Category Archives: Roller

2024, Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B, Roller

Ear & Drum: Session 281 – Y2K

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It feels like a 2000s sound revival is just around the corner, so to get ahead of the curve I thought I’d sling together a bunch of OG tracks from back in the day. Depending on who you ask the 2000s aren’t regarded as a peak D&B era, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some diamonds in the ruff from that time.

Fellowship’s Dark Flower Remedy was always an underrated Tru Playaz tune, as was Sonic + Silver’s Longboat, which is still my favourite Renegade Hardware track. Sinthetix’ remix of Black Sun Empire’s Smoke is neuro at it’s absolute finest and Elementz Of Noize hit it out of the park with their 12″ featuring not only Guided By Lights but the momentous Clock. Other sneaky classics to keep an ear out for are DJ Kalm’s cracker Violet, one of Amit’s first tracks Roots, Dieselboy very under-rated The Descent and the incredible rolling Passport by Kiko.

Y2K – 1hr of rolled gold from the 2000s

Fellowship – Dark Flower Remedy
Sonic + Silver – Longboat
Ed Rush & Optical – Rock Tha House2
Ink – Ice Age
The JB – Say What
Black Sun Empire – Smoke (Sinthetix Remix)
Chris.SU – Astrosine
Kraken – Side Effects (Teebee Remix)
Dillinja – Go Dillinja
Elementz Of Noize – Guided By Lights
Technical Itch – The Ruckus (D Kay VIP)
TeeBee – Black Rain
2Ed Rush & Optical – Kerbkrawler
Rawthang – Epilogue Feat. Karl
DJ Kalm – Violet
Amit – Roots
John B – Dream On (2020 Remaster)
Dieselboy – The Descent
Kiko – Passport
Jonny L – Trouble
Total Science – Eastern Promise
Elementz Of Noize – Clock

2024, Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B, Roller

Ear & Drum: Session 273 – Ruckus

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The heavier side of Drum & Bass has recently decided to get it’s groove back, which I am here for. Not so abstract, still dark and heavy, but with a distinct dance floor flavour that gets the head nodding.

As per usual, Kasra and Critical Music seem to be on the bleeding edge of the sound with releases such as Shatter with YAANO and bb.oo. Metalheadz are holding it down too with Marly Marl’s Feel Deep Headz and Run Away doing bits, Dark ’97 by Immerse, Philth & Ant TC1 rolling out and Inner Terrain’s killer track No More also holding the groove. And I couldn’t resist throwing in the recent Universal Project remasters of Bleach and Rux Flava because they are just too damn good.

A word of warning that there is a slight glitch in this mix around 30 minutes in due to a recording muck up. I loved the rest of the mix so much, that the thought of re-doing it just to smooth over a tiny glitch just didn’t feel right. Hopefully you can over look it while listening through.

Ruckus – 1hr of Hard and Heavy D&B

Marly Marl – Feel Deep Headz
Total Science – No Smoking (T>| Remix)
Mako & Seba – Brotherhood
Kid Drama & Garvo – Nitrosurge
Kid Drama – Ratchet
Breakage – Style
Dunk – Danger
Inner Terrain – No More
Immerse, Philth & Ant TC1 – Dark ’97
Marly Marl – Run Away
Kasra & YAANO – Shatter
Cycom – Yucatan (The Green Man (TGM) Remix)
Chris.Su – Antiserum (Klute Remix)
Envy &. Azifm – All Night Long
Motive – Tuff Luv
Kasra – bb.oo
Photek – C-Note (Instrumental Mix)
Noisia, Sleepnet & Lumen – Finality
Universal Project – Bleach
Alibi – Rave Digger VIP
Universal Project – Rux Flava

2022, Amen, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B, Liquid D&B, Melodic, Rave, Roller, Soulful

Ear & Drum: Sessions 245, 246 & 247 – New Year’s Special Selection

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For a genre that is declared dead every couple of years, D&B is healthier than ever with a whole new generation discovering the 90s and the OGs still pushing limits of what music can do. To celebrate this, and the fact that 2023 is just around the corner, I’ve put together three mixes that sum up everything that I thought was great in D&B in 2022.

