Category Archives: Ear & Drum Session

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

Ephemory – Ear & Drum Session 137

Leave a comment

We’re going deep and hard in this eclectic mix of slammers from 2017. It’s been a good year for D&B with old school jungle sounds being mixed in with the minimalist ethic of 2015-6 with some pretty devastating results. Tracks like Leaf’s – Groove, Kid Drama’s – Brutal D and Derrick & Tonika’s – Fata Morgana sound so fresh and new but still with a nod to days gone by. It is great to see new producers being able to put their own spin on the true and tried sound.

As always I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did mixing it.

Ephemory – 1hr of deep hard D&B

Tim Reaper – Straight Forward
Andy Skopes – Heroin Wash (feat. Coerce)
Hyroglifics – Swish
Leaf – Groove
Rude Operator – Witchdoctor (feat. Ornette Hawkins)
1991 – Kabuki
Dub Phizix – Hack
Ulterior Motive – Anode (feat. Icicle)
Mitekiss – Forma
Kid Drama – Brutal D
Halogenix – Blej
1991 – Dim Sum
Rude Operator – Gunman
Vromm – Level Up (feat. Rider Shafique)
Bungle – Cocooned
Need for Mirrors – Ethos (Spirit Remix)
Derrick & Tonika – Fata Morgana
Flaco – Inferno (feat. Submorphics)
Rude Operator – Arrowhead

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

Night Line – Ear & Drum Session 136

1 Comment

Welcome to your weekend. That means it’s about time for some vocal driven Liquid D&B to kick back to.

Lots of classic production talent in here with scene stalwarts such as Redeyes, Break, Total Science, Seba, Nu:tone & Logistics (under their Nu:Logic alias) plus some cracking tunes from some of the newer kids on the block. A special shout to Macca & Los Contreras for their track Against the Wall remixed by FD which I’ve had on steady rotation for about six months now. I promise this is the last time I’ll put into a mix (for now).

It’s a Saturday, the sun is shining (where I am) and the time is right for some smooth tunes and a relax. Enjoy.

Night Line – 1hr of Liquid D&B

Redeyes – Intro
Redeyes – Keep On (Instrumental)
Mark System – Dissolve
LSB – The Hurting (Lenzman Remix)
Macca & Los Contreras – Against the Wall (FD Remix)
Fred V & Grafix – Hurricanes (Wild Love)
Seba – Addicted (Technimatic Remix)
Break – Coming 4 U
Nymfo – Melting Pot (feat. Robert Manos)
Nu:Logic – Dreamweaver
Koherent – Night Cycles
Halogenix – Cliche
Seba & Jnr Vallo – Rotate
Air.K & Cephei – Desire (Break Remix)
Halogenix – Velvet
Muffler – Dark Flower
Nu:Logic – Somewhere Between the Light
Night Train – Friske
Nu:Logic – Sepia (feat. LSB)
Total Science & Grimm – So Addicted (Feat. Grimm)

2017, Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B

Concrete – Ear & Drum Session 134

Leave a comment

It always takes me around 6-12 months to collect enough heavy D&B to pull together a good hard D&B mix. The good thing about me being fussy around this style is you know that what you are getting is carefully curated and every tune brings something different and interesting to the mix.

In this case we have tracks like the UFO Mix of Ed Rush & Optical’s classic roller Pacman which was never released and only ever popped up as a dub plate on some 2002 mixes coming out of the US. Or Rockwell’s excellent nod to rave in the cheekily named Please Please Please (Play This on the Radio). Digital and Spirit feature heavily too, which is never a bad thing.

For those about to rock, we salute you.

Concrete – 1hr of Hard D&B

Total Science, Digital & Spirit – Fall Down
Skynet – Underground –
Apostroph’ – Tolerate
Ed Rush & Optical – Pacman (UFO VIP)
Future Cut – Horns (Gremlinz & Overlook 2015 Remix)
Keen x Krakota – Reality
BCee & S.P.Y – Is Anybody Out There (The Vanguard Project Remix)
Clart – Team Playa
Ray Keith – Virus
Gremlinz – Tactical Rail
Mefjus – Dissuade (Emperor Remix)
Signal – Descent
Rockwell – Please Please Please (Play This on the Radio)
Ulterior Motive – Tech2
Rockwell feat. Sam Binga – itsok2behapp-e
Digital feat. LJC – In the Lurch
Mecca – Analysis
Spirit – International
Survival & Script – Sahara
Vicious Circle & Nocturnal – Welcome to Shanktown

2017, Ear & Drum Session, Jazz & Bass, Melodic

Jungle Jazz Vol.2 – Ear & Drum Session 133

1 Comment

Back with another mix sourcing from the legendary Jungle Jazz compilations. This one covers 1998-2002 when the music was transforming from intelligent jungle into more jazz infused D&B as we know it today.

Some of these are straight up jazz tracks such as London Elektricity’s epic 10 minute ‘Rewind’ where as others are starting to take on the jazz-step sound of the naughties like Groove Rider’s remixes of Goldie’s ‘Believe’ and Bally Sagoo’s ‘Turn Bin Jaya’.One of the great things about the Jungle Jazz series was they had tunes I never saw get a vinyl release, so some of this music will hopefully be new to most of you.

My pick of the bunch would have to be 4 Hero’s – 9 by 9 (M.I.S.T. Full Vocal Mix) which pretty much kicked of the Liquid genre that is so huge today and Klute’s – Phone Call (Matrix Remix) which is pretty much the perfect D&B track in my humble opinion.

Jungle Jazz Vol.2 – 1hr of Jazz Infused D&B

London Elektricity – Rewind
Justice – Westside Centre (DJ Pulse Remix)
Nuyorican Soul – It’s Alright, I feel it! (Roni Size Remix)
New Jazz Hustler – Bombay
Shifty – Jazz Ass
4 Hero – 9 by 9 (M.I.S.T. Full Vocal Mix)
DJ Krush – Meiso (4 Hero Vocal Mix)
Goldie – Believe (Grooverider Remix)
Klute – Phone Call (Matrix Remix)
Bally Sagoo – Turn Bin Jaya (Grooverider Remix)
Adam F – Music In My Mind
4 Hero – Star Chasers (Photek Remix)
Shifty – Jelly Head
Photek – Modus Operandi

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

Leave a comment

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

1 Comment

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

2 Comments

Back in 96′ I bought a compilation CD (remember them?) by German 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

1 Comment

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

1 Comment

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

Leave a comment

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)