, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session

Ear & Drum: Session 269 – Call the Ambience 19: The Chikara Ward

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I stumbled across The Chikara Project at the end of ’22, and fell down the rabbit hole in ’23. Pretty much every release of Mystic State’s has something to draw me in. As a production duo they are obviously talented, but as a label they incredible. Adding artists like HAIDA, Marenn Sukie, Deviant, Levrige and Brainwork to really up the ante.

There is something infectious in the The Chikara Project’s ability to be chill and ambient, but add enough grit to get you nodding your head and moving. The bass is warm but huge, the beats are tight and the vibe is there. There isn’t enough of this sound in D&B, but at least Mystic State are holding it down. Respect.

Call the Ambience 19: The Chikara Ward – 1hr of Chilled out D&B

Mystic State – One For You
Mystic State – Dreamscapes
Mystic State – Light Of Day feat. Marenn Sukle
Mystic State – Solva feat. Alicia Kiah
Mystic State & Marenn Sukie – This Time
Mystic State feat. Congi – Too Late (Captivate Remix)
HAIDA – Don’t Need A Title (Mystic State Remix)
Marenn Sukie – That Time
Mystic State & Marenn Sukie – Find Your Way
Mystic State – Retaliate
Deviant – Always
Marenn Sukie – Never Hurt U (Mystic State Remix)
Brainwork – Felt Your Touch
Mystic State – We Can Help Each Other
Mystic State – Right Here
Marenn Sukle – Never Hurt U
Brainwork & mriml – Grey
Mystic State – Expectations
Levrige & Mystic State – Undercurrent

2024, Chill Out, Down Low Session

The Down Low: Session 057

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It’s been a long time between drinks for a Down Low Session, but Mystic State’s label The Chikara Project has brought me back into the chillout fold with their sublime take on Dubstep and Garage. Shouts out to Marenn Sukie who leads us in on this mix for the CHikara crew, but followed by Mystic State, SMBR, Jevon Ives, HAIDA and Therma.

Other stand outs are Calibre (when isn’t he a stand out) with Has to Happen from his LP Feeling Normal, the mighty Leftfield with Storms End, Fixate on Exit Records with the bottomless Dead End and a killer Remix of Lennie De Ice’s seminal We Are IE by Caspa & Rusko.

The Down Low: Session 057 – 1hr of Dubstep, Garage and Chillout

Marenn Sukie – In Love No More
Marenn Sukie – Need You Tonight
Mystic State & SMBR – Ruminate
Mystic State – Stutter
Mystic State & Jevon Ives – Hold
HAIDA – Don’t Need A Title
Sustance. – Inherent
Mystic State feat. Elana Montgomery – Fly (Sepia’s Lights Out Remix)
Mystic State – U Need It 2
Calibre – Has to Happen
Leftfield – Storms End
Marenn Sukie – Storms End
Mystic State & Elysia Grace – Telling Me Nothing
Therma – Introspect (Mystic State Remix)
Fixate – Dead End
Biome – Light
Lennie De Ice – We Are IE (Caspa & Rusko Remix)
Marenn Sukie – Do What You Want

2023, Chill Out, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Soulful

Ear & Drum: Session 268 – Shmoove

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It’s been a mighty year for smooth and soulful D&B so I thought I’d put together some of the tunes that have been slinking their way into my ear drums. You can’t talk smooth D&B without talking Calibre and here we have his colab single with ST Files and Carmelle Cox – Grow, plus More fool Me and No Stopping both from his second LP of the year Rudy.

Heron Flow is another artist who has had an immense 2023, this time with his 31 Recordings release Bones that features Be Forgotten, Blame Game and the titular track Bones. You know it is a strong release when you can find three tracks you have to play. Technimatic isn’t probably who you first think of in terms of smooth liquid, but his LP For All of Us really does have something for everyone and Risk Everything featuring Mr Smooth, DRS and Departure are good examples of what this guy can do when he steps away from his signature sound.

Other highlights include Ink & Sin with their sublime cuts Out of Sight and You Are, GLXY as always with Fear, Ego and Mystic State’s incredible track Right Here. Despite being a decent year for music, I will be glad to see the back of 2023 and hope you have a 2024 that see’s everything flow your way. Thanks for listening.

