Category Archives: Ear & Drum Session

Amen, Chill Out, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Melodic

Headz Space Part 2 – Ear & Drum Session 46

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This is the second installment of the Headz Space series focusing on the amazing music found of the Deep Space: Drum & Bass compilations. This is a bit of a Birthday celebration mix as I’m officially old as today, but you get the gift. If you like your early era atmospheric or intelligent D&B then you’ll love this.

So many good tunes in here, and quite a few rarities as well. Mandalay – Flowers Bloom (Foul Play Mix) is a classic, Blu Mar Ten’s – The Fountain is a ten minute journey into blissful beats and Elements by The Amalgamation of Soundz is definitely a lost classic.

There are some quite well known tracks to such as Saint Etienne – The Sea (PFM Remix), St Germain – Alabama Blues (Wax Doctor Mix) and Omni Trio – Trippin’ On Broken Beats (Carlito Mix) which I just had to throw in because they are all definitive examples of the intelligent sound.

Headz Space Part 2 – 1hr+ of Intelligent and atmospheric D&B from 96-98

Mandalay – Flowers Bloom (Foul Play Mix)
Minx – Dreamtime
Morcheeba – The Music That We Hear (Omni Trio Mix)
Blu Mar Ten – The Fountain
South – Georgia Landing (Omni Trio Remix)
Mark Penny – Moods
Recoil – The Bridge
EZ Rollers – Retro (Guardians of Dalliance Remix)
Saint Etienne – The Sea (PFM Remix)
Twisted – Elements
St Germain – Alabama Blues (Wax Doctor Mix)
Omni Trio – Trippin’ On Broken Beats (Carlito Mix)
Omni Trio – Fire Island
N&G&O – Tekken (Windermere Dub Mix by T. Power)
Jhana – Say Say Say (Doc Scott Vocal Mix)

2011, Cross Genre, Ear & Drum Session

Modern Primitive – Ear & Drum Session 45

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A mix of new stuff from the tail end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011.

A special big mention to the Siberian Jungle LP where a lot of this stuff has come from. It’s a Russian comp with artists I’ve never heard before but daaaaamn can they put a tune together. It’s mainly epic trance and bass type stuff but Vospi’s – Reverence is THE best jazz & bass track I’ve heard in ages. If you get a chance track it down.

Other stand outs for me are Seba’s rolling Keep Me Waiting and dBridge’s beautiful remix of Magnetic Man’s Perfect Stranger.

Modern Primitive – 1hr of new tunes for 2011

Eveson – Life In The Balance
Metrik – Ocean Drive
Stipple – Stalker
Magnetic Man – Perfect Stranger (dBridge Remix)
3D Stas – Surface of a Doomed Planet
Scuba – In_2
Dave Schichman – That Face
Kiat – Feeder
Mutated Forms – Chasing Dreams
Alternative Vibes – the Dawn
Ultima C – Seven Days
A-Sides – One DJ
Vospi – Reverence
Dynamic Stab – The Future of Iron Empire
Seba – Keep Me Waiting

Amen, Chill Out, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Melodic, Old Skool

Headz Space Part 1 – Ear & Drum Session 44

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This mix is for those that need to relax. The chilled out D&B from 96-98 is some of the most beautiful music of any genre. Artists like Photek, PFM, Aquasky and Roni Size were on top of their game when they produced these tracks. There are plenty of rarities in this mix to keep you blissed out and hunting for you own collection.

All the tracks from the mix come from the magnificent Lost In Space: Drum & Bass compilations, which along with the Artcore Series, are the best collections of Intelligent and Atmospheric D&B you’ll find. If you don’t know get to know.

So pull up a couch, put on your headphones and kick back to these dreamy tunes.

