Category Archives: Ear & Drum Session

2017, All Artist Mix, All Label Mix, Ear & Drum Session, Jump Up, Jungle, Old Skool, Rave

Tru Jungle & Phat Playaz – Ear & Drum Sessions 131 & 132

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Welcome to the Ear & Drum’s first double post representing the influential and legendary sound of DJ Hype’s and his seminal label Tru Playaz.

Few labels, if any, have had as many anthems and hits as Tru Playaz. With a roster of incredible production talent like Zinc, Pascal, Swift and DJ Hype himself Playaz owned jungle and jump up through the 90s.

Tru Jungle looks at Hype and Playaz Jungle output from 92-96 and Phat Playaz continues on from 97-00 and is more of a Jump Up selection. These are straight up good times tunes made to get your head nodding and your feet moving and if you don’t recognise any of these tunes then you probably missed the 90s altogether.

6 Million Ways to Die, Rrroll the Beats, The Chopper, We Must Unite, Going Out for the Loot – DJ Hype was on fire during the early days of Jungle not just as a producer but as one of the scenes best DJs as well. Add to that his teaming up with Pascal & Zinc to form the Ganja Kru and you get jungle hit after hit.

Tru Jungle – 1hr of Tru Playaz Jungle Classics

DJ Hype – Weird Energy (Hells Bells Mix)
Uncle 22 – 6 Million Ways to Die (DJ Hype Remix)
DJ Hype – Dreams
Fallen Angels – Hello Lover (DJ Hype Remix)
DJ Hype – Mash Up the Place
DJ Hype – Dawn of the Fever
Hardware – Lix
Hardware – Dreamin’ of You
DJ Hype – Rrroll the Beats
DJ Hype – Rrroll the Beats Remix
DJ Hype – The Chopper (Jonny Jungle Remix)
Ganja Kru – Going Out for the Loot
DJ Hype – We Must Unite
Rude Boy Monty – Steppa’s Anthem (Linerz Mix)
Pascal – Tru Grit
Ganja Kru – Computerised Cops (Pascal’s Mix)
Hmp – Runin’s (Origin Unknown Remix)
P-Funk – Skinz
P-Funk – P-Funk Era
DJ Zinc – The Source

These days Jump Up is a dirty word to most D&B lovers, but back in the day it was THE premier dance floor filler and Tru Playaz were the kings of the dance. You couldn’t go anywhere without hearing tunes like Peace, Love and Unity, Super Sharp Shooter, Reach Out or the insanely catchy Fugees bootleg Fugees or Not.

This isn’t music to sit back and stroke your beard to. These are leave your beer on the bar as you tear through the crowd to jump around on the floor like a mad fish tunes. Straight up pure fun and phat bouncing b-lines.

Phat Playaz – 1hr of Tru Playaz Jump Up Anthems

DJ Hype – True Playa’z Anthem
Yankee B – Mucho Dinero (Ganja Kru Remix)
Dope Skills – 6 Million Ways (Remix 1)
DJ Zinc – Toothbrush
DJ Hype – Peace, Love and Unity (feat MC Fats)
Freestyles – Musically Dope (Ganja Kru Remix)
Pascal – Favours
Ganja Kru – Magic
Ganja Kru feat. Rude Boy Monty – Gone are the Days
P-Funk – P-Funk Era (Zinc Remix)
Ganja Kru – Plague that Never Ends
DJ Hype – Only One Life (Ganja Kru Remix)
DJ Zinc feat. MC GQ – Bring the Dancer
DJ Hype – Closer to God
DJ Swift – 2nd Strike
DJ Zinc – Fugees or Not
DJ Zinc – Reach Out (Remix)
DJ Zinc – Super Sharp Shooter (Short & Sharp Mix)
Tribe of Issachar (feat. Peter Bouncer) – Junglist (DJ Zinc Remix)

2017, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

Max Headroom – Ear & Drum Session 130

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A couple of huge albums dropped recently from two of D&B’s finest purveyors in the form of Calibre and Klute. Not being able to resist I jumped on the decks to give both LPs a thorough bashing.

It’s not all about Calibre and Klute however, with outstanding music coming from Dawn Wall, Wilkinson and Macca & Loz Contreras plus some sneaky remixes including a Moby classic of all things.

Better late than never I guess.

