Category Archives: Minimal

2012, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Minimal

Out of Nowhere – Ear & Drum Session 81

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Back to the D&B with this mix of dubby and deeper beats. On the dubby side we have The Burb’s – Generations which is a killer take on the dub D&B sound and Flatliners’ – Babel and Morphy’s – Rainy Day Dub getting the nod well and truly going. On the deep end (don’t say the ‘minimal word) is Royalston’s killer Test VIP from the Med School label, plus the usual suspects in Enei, Data, Rockwell and Naibu.

Out of Nowhere – 1hr of Deep & Dubby D&B

DuoScience – Perfect Time
The Burbs – Generation
Consequences – Noisy Spirits in this Soul
Tokyo Prose – Echoes (Synkro Remix)
Royalston – The Test VIP
Mindmapper & June Miller – Woods
Enei feat. Eastcolours – 2012
Enei – Saligia
Reza – Shaman
Data – Tapeworm
Naibu – There
S.P.Y – Wall of Mirrors
Mindmapper & June Miller – Bermuda
Rockwell feat. Kito & Sam Frank – Childhood Memories
Flatliners – Babel
Morphy – Rainy Day Dub

2012, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Half Beat, Melodic, Minimal

Sub Sampling – Ear & Drum Session 77

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Hitting the deeper and darker spectrum of D&B again this time around. There is some really great deep darkness about at the moment if you know where to look. Shogun Audio and Med School are obvious trail blazers, but some of the smaller labels such as Ingredients, Critical Music & Vibration Records are also punching way above their weight with the help of production talent such as Krakota, Enei, Kasra and Alcrani.

The great thing about this sound at the moment is it’s ability to keep a moody streak whilst still being diverse in terms of influence. Some tracks come at things from a minimal perspective, others melodic and others still with the stripped back half-step MC driven sound but all sound like they were made for each other and make for good fun when it comes to making up a track selection.

Sub Sampling – 1+hrs of Deep and Dark D&B Vibes

SpectraSoul – Coals
Alcrani – Inversion of Control
Krakota – Tunnle Vision
Utah Jazz – Crossing Frontiers
June Miller – Isis (Silent Dust Remix)
Joe Syntax – Bassline Sinker
ASC – Glass Walls
Scott Allen & Deeper Connection – The Need In Me
Silence Groove – Carried By Clouds
Flame – Tragic Kingdom
Craggz & Parallel – Hurt You
Able Danger – Asteria
Kasra & Enei – So Real
Joe Syntax – Pull It
Utah Jazz – Slice of Nature
SpectraSoul – Light in the Dark
Enei & MC DRS – Obsession (Foreign Concept Remix)
SpectraSoul – Shackles
Bass’Flo – Poseidon (Physical Illusion Remix)
Rudimental – Feel the Love (Fred V & Grafix Remix)
Technicolour – We Were Always One

2011, Cross Genre, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic, Minimal

11: The Best of 2011 – Ear & Drum Sessions 63 & 64

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These are my picks for the best tracks of 2011. I split the mixes into two because there was definitely two sorts of flavours going on. Part 1 looks at the deeper side and Part 2 is more melodic and liquid based.

I hope 2012 is good to you and that we see more tracks as good as, or better, than these see a release in 2012. Happy New Year to you and yours.

11: Part 1 – The Best Deep D&B of 2011

N4m3 – Make Your Soul Open For The Road On Imagination
Nusense & NC-17 – Dirty
Dub Phyzics & Skeptikal – Marka (feat. Strategy)
Ill Skills & S.P.Y – This is Why
Calibre – Smooth Baby
Lynx feat. Sense MC – 9 Muses
London Elektricity – U Gottah B Crazy (Enei Remix)
Dub FX – Flow (Ill Skillz Remix)
Lenzman – Masquerade (Die, Interface & William Cartwright Remix)
Legion – Both Sides (feat. Adam White)
Icicle feat. SP MC – Dreadnaught
J Majik & Wickaman – Ritual
J Majik & Wickaman – Old HEadz
Rockwell – 4U