Headz Space Part 1 – 1hr+ of Chilled out D&B from 96-98

Jimpster – Martian Arts
Jonny L – 2 of Us (Photek Remix)
Aquasky – Moondance
Kumo – Tiger Style (Local Zero Remix)
Statik Sound System – Revolutionary Pilot (Rob Smith Remix)
Eat Static – Hybrid (PFM Remix)
Grand United – Dig So Deep
Nutcase & Papchubba – Things Will
Aural Imbalance – Secret Motion
Dimensions of Elegance – Naked Symphony
Skylab – The Trip (Roni Size Remix)
Future Loop Foundation – I Want To Believe
Outernational Meltdown – Hungry On Arrival (Spring Heel Jack Remix)
The Advantage – Cassiopeia
One True Parker – Bubblegum (Ray Keith Remix)

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, Amen, Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B

Screwface – Ear & Drum Session 42

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Ruff and tuff D&B doesn’t hold a great deal of interest to me these days. Neuro has become very formulaic, new jump up isn’t a patch on the old jump up and skullstep is just, well skullstep (nuf said). However I do still manage to find the odd harder edged track which does appeal and in here are some of the best ones I could find for the final quarter of the year.

Nu:Tone and Logistics have combined their powers to create the fierce Nu:Logic sub-brand. Sundown is a proper amen boomer of the highest order and New Technique totally lives up to it’s name. Limewax is one of those guys you either love or hate, but for a skullstep-esq (is that a word?!?) producer he has some serious talent. B Key used to be one of my favourite producers, and his Guitar Track proves that he can still produce a smooth but tuff track when he puts his mind to it.

If you like your hard beats you’ll love this, but if you don’t I’d still recommend giving it a go as there is more to hard D&B then formula, skulls and air raid sirens and I think this mix proves that point.

Screwface – 1hr of tuff D&B from the end of 2010

Nu:Logic – Sundown
Limewax – One of Them
B Key – Guitar Track
Nu:Logic – New Technique
Subwave – Darkness Dub
Artificial Intelligence – Moment of Truth
Break & Silent Witness – Kontroller
Black Sun Empire – Deadhouse (feat. Jade)
Beta 2 – Release
Trei – Mindless
Audio – Genesis Device
Subwave – Road Rage
Theory – Jungle Soul
Gemini – Down
DJ Trace – Fantazia

Amen, Ear & Drum Session, Jungle

Jungle Survival: Lesson 3 – Ear & Drum Session 41

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It’s been a long time since I’ve hit up the Jungle Survival series so I though I’d dig deep and find a lot of my old VIP mixes and dub plates. We focus in on the harder edge of the junglistic spectrum in this edition, If you know DJ SS’ – Black (VIP Mix) then you should know what to expect.

Pretty hard to point to stand out in a mix like this, but if I had to choose I’d say DJ Scoobie – Wait for the Bass is an absolute monsters. It can mix into jungle like a dream, but also hold it’s own against today’s D&B. I don’t know what ever happened to Scoobie, but he will always have a place in my heart for putting together this mental piece of work.

So blaze one up, turn up the bass and get stuck into some serious Jungle Survival training.

Jungle Survival: Lesson 3 – 1hr of Rare & Classic Jungle

Uncle 22 – Your Love (Dub Plate)
International Rude Boyz – Paragon (VIP Remix)
Radical Sound – What is Love (Exclusive VIP Remix)
Dubwize – Jungle Techno (Exclusive VIP Remix)
Shades of Rhythm – Peace Sign (Ray Keith & Nookie Remix)
Black (DJ SS & Mental Power) – Black (VIP Mix)
Xclusive – Exclusive (Exclusive Dub Plate Remix)
Hackney Hardcore – Rudi (Dub Plate)
Uncle 22 – Six Million Ways to Die
DJ Scoobie – Wait for the Bass
Skool of Hard Knocks – Kan Ya Feel It
DJ Rap – Intelligent Woman
The 2 G’s – Energy (remix)
Omni Trio – Soul Prominade (Nookie Remix)
Ellis D – One For the Ladies

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, Cross Genre, Ear & Drum Session

Small Steps – Ear & Drum Sessions 39

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A quick 45 minute mix to catch everyone up with what’s sounding good in October.

But even though it is small in size it is big in tunes with tracks like Unquote – Hide Your Tears Because We Are In Heaven, Shapeshifter – Touch (Netsky Remix), Theory – Jungle Soul and Subwave – Road Rage being the standouts. There are some really interesting sounds around at the moment and it mixes together like a dream.

Small Steps – 45 Minutes of up to date D&B

Madmen & Poets – Its Not Right
Unquote – Hide Your Tears Because We Are In Heaven
Kharm – Charade
Soul Intent – A.I.
Shapeshidter – Touch (Netsky Remix)
Artificial Intelligence – Moment of Truth
Seathasky & Beatchemist – Learn To Fly
Unquote + Molecular Structures – Lubov Moya
Theory – Jungle Soul
Shapeshifter – Lifetime (Logistics Remix)
Subwave – Road Rage
Audio – Genesis

2010, Cross Genre, Ear & Drum Session

The Switch – Ear & Drum Session 38

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This mix is all about the new tunes. 2010 has been very fruitful in terms of all genres producing some stand out tracks. Minimal of course has taken off, but the new jungle sound is catching up and the hospital style roller, liquid vocal tracks and heavy smashers will never go out of style.

I got all sorts of styles going on in this one, and it switches up all over the place. Stand outs for me would have to be Die & Interface’s new track ‘Bright Lights’ (which is a floor moving monster), X Nation’s remix of Spirit’s ‘All I Need’ (which brings back the stripped back jungle sound and Heist’s ‘Continental Drift’ (which brings minimal and atmospheric D&B together in an amazing blend).

The Switch – 1.5hrs of new tunes for 2010

Furi Anga – The Day My Unicorn Died
Kharm – Hiding Place
Heist – Continental Drift
Klute – Ashram
Spirit – All I Need (X-Nation Remix)
Naibu – Fireflies (Seba Remix)
Utah Jazz – Relaxation Interlude
Spectrasoul – Glimpse (feat. d.Bridge)
Circa – Kabal
Seba – Distance
Total Science feat. Conrad – Soul Patrol (Marky & S.P.Y. Remix)
Future Engineers – Ellipse
Alix Perez – Behind Time
Klute – Fool’s Love
Inside Man – Deeper Love
Underworld – Scribble feat. High Contrast
DJ Trace – Fantazia
Phil Tangent – Lunar
Utah Jazz – Angels Interlude
Lenzman & Treez – Stellar
Kodo – Transmission
Sabre – One Hundred Teeth (Enei Remix)
Serum & Bladerunner – Who Jah Bless
A-Sides – Rebel Rouser (feat. MC Fats)
Klute – Black Pony
Die & Interface feat. William Cartright – Bright Lights (Rockers Mix)

2010, Cross Genre, Ear & Drum Session

A Saturday Night Sumting – Ear & Drum Session 37

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First the first time in 3 years (since my son was born) I was left alone on a Saturday night to just get my head down and mix for mixing sake. There are no themes or tricks to this mix, it’s just what I felt like playing at the time. I pull out some new stuff, some old stuff and some down right dirty stuff.

This is the sound of me letting lose on a Saturday night.

A Saturday Night Sumting – 1.5hrs of Rolling Beats

Fanu – The End of An Era
Alix Perez – Down The Line (Break Remix)
Fourward – Eyelash
Dom & Roland – Mind Feeders
Ed Rush & Optical – Rock Da House
Clive Concept – Out Of Control
Theory – Aurora Flash
Lenzman – Coincidence
S.P.Y. – Hurricane
D.Kay & Lee – Tuning (D.Kay VIP Mix)
DJ Kalm – Violet
SKC – Dream Come True
A-Sides – Rebel Rouser (feat. MC Fats)
Klute – Divinity
Trei & Dose – The Other Part of Me
Ian Brown – Illegal Attacks (Rufige Kru Remix)
Martsman – Halow
Bachelors of Science – The Rush
AK1200 – Junior’s tune (Digital Remix)
Sunchase – Remove Heaven
Kiko – Passport
DJ SS – Black (Bladerunner Remix)
Raiden – Aquarius
D.Kay & Lee – Extazzy