Shmoove – 1hr of Smooth D&B

Zar & DRS – Like To Know feat. Dan Harris
Calibre & Cimone – More Fool Me
Carmelle Cox, ST Files & Calibre – Grow
Heron Flow – Be Forgotten
Sati &. Artificial Intelligence feat. Gigi Daai – Stronger
WUFO – Call Back
Heron Flow – Blame Game
Heron Flow – Bones
Rockwell &. Lameduza – Estranged
Ink & Sin – Out of Sight
London Elektricity feat. Liane Carroll – Fast Soul Music (Dogger & Mindstate Remix)
Technimatic – Departure
Mystic State – Right Here
Ink & Sin – You Are
Technimatic & DRS – Risk Everything
Calibre – No Stopping
Random Movement – Modelo Fumunda
GLXY – Fear, Ego
Degs feat. Nu:Tone & Duskee – Can We Talk (Imo-Lu Remic)
Brainwork & mnml – Grey

2022, Chill Out, Down Low Session

The Down Low: Session 052

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Feels like forever since I’ve dropped a Down Low session and this one is way down in terms of chillness. Dedicated to the Wish FM mixes from the late 90s, I’ve tried to capture the deep floaty breakbeat vibes of Wish FM whilst keeping a good variety of genres to reflect then and now.

As always I’ve tried to get a decent slab of D&B producers in the mix flexing their lower BPM styles. This time around we have Bukem, Kid Loops & Cool Breeze, PFM, Peshay, Resound, Hype and Machine Drum all rolling deep and down. With a special shout out to Heights of Abraham’s – The Cleric, which is one of the few tracks I’ve been able to track down from the Wish FM sets. The bass on this one is special.

The Down Low: Session 53 – 1hr of Chilled Breaks

Invisible Beyond – Inner Reverence
LTJ Bukem – Moodswings
Marcel feat Henriett – Lovesick No.1
Kid Loops & Cool Breeze – Code of the Goddam Streets
Heights of Abraham – The Cleric
PFM – By the Chapel (She’s Waiting There for Me)
Kid Loops – I Can See What They Ain’t Looking At
Dizzee Rascal, Steel Bangiez & Alicia Harley – Energy & Powers
Peshay – The Real Thing (90 BPM Version)
Resound – Terminal
DJ Hype – Dead A’s
Machine Drum – Believe In U
Meeting Minds – Strong Nature

2021, Ambient, Chill Out, Down Low Session

The Down Low: Session 051

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Another lower tempo chillout mix for those who prefer things a little less hectic. Kicking things off with a tune I’ve listened to for over 20 years, 030’s – Midnight in Europe optimises all that is great about early 90s after hours style tunes.

There are some classics like Chicane’s – Offshore, Orbital’s – Attached and Sunscreen’s – Love U More in the form of the relaxed Slam Mix mixed in with some modern day melters such as Calibre’s – Sand Promise, Synkro’s amazing Empty Walls and Time, plus Joy Orbison’s – Born Slipping. And all wrapped up with one trances best tunes of all time Vapourspace’s early rave classic Gravitational Arch of 10.

Sending this out to Fortune Cookie and anyone else who like couch tunes with a bit of break beat mixed in.

The Down Low: Session 051- 1.5hrs of 140bpm Chillout

030 – Midnight in Europe
Trevino – Sorrow
Grain – Ocean
Calibre – Sand Promise
Synkro – Empty Walls
Chicane – Offshore
Mark Ryder – Satellite
Bonobo – Cirrus
Joy Orbison – Born Slipping
Clearlight & Owl – White Mountain
Sunscreen – Love U More (Slam Mix)
The Sunkings – Galapagos
Brian Harden – Wizdom
Synkro – Time
Orbital – Attached
Synthetix – The Tao of Dub
Mulios – Argentine Dawn
God Within – Raincry (Spiritual Thirst)
Irresistible Force – Lotus Position
Vapourspace – Gravitational Arch of 10

2021, Ambient, Chill Out, Down Low Session

The Down Low: Session 050

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I’d been scratching my head about what to do to make the 50th Down Low Session special, and also have had a real hankering recently to listen to all the old chill out stuff that originally pulled me into electronic music. One massive CD buying spree later and here we are with a mix of some of the most laid back tunes of an era.

Covering everything from Trance, Techno, House, Acid Jazz and Dub there are some absolutely incredible music in this mix including from such luminaries as Moby, Orbital, Massive Attack, D’Cruise and of course LTJ Bukem. Happy 50th!

The Down Low: Session 050 – 1.5hrs of Chill Out and Ambient

Alien Mutation & Cyberix – I Had a Hallucination
Aphratec – Quebec
W – Redheadedstepchild (Symbiosis Remix)
Initial Research – System Procedure
Massive Attack – Three
Unlimited Dream Co. – Feel Like I’m Falling
D’Cruise – Sega Rally (Trip Hop Mix)
Juan Hansen – Hiding Sun
LTJ Bukem – Moodswings
Moby – Move (Volume Remix)
The Sunkings – Galapagos
Electronic Brain – The Future
X-Pulsion – Ninety Two
The Fluid – The Man With Three Heads
Orbital – Attached (Tease)
Black Noise – Black Noise
Synthetix – The Tao of Dub
LunaSol – Butterfly
LTJ Bukem – Cosmic Interlude
Mulios – Argentine Dream
Erkka – Talk to the Hand
Deep Space Network – Eleven Bars

2021, Chill Out, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Soulful

Ear & Drum Session: 211 – Often Mist

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Back again on the soulful D&B tip once again. It’s starting to look like this is becoming a movement within a movement, with liquid splitting out into dance floor movers and the more chilled, soulful sound.

A lot of the artists pushing this sound seem to be relatively new and coming through on labels such as Celsius, Fokuz and Spearhead. That being said, there are always some reliable regulars like FX909, GLXY and Pola & Bryson who also regularly touch on the soulful side.

An excited and extra big shout goes out to Voyager who has returned to his D&B roots and blessed us with some recent out put that is just as solid as his original releases from back in the day.

Often Mist – 1hr of Soulful D&B

Neuron – Sound of Water
Setting Sun – Walk:r
John B & Digital – Time Goes by
FX909 – Fly Away
Inadhertz, Felix Raymon & Jamal Dilmen – Too Much
Alpha Rhythm – Subarctic Signal VIP
GLXY – Sweet Lows (feat. Rhi)
Chimpo – Keep U Round (feat. Salo)
Voltage & Bulgarian Goddess – Endless Dreaming (Voltage VIP)
Submorphics – Let it Shine (feat. Satl & Veda Black)
Walk:r feat. Riya – Paragon
Lally & Aaliyah Esprit – Hustlin’
Macca, Liz Contreras & Critical Event – Snow
Citra – Snow
Akuratyde – Evergreen
Pola & Bryson – Under (feat. Lauren Archer)
Fox & Satl – Sunshine Blues (feat. KSR)
Voyager – Kokoro

2021, Bass Music, Chill Out, Down Low Session, Uncategorized

The Down Low: Session 047

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It’s been a while since I’ve dropped a Down Low and this one is an eclectic mix of house, techno, breaks and even a trance classic in the form of Vapour Space’s – Gravitational Arch of 10. A tune which used to absolutely melt my mind on the dance floor back in the early 90s. Laurent Garnier has described it as the perfect Trance track and who am I to argue.

As with most Down Low Sessions, I’ve slotted in a few D&B artists takes on the lower BPMs and this one sees Sub Focus, Goldie, Photek and Joy Orbison all contribute 130bpm masterpieces to the vibe.

If you like pure electronic music I’m pretty confident you’ll love this, so enjoy.

The Down Low: Session 47 – 1hr of House, Techno, Breaks & Trance Classics

Sepalcure – The Warning
Numa Crew – BMX
Sub Focus – Out the Blue (Laidback Luke Remix)
DJ Technique – My Definition (Lee Coombs Acid House Remix)
Stanton Warriors & Tony Quatro feat. Eva Lazarus – Get Low (Infrakt Remix)
GLXY – The LP Track
Vapour Space – Gravitational Arch of 10
Goldie – Inner City Life (Binary State Remix)
Bob Sinclair – Save Our Soul (BT’s Re-edit)
DJ Converso – Erris
Dennis Ferrer – Hey Hey (DF’s Attention Vocal Mix)
Stardust – Music Sounds Better With You (Extended Version)
Billon feat. Maxine Ashley – Special (CamelPhat Remix)
Photek & Pinch – M25fm
Acid Metrick – Uppercut
Joy Orbison – Off Season
Stanton Warriors & Tony Quatro feat. Eva Lazarus – Get Low (UFO Project Remix)

2020, Chill Out, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

Ear & Drum Session: 190 – Laid Back

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Chilled out Drum & Bass has hit another level in 2020 with artists like BCee, LSB, Redeyes and Etherwood blazing the trail. And vocal talents such as KSR, Charlotte Haining and Leo Wood backing them up in fine fashion. Even though these beats are laid back, they still manage to put a spring in your step and work the floor.

Laid Back – 1hr of Laid Back Beats

Redeyes feat. KSR – A Thousand Times
Askel & Elere – Shy
Hyroglifics – Best Of
Muffler – Snowflake VIP
Muffler – Black
Motiv – Overthinking
Mistrust feat. Leo Wood – Trickster
Scape – Spirit World (Soul Intents Spirit of Speed Remix)
Conrad Subs – Go It Alone
Reburf – Falling Apart
Mistrust – Only Ever You
The Upbeats & Shapeshifter – Uncharted (Workforce Remix)
T:Base – When I Fear (CSRV & TS Remix)
Charlotte Haining – Daydreamer (LSB Remix)
Emba, BCee & Philippa Hanna – Galaxy
BCee & Charlotte Haining – The Hills
BCee, Charlotte Haining & Etherwood – Little Bit Higher
Villem & Leo Wood – We Had a Song
Motiv – Reasons
Villem & Leo Wood – We Had a Song (Tease)