11: Part 1 – The Best Melodic & Liquid D&B of 2011

Marcus Intalex – Meltdown 2012 (feat. Calibre)
June Miller – Isis
Brookes Brothers – Tare You Down
Friction – Someone (Feat. Mclean) (The Prototypes Remix)
BCee & S.P.Y – Is Anybody Out There? (Friction & K-Tee Remix)
London Elektricity – The Plan That Cannot Fail
Panic Girl – Hide and Seek (Duo Infernale Remix)
Seba & Paradox – The Light (feat. Kirsty Hawshaw)
Anile – Change of Direction
Adele – Rolling in the Deep (Nu:Tone Remix)
DJ Marky & S.P.Y – Mystic Sunset
Marco Del Horno feat. Emi Green
Nu:Tone – The First Time (feat. Natalie Williams)
Calibre – Touch Me
BCee – So Right (feat. Darrison)
Bungle feat. Ayah Marar – The Siren

2011, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Minimal

Deep Blues – Ear & Drum Session 61

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2011 seems to be the year deep drum & bass has really come of age. I’ve always loved the deeper side of D&B but up until now it has always been sidelined by faster, louder and more furious forms of the music. Artists such as Bop, Oak, ASC, Rokwell, Lynx and the pioneering dBridge have really brought the genre to the fore and in the process made some beautiful music.

This mix doesn’t feature many of the artists mentioned above, instead it focuses on the new wave of artists who have picked up on the vibe and taken the sound in their own different directions. One to look out for are Furi Anger who has been lurking for quite a while now and is really forging his own sound, Blue Motion who normally run a liquid vibe but are equally adept at turning out the deeper tracks and of course Rockwell who 4U track is a prime example that this sound can be deep and uplifting at the same time.

Kick back, close your eyes and fall into the deep.

Deep Blues – 1hr of new Deep D&B

Freeloader – Mind Rhythm (Kreed Remix)
Furi Anga (When Our World Jaded) Seba Remix
nCamargo – Lucid Dreams
Blue Motion – Computer Love
Sobersoul – Threat
Rockwell – 4U
Calculon – Odessa
Hybris – Please Exist
Amoss – Astrodome
Getz – Keep on Loving Me
MC Fava & Blue Motion – Stay Forever
Blu Mar Ten – Sweet Little Supernova
Fade & Mono – Grilled
Morphy – Desert Dub
Mikal – Epic

2010, Cross Genre, Ear & Drum Session, Free Tunes, Melodic, Minimal

Unrelease Yourself – Ear & Drum Session 43

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Getting in one last mix for 2010 and it is a belter. This year has been good for D&B in general, but for me the quality of the free music circulated in 2010 is as good if not better than the official releases. Free tunes in general allow a producer to get away from producing tracks that need to fit into a record labels ‘sound’ and allows them the freedom to really let fly.

For me this year Subwave’s ‘Gift EP’ and S13’s amazing ‘Yourself EP’ were standouts. Deep, melodic and totally different from anything else out there (they are also available for download here at the Ear & Drum). But to be honest all the tracks in this mix are great and really show that D&B is still evolving in all sorts of exciting ways.

If you want to save yourself time searching for the tracks in this mix I haven’t hosted here at The Ear & Drum during the year, then try looking at THIS LINK which leads to a DOA thread about the best free MP3s from 2010.

Happy New Year to everyone who has supported me throughout the year and here’s hoping 2011 is even better.

Unrelease Yourself – 1hr of free and unreleased tunes from 2010

Metrik – Ocean Drive
The Law – Atlantic Blues
Infinity – The XX (Bachelors Of Science Remix)
Booka Shade – Regenerate (Thinnen Remix)
S13 – Yourself
Soul Intent – The Dark Robotics Orchestra
S13 – Immortal
Sabre – One Hundred Teeth (Parallel Remix)
Subwave – Gift
Random Movement – Cutting Thru Hackney
Blu Mar Ten – She Moves Through [ASC Remix]
Alic Perez – Self Control
Alex Reece – Basic Principles (Commix Remix)
Able Danger – UGNX
Sabre – One Hundred Teeth (Enei Remix)
S13 – Earth Ulro

2010, Chill Out, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Minimal

Let Nature Feed Itself – Ear & Drum Session 40

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It’s been a ripe old year for the chilled out side of D&B. Minimal has had it’s wicked way with the scene, but outside of that there has also been a return to the deep and mellow sounds. Artists like Command Strange, ATP and Calibre are pumping out quality beats on a laid back tip whilst the new LP’s from Mutated Forms and Artificial Intelligence show that deeper tracks can still pack a serious punch.

Also a big nod to Mr José Gonzålez who’s cover of Kylie’s – Hand on Your Heart has been one of my guilty pleasures of 2010.

Let Nature Feed Itself – 1hr of Deep & Mellow D&B Beats

Stray – Saturday
Subwave – Gift
Command Strange – It’s All Over
Tyler Straub – Trusted Judgement
ATP – Soul Fly (feat. Jett)
June Miller – Poison the Well
Calibre – Even If
BCee & S.P.Y – Nothing to Declare
Theory – Weirdos
Bop – Song About My Dog (Subwave Remix)
Sam KDC – Detached
Mutated Forms – Last Time (feat. Jenna G)
Artificial Intelligence – Stand Alone
José Gonzålez – Hand on Your Heart

2010, Chill Out, Ear & Drum Session, Minimal

Vegetative – Ear & Drum Session 33

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Say what you like about the minimal trend in Drum & Bass it looks like it is here to stay. It might not ignite the dance floors but it is sweet on the ears and awesome to veg out to. This is a mix of the latest minimal tracks that are doing it for me.

Sunchase dominates with his new album Static Nitro, but s13 also puts in a good appearance with his Yourself EP. See else where on the blog for a free download of this killer EP from a fresh name. Lenzman, Rockwell and S.P.Y. get honourable mentions for always coming correct with their minimal sound.

You may notice there is a track not listed. For the life of me I can’t find it and if anyone out there knows what it is I’d be mightily pleased if you tell me what it is. Cheers.

Vegetative – 1hr 15mins of Minimal Lushness

Sunchase – Asphalt
dBridge – Love Hotel
Sunchase Violet
s13 – Earth Ulro
Sunchase – Keyring
Netsky – Storm Clouds
Rockwell – My War
Lenzman – More Than I Can Take
Blue Motion & The Square – I’m Dreaming
???
s13 – Immortal
Synthetic Pigments – Morning Glory
Anile – Never Together
Omar – Lay It Down (Triad Full Vocal Mix)
BCee – Mr. Bidigan (Total Science Remix)
Lenzman – Open Page (feat. Riya)
Furi Anga – Inside the Sun
Jose James – Warrior (Rockwell Remix)
Dephzac – We Are Together
S.P.Y. – Hurricane

2010, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Melodic, Minimal

The Stares – Ear & Drum Session 29

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If you’ve had a big Easter like I have, you’ve hit Monday a little bit rinsed out. The concentration isn’t quite there and you find yourself occasionally drifting off and staring into nothing. This set is for all those times when you get ‘the stares’.

The Stares – 1.5hrs of minimal melodies

Abstract Elements – Abysmal Deapths
Calibre – Step Toe
Circa – Ida
June Miller – Converge
Naibu – Far Reaches
Spor – Overdue feat. Tahsa BAxter
Bachelors of Science – 25th Street
Derek, Tonika & Implex – Personal Diving
Paul SG & Caine – Quiet Steps
Kharm – White Picket Fences
Blu Mar Ten – She Moves Through (ASC Remix)
So:Flow – Long Way Over
Dirrrty B & Wreckage Machinery feat. Jett – Autumn Nights (Vocal)
Native – At My Side
Bachelors of Science – Bombay Sapphire
Naibu – Fireflies (Seba Remix)
Camo & Krooked – Time Is Ticking Away feat. Shaz Sparks
Camo & Krooked – Turn Up (The Music)
D.Kay & Mat – Be Free
Lenzman – Fade Away feat. Jo-S
Naibu – Worn Out
Bachelors of Science – Song For Lovers (Dan Harbanam Remix)
Jubie – Patience feat. dBridge
Misanthrop & Phace – My Arae
Rockwell – Tribes
Sabre – Javelin Feat. Alix Perez
Synkro – Depature
Bachelors of Science – The Rush
Adam Form – Halls Shine
Lenzman – Rags to Ritches

2009, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Melodic, Minimal

New Year’s Break – Ear & Drum Session 24

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One last mix to see the year out. 2009 has been a great year for D&B. New sounds and boundaries are being forged and despite the constant baying of the haters and the ‘it used to be better’ brigade the music is stronger than ever.

This mix covers a lot of ground from deep, drumfunk, liquid, minimal, tech and more. A big shout to Consequence who’s new LP ‘Live for Never’ has flipped my lid with it’s depth and beauty. Also props to The Upbeats, Audio, SPL, Seba and esspecially The Square for the free tracks.

If you are stuck for something to listen to on or in the New Year then get on it. Happy New Year to everyone who has supported me in 2009 and here’s hoping 2010 is bigger and better for you all.

New Year’s Break – 1hr+ of the deep and the dirty to see off 2009

The Upbeats – Through The Night
Consequence – A Man and a Woman
Consequence – Farewell
Rufige Cru – Chances (Alex Perez & Sabre Mix)
Consequence – Long Lies
Consequence – From A Distance
TVG Hates TVG – Wasting Away… (Indidjinous Remix)
Audio – Error
S.P.Y. vs Mosus – Drop Shadow
Rufige Cru – Sometimes Sad Day
SPL – It Will Be Different
Consequence – Lime Green
Seba – Dangerous Days
The Upbeats – Ki Ki Kai Kai Feat Cardz
The Square – Rock ‘n’ Roll
Soul Defiance – Hurt Me
BCee – Come Home
Sequent Industry – Train to Space (Square Remix)
AK1200 – Junior’s Tune (Digital Remix)

2009, Chill Out, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Minimal

Stripped Bare – Ear & Drum Session 21

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The deep minimalistic sound running through Drum & Bass has been around forever. But this year it seems to have come of age with some seriously big names now playing almost entirely minimal. At it’s best the sound rolls out deep, dark and dubby with a little nod to the good old days of Tech Step. And at it worst it can sound like a half made Drum & Bass track.

With cavernous b-lines intermingling with skippy high end beats as atmospheric pads float in and out of your ears. Artists like Alix Perez, Rockwell, S.P.Y. and Morphy are taking the sound into some seriously deep territory and in the process redefining what people consider Drum & Bass.

This set goes out to Doc Scott for always being there on the edge and peering over the line and D-Bridge for the Autonomic podcasts and pushing things to their limits.

Stripped Bare – 1hr+ of Stripped Beats and Deep B-lines

SPY & Mosus – My World
Morphy – Warren Dub
ASC – Porcelain
SPY – Moving in Circles
Rockwell – Underpass
Alix Perez & Zero T – Suffer in Silence
Spectrasoul – Buried
Alix Perez – Portraits of the Unkown
Redeys – Float in Time
Mr Sizef & Unquote – Hours Have No Reverse Motion
Arp XP – Surfaces
Jubei – Outcast
Morphy – Version (Roff & Ready Original)
Kryptic Minds & Leon Switch – Hide the Tears (Loxy & Resound Remix)
Sunchase – Violet
Data & Cell – Antenna
Mutt, Atmospherix & Eros – Today Halftime
Data – Vice
Breakage feat. Skream – Skreakage