Mix one is dedicated to the Soulful side of things. DRS, LSB, Dogger & Mindstate, GLXY, Heron Flow, Calibre and many more made music this year that reached beyond the generic Liquid category and brought a soul and pathos to their music that is absolutely mesmerizing.

Soul Side ’22 – 1hr+ of Soulful D&B from 2022

DRS & Monroe – Kiss & Tell
LSB – Endless
Dogger & Mindstate feat. DRS – TMWFTE
Random Movement – How Many Ways
DuoScience – Edge
Issue Cross & Wilkinson – Used to This
Impartial – Flowstate
HEFT – Timeline
HEFT – Promise
LSB – Bell Tune
Muffler – Water Piano Ambient
GLXY – Dreamers
The Sauce – BST Vibes
A-Sides & MC Fats – Never Yesterday
Seba – Public Beauty
Intake – Closing
Dawn Wall – Judgement
Dawn Wall – Fears
DRS & Dogger feat. Mindstate – Wake You Up
Wilkinson & iiola – Close Your Eyes
Heron Flow – Serpentine
Dynamite MC feat. Bop x Subwave – Into
LSB – Renaissance Song
GLXY – New Day
DRS & Document One – Can’t Explain
Particle – Drivin’ Me Crazy
Alix Perez & Verbz – Stay the Same
Redeyes & Fox – Wait Ting
Bungle – Forms
Workforce – Forever
Lensman & Echo Brown – Nokia Days
Fox feat. Swing Ting – Day One (Lenzman Remix)
Alix Perez – Wairua
DRS & LSB – Sweet Love
High Contrast – Return of Forever (Came & Krooked & Mefjus Remix)
Dogger & Mindstate feat. Liam Bailey – Broken Home (Calibre Remix)

Mix two is all about the deep, the dark and the heavy. Blocks & Escher, T>I, Buunshin, Dub Phizix, Conrad Subs, NC-17, Acid_Lab and many more tore the absolute roof off this year with BIG tunes and even bigger basslines. Labels like Metalheadz and Critical Music continued to blazer a trail, but even better was all the smaller imprints that popped up and smacked it this year.

Dark Side ’22 – 1hr+ of Deep, Dark & Heavy D&B from 2022

Soul Intent – Infrared Shadow
Seba & Digital – Love Story
Seba & Oilskin – The Future
Latyn – Dust & Ages (Silence Groove Remix)
Mako – The Both of Us
Buunshin & Idle Days – I’m Okay
Voyager – Aurora (Remix)
Fishy & Freeboard – Cause I Miss You
NC-17 & Dunk – New Jack Hustler
Dub Phizix – Demon Seed
Calibre – Verstat
Slay feat. Chimpo & SL8R – Dis One
Heron Flow – Raging Sea
Foreign Concept – China Plate
Technimatic & Komatic – Make Me Feel
Heron Flow – Serpentine
Echo 1 – Shifting Sounds
Acid_Lab – Imagine the Future (Art Cubic Remix)
Beeson & Dynamite MC – ‘Til 4am
Advisory – End Credits
Grey Code – Illiad
Dub Phizix – Item
aBLe – Still There
Script – Set up the Set (DLR’s Clash VIP)
Conrad Subs – Temple
T>I – Outboard
Dub Phizix – Come On
NC-17 – State of Grace
Audioholic – Bottlerockets
Blocks & Escher – This One
FX909 – Now (Half Step Mix)
Emz & Sam Bingo – Don’t Stress
NC-17 – Ghost Song

Last, but no where near least is the 160bpm genre that took over in 2022. Slowing things down and bringing back that original rave sound was THE best musical surprise for me in ’22. Artists like J Majik, Chimpo and ASC have always been there, but it was Fracture who really brought the 160bpm sound alive with his incredible 0860 Mix Tape release. Capturing the 90s pirate radio vibe, this release proved you can look back and still keep a modern production ethic. And I only hope that this is the beginning of more music like this!