Max Headroom – 1hr of Liquid D&B

Calibre – No One Gets You
Macca & Los Contreras – Against the Wall (FD Remix)
Command Strange – Face 2 Face
Keeno – Enigma
Klute – Loose My Way
Moby – Porcelain (pola & Bryson Remix)
Klute – Soul Boy
Dave Owen – Slave 2 The Game
Dawn Wall – Twin Falls
Alix Perez & SpectraSoul – So Close
Calibre – Footloose
Wilkinson – Wash Away
Calibre – Up In Smoke
Macca & Los Contreras – Always Yours (S.P.Y. Remix)
Kirsty Hawkshaw – Face To Face Again (The Joy) (Seba Remix)
Klute – Lost Sales
Jazzatron – Underspirit
Alaska – Solace
Dawn Wall – Mantis
Calibre – Complain

2017, Ear & Drum Session, Intelligent, Jungle, Melodic, Old Skool

Jungle Jazz – Ear & Drum Session 129

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Back in 96′ I bought a compilation CD (remember them?) by Italian label, IRMA, called Jungle Jazz. It was the first of 5 compilations and contained some of the best selections of Intelligent jungle and D&B I’ve ever heard.

All the big names were there like Jonny L, Photek and Roni Size but what made these compilations so great were the lesser known artists and remixes like Bukem’s remix of The Shamen’s – Tranzmazonia and the Peshay After Hours Remix of Ingrid Schroeder’s Paint You Blue. These tracks didn’t appear anywhere else and possibly only ever got pressed as dub plates for a select few DJs.

The joy of modern DJing is I can now spin these exclusive tunes that have been lost to time. So I’ve revisited my old Jungle Jazz CDs and pulled together a set of my favorite tracks from the first few Jungle Jazz comps. This really is beautiful music and whether you like D&B or not, it is hard not to appreciate the skill and passion that sits behind these amazing tracks.

Jungle Jazz – 1hr of Intelligent Jungle

Dust – Donna Jane
Hidden Agenda – Is It Love?
Click’n’Cycle – Amerikas Problem
Blim – Jeamland
Namaste – Open Your Eyes
Clan Greco – Tilt
Nookie – The Blues
Jonny L – This Time
The Shamen – Tranzmazonia (LTJ Bukem Mix)
Skin 4 – Aura
Roni Size – It’s a Jazz Thing
Wax Doctor – Atmospheric Funk
Recycle – I Can’t Help It
Bubble Jet – Emotionalectric
Ingrid Schroeder – Paint You Blue (Peshay After Hours Remix)
St. Germain – Alabama Blues (Wax Doctor Mix)
MC Det – Freeform Reality

2017, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session

Free Diving – Ear & Drum Session 128

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Stripped back beats over cinematic soundscapes characterises this blend of deep and moody D&B. I’m always amazed at just how laid back producers can make music that sits at 172bpm. It’s a neat trick and one I’m glad is cropping up more and more in a genre normally thought of as full on and frenetic.

There is the odd track that rocks out in here, but I always try to bring it back to centre with more float than flat out. Enjoy the ride.

Free Diving – 1hr of Deep D&B

Eschaton – Kokoro No Heiwa (Ziyai Remix)
Om Unit – The Mirror
Atlantic Collection – Rockdub
Pageant – Lost in Space
Skitty – Rocka
Moresounds & J:Kenza – Real Tree Riddim
Calibre – Fire & Water (DJ Madd 165 Version)
Pageant – The Forgotten Soldier
Last Life – Menisco
Last Life – Smoke & Shadows
Hyroglifics – Terra
Derrick & Tonika – Fata Morgana
BCee – Class of 92′ (Conduct Remix)
Electrosoul System – Under Deep Sky
Blu Mar Ten – Singularity (feat. Kite)
Flaco – Inferno (feat. Submorphics)
Signal – Downfall (feat. Zoe Klinck)
Calibre – Iron Ball
Last Life – Slow to Speak
Amit – Thick Lip
Om Unit – Lightbody Transfer

2017, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

Sunday Sounds – Ear & Drum Session 127

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Looking for something to listen to over the weekend? Try these chilled out liquid Sunday Sounds on for size. Melodic D&B tunes have come a long way and these relaxed liquid numbers prove that as a genre liquid is rapidly becoming just as diverse as D&B itself.

From the half-beat Jam of Hydro and War to the vocal swing of DRS’s – I Will this is the perfect mix to add a little atmosphere to your day. Special shout out to the mighty Mitekiss and his track Final Hours which has been on steady rotation since I picked it up. With a perfect blend of Rhodes keys, sub-bass and floating vocals it is everything good music should be.

Sunday Sounds – 1hr of Chilled Liquid

Hydro & War – Jam
The Vanguard Project – Daredevil
Mystical Sound – I Can Feel You
Artificial Intelligence – Dreams of Freedom
Need for Mirrors & Phil Tangent – Shifting tones
Villem & McLeod – If I Had
Naibu – Les Soirees
Need for Mirrors & Phil Tangent – Polaroid
DRS – I Will (Feat. Patife & Vangaleliez)
Eschaton – Sadhana (Pageant Remix)
BCee – Delerious (Kimyan Law Remix)
Villem & McLeod – Perfect Solution (Feat. MC Fats)
DRS – This Ain’t Love (Feat. Calibre)
Klax – The Sway
Satl – Rescue Me
Mitekiss – Final Hours
LSB – The Optimist
Sam Binga – Greatest Distance (Feat. Romaine)

2017, Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B, Minimal

London Sound – Ear & Drum Session 126

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Grime is totally distinctively – part ragga jungle, part dubstep, part hip-hop and entirely London in sound. In terms of D&B the first Grime inspired track I remember back in 2011 was Dub Phizix & Skeptical’s – Marka. It was heavy, but stripped back and raw and I loved it instantly.

Since then Dub Phizix has been joined by Chimpo, Sam Binga and others in turning the BPM up on the Grime sound to create a unique niche D&B genre. I haven’t heard a whole heap of tracks like these, but when I do the hairs always stand up on the back of my neck at the thought of them in a mix because they just creep on up and slam every time.

Here’s to London for keeping it underground, real and always cutting edge.

London Sound – 1hr of Grime inspired D&B

Sam Binga – Badman Skin (Feat. Redders)
Fracture x Chimpo – From Early
Dub Phizix – Contact (Feat. Skeptical)
Sam Binga & Chimpo – Sassy Riddim
Dub Phizix – Do One (Feat. DRS)
Dub Phizix – Bounce
Dub Phizix – Jus’ a Nuvver Divvy (Feat. Strategy)
Dub Phizix – Bugs
Sam Binga & Chimpo – For Those That Like It Sweet
Sam Binga & Chimpo – Selection Dark
Chimpo – Bedsprings Riddim
Rockwell Feat. Sam Binga & Hyroglifics – Itsok2behapp-e
Chimpo – Haymaker
Chimpo – Bun It (Feat. Fixate)
Dub Phizix – Gaana
Sam Binga (Feat. Redders) – AYO (Ivy Lab Remix)
Dub Phizix & Skeptical – Marka (Feat. Strategy)
Chimpo – War Tanker
Sam Binga – Run The Dance (Feat. Slick Don)
Sam Binga – Greatest Distance (Feat. Romaine)

2017, All Label Mix, Ear & Drum Session, Old Skool

Partisan Support – Ear & Drum Session 125

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Partisan Recordings are one of the forgotten heroes of D&B labels. Only exisiting between 1998-99, the quality of their output and exceptional artist roster put them right up there with Metalheadz and Moving Shadow.

Artists such as Foul Play, Future Engineers, Perfect Combination, Justice, Total Science and Underwolves released some of their best work on the label. Plus remixes by the likes of Matrix, Omni Trio, Dom & Roland and Flytronix (to name a few), meant that Partisan had some of the hottest D&B talent at the time.

It’s taken me decades to track down enough of their releases to put together this mix, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did piecing it together.

Partisan Support – 1hr of Partisan Recordings

Foul Play – Destiny (feat. Shereen)
K.M.C. – Space Echo
Future Engineers – Life Support
Banaczech – Ipcress File
Foul Play – Risk (feat. Shereen)
Future Engineers – Life Support (Neil Trix Remix)
Justice – Mauve Flow (Matrix Remix)
Jazz Cartel – Contact
Future Engineers – Simulations
Foul Play – Synthetic Bitch (Omni Tri Remix)
Future Engineers – Cerulean Seas
System 4 – Black Cell
Free4orm – D-Fusion Pt.3
Future Engineers – Closed Circuit
Underwolves – Redeemer

2017, Ambient, Chill Out, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session

Call the Ambience 10 – Tranquilizer – Ear & Drum Session 124

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I never though I’d get to a 10th instalment of this infrequent Ambient D&B series. But I am please to report the genre is going from strength to strength and it seems more producers are turning their hand to chilled out 170bpm+ music today than ever before.

Perfect for travelling or just chilling on the couch, these beats are designed to take you on a journey. So strap yourself in and enjoy some down time.

Shouts out to Dan Moore who was the inspiration for the original Call the Ambience mix I put together four years ago. You are a constant inspiration and top sort. 😉

Call the Ambience 10 – Tranquilizer – 1hr of Ambient D&B

Oak – Farewell to Zeros
Bop – Deep Inside
Bop x Synchro – Telescope
Commix – Freefall
Need for Mirrors – Wow
Alex Perez – Had I Known
Om Unit – Le Singe
Electrosoul System – Before After
Pageant – Magician
Ash Walker – Thunder (feat. Lord Laville)
Aerostat Industry – Ocean of Money
Nomine – Blindman (Om Unit Remix)
Om Unit – The Mirror
Oak – Twilight
Microfunk Crew feat. Robert Manos – December
Calibre – Space Time (feat. Cleveland Watkiss)
Seba – Desire
Influx UK (feat. MC Fats & Gina) – Souls Unite (Influx UK and DJ SS Soulside Remix)

2017, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session

Chunky – Ear & Drum Session 123

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We’re kicking off 2017 correct with a mix of deep D&B. If I had to pick one thing that characterises this over any of my other recent deep mixes it would have to be the robustness of the bass-lines. I’m not sure what has brought sub-bass back into fashion, but these b-lines are larger than your mum’s undies.

For those reading this on Facebook or Twitter thinking, ‘But Woz, you said you weren’t doing any social media until you change your mind and you are.’ This is an automated post from my blog, so there. 😛

Chunky – 1hr of Deep Beats and Chunky Basslines

Rainforest – The Returned
Scar – Punch Drunk
dBridge vs Skeptical – No Discipline
Seba & Method One – Let’s be Done With This
Nomine – Blindman (Om Unit Remix)
Chimpo – Bedsprings Riddim
Hidden Turn – Over
Koncide – Bredda
dBridge vs Calibre – Chrisitansen
Rainforest – Jericho
DJ Krust – Kloaking Device (Fracture Remix)
J:Kenzo – Ruffhouse (Om Unit Remix)
Need for Mirrors – Wow
Rainforest – Deeply Rooted
Hidden Turn – Begin
Seba – Desire
ASC – Automaton

2016, Chill Out, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

Snow Peaks – Ear & Drum Session 122

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It’s been a great year for chilled out liquid D&B which, in my humble opinion, has over taken it’s more upbeat form. Leading the charge are the likes of Lenzman, Alix Perez and Calibre, but the big surprise this year has been the emergence and dominance of Dawn Wall. Their silky smooth take on liquid is something special and as the triple play at the start of this mix will tell you their tunes go together like an absolute dream.

I’m not sure if I’ll get another mix in before the end of the year. So if I don’t, enjoy this one and have a great silly season. Peace.

Snow Peaks – 1hr+ of Chilled Liquid D&B

Chromatic – Smile
Dawn Wall – I See You
Dawn Wall – Kythera
Dawn Wall – Lose Face
Lenzman – Golden Age (feat. Steo)
Mindmapper & Silvahfonk – One Step Closer
Zed Bias – Driftin’ (feat. Zoe Violet)
Actraiser – Solutions (feat. Oscar Michael)
Dawn Wall – Spears
Mindmapper, Silvahfonk & Madcap – Up ‘N’ Smoke (Madcap VIP)
Mikal – When the Wind Changes
Dawn Wall – Saigon Blaze
Alex Perez feat. Even Everett & SpectraSoul – Forsaken (Calibre Remix)
Intelligent Manners – Everyday is the Same
Etherwood – Souvenirs (feat. Zara Kershaw)
Alex Perez – Had I Known
Alex Perez & Ivy Lab – The Last Night
Change of Pace – Innocent
Lenzman – Got My Mind Made Up
Rainforest – Flow (feat. Lu Angel)
Enea – Nightwalk
Impish – With You (Calibre Remix)
Mitekiss – Duck (Scott Allen Master)
Lenzman – The Worst
Dawn Wall – Between the Sheets (feat. Artificial Intelligence)