Vibez Side ’22 – 1hr+ of 160bpm Vibes from 2022

Grey Code – Primrose
Coco Bryce – Dial M for Mayor
Fracture – Telepathy
The Vanguard Project & Jemima Read – Stitches (Coco Bryce Remix)
J Majik – Hold You (Lemon D Remix)
Fracture feat. Eastman – 0860
Kid Chameleon – Open Soul
Chimpo – Rig Doctor
Cryogenics – Haunted
IMANU & The Caracal Project feat. Josh Pan – La Fournaise
Adred – Before Your Eyes
Fracture – From the Very Top
Conman, Evasion & Mod:co – Lifestyle
Kid Chameleon – Syrup
Moakz – Distant Waves
Antony G – Lockdown
ASC – Black Rain
Mineral – Old School 2022
Fracture – First Aid Kit
D’Cruze – Sublime State

No matter if you are staying home, hitting the parties or somewhere in between there should be a sound here for everyone. Thanks for all the support in 2022 and big ups to Blick and Will for joining the Ear & Drum and bringing even more great music to the people. Happy New Year everyone and may 2023 be bigger and better for y’all.

2022, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Roller

Ear & Drum: Session 243 – Bowled

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Deep and rolling is the order of the day. This selection of minimalist and tech rollers hits just the right amount of heaviness and mood for me. A huge shout to Herron Flow for the Do 2 U EP on 31 Recordings. It’s one of the strongest EPs of the year for me, with every single track hitting home. Big up to Radders killer MC tune No Go and Slay feat. Chimpo & SL8R for the hype Dis One.

Bowled – 1hr of Deep Rolling D&B

Buunshin & Idea Days – I’m Okay
C:Critz – Panic
Radders – No Go
Dub Phizix – Blossom
I Am Legion – Choosing for You (Forbidden Society Remix)
Foreign Concept – China Plate
Siloh & Dan Structure – Swivel
Intake – Closing
Heron Flow – Swear Down
Heron Flow – Raging Sea
S.P.Y – Night Fury
Slay feat. Chimpo & SL8R – Dis One
Heron Flow – Serpentine
Conrad Subs – Heritage
Flipper – Nergal
Midik – The White Room
Moakz – A New Future (Mineral Remix)
Echomatics – Lost Focus
Date 3 – String Theory
Heron Flow – In Drag

2022, Ear & Drum Session, Roller

Ear & Drum: Session 235 – Boulder

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Whether it is remixing classic older tracks, or taking influence from an earlier sound, D&B is currently living it’s best retro life. Artists like Sam Binga, Chimpo and Conrad Subs wear their love of older styles and retro inspiration on their sleeves, but the rolling and bouncy sound of D&B past is definitely starting to bleed over into more and more producer’s sounds.

There is some BIG remixes in here with Andy C’s Valley Of The Shadows getting reworked by Chase & Status, plus Camo & Krooked & Mefjus doing a drop-less take on High Contrast’s – Return of Forever. There is even an original 96 remix of Die’s classic Clear Skyz which only was released 25 years too late. Special shouts to Soul Intent for his Science Fiction EP released on 31 Recordings which nailed the ‘old but new’ sound perfectly for me.

Boulder – 1hr of D&B Rollers and Bouncers

Origin Unknown – Valley Of The Shadows (Chase & Status Remix)
DJ Die – Clear Skyz (1996 Remix)
Soul Intent – Infrared Shadow
Sam Binge & Hyroglifics – Bad (feat. Snowy)
Vasa – Gansta Sheet
Bungle – Warning
NG-17 & Dunk – New Jack Hustler
Chimpo – Rig Doctor
Sam Binge & Hyroglifics – Wicked (feat. Riko Dan)
Conrad Subs – Everytime I’m With U
Soul Intent – Sci-Fi Roller
Conrad Subs – Temple
Dub Phizix – Come On
Conrad Subs – Different
QZB & Gardna – Landline
High Contrast – Return of Forever (Camo & Krooked & Mefjus Remix)

2021, Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B, Roller

Ear & Drum: Session 222 – 2021 Rolled Out

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2021 was another strong year for D&B, but the one thing that stood out was the harder edge of the genre got a little less beard-stroking and lot more funky with rolling tunes aimed squarely at the floor becoming the flavour of the day. A lot of producers looked back to the sounds of the 2000s for a more stripped back, bass driven sound with less complicated beat work. But what the tunes lacked in complexity they gained in groove and that can never be a bad thing.

This is a compilation of all the tunes in 2021 that rinsed and rolled out across the year. Special shouts to the Bristol crews like DLR, The Sauce, Fox and labels such as Sofa Sounds, Dispatch and Metalheadz who all had a BIG year.

2021 Rolled Out – 1hr+ of the Best D&B of 2021

Ninja feat. Singing Fats – Soul Silhouette
Technimatic – Mirror Image (Phaction Remix)
John B – Up All Night (Data 3 Remix)
Universal Project – Lost In It
The Sauce & Fox – Everything Boss
DLR, Script & MC Fokus – Perception (Trail & Debby Remix)
Inja – Take Me Home
T>I – The Locksmith
BCee & Charlotte Haining – Reminds Me (S.P.Y Remix)
Monika & Akuratyde – Amber
Inja feat. Charlotte Haining – Reach Out
DLR – U.D.O
Came & Krooked, Mefjus & Sophie Lindinger – No Tomorrow (Tom Finster Remix)
Bop – Surfing the Anxiety Waves
PFM – For Caron (Are You Ready)
QZB & Rider Shafique – The Banker
S.P.Y – Is Anybody Out There (S.P.Y VIP)
Punctual & Nabiha – The Step (Pola & Bryson Remix)
Conrad Subs – Love 4 U
Inja – Stranger
L-Sides & MC Fats – High Times (Break Remix)
Shades of Rhythm – Sound of Eden (Benny Page Remix)
Payback – Inter-Connected
DLR – Make My Mind Go
DLR – Sufferation
Tony Anthem feat. Doctor – Tears Of Mine (Gunmen & Specimen A Remix)
Jubei – Slipstream
Akuratyde – Evergreen
Paul T & Edward Oberon feat. Cleveland Watkiss)
QZB & Gardna – Music’s Got Soul
Mystic State – Whole Half
Cosmology – Something Different

2021, Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B, Roller

Ear & Drum Session: 219 – Rinse Cycle

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A bit of the old and a lot of the new in this mix of tuffer D&B beats. S.P.Y. doing his own remix duties on Is Anybody Out There (S.P.Y VIP) and Sub Focus’s bass heavy Deep Space (Date 3 Remix) are just some of the new highlights. Nico’s rework of Bill Laswell early work Oscilations and Quadrant & Iris remix of Marcus Intalex & Future Cut classic Plastic are representing for the OG vibes.

Rinse Cycle – 1hr of D&B Rinsers

Inja & Singing Fats – Soul Silhouette
DLR, Script & MC Focus – Perception (Trail & Dibby Remix)
Inja – Take Me Home
DIsrupta & J Select – Tequila
Mikal – Resampled
DuoScience – Mismatched
Cauzer – Form One
S.P.Y. – Is Anybody Out There (S.P.Y VIP)
Bill Laswell – OScilations (Nico No U-Turn Mix)
Marcus Intalex & Future Cut – Plastic (Quadrant & Iris Remix)
Gest – Futurism
Particle – Nosedive
Payback – Inter-Connected
DLR – Make My Mind Go
Sub Focus – Deep Space (Date 3 Remix)
Jubei – Slipstream
Shades of Rhythm – Sound of Eden (Benny Page Remix)
DJ SS & Azpect – Feeling Blessed (DJ SS Remix)
Foreign Concept, Enei & Magugu – Sticks
Paul T & Edward Oberon feat. Cleveland Watkiss – Music’s Got Soul
QZB & Gardna – Landline

2021, Ear & Drum Session, Roller

EAR & DRUM SESSION: 210 – Feel the Floor

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Dance floor D&B is flooding the release schedules at the moment, and it feels like the opening up restrictions around the world has inspired a lot of artists to try get people back to the dance.

This mix has some absolutely belting shufflers kicking off with Breaks rework of L-Side & MC Fats – High Times. In a similar good time vein is Paul T & Edward Oberon feat. Cleveland Watkiss – Music’s Got Soul. But to be honest all the tunes in this mix have that heady mix of euphoria, bass lines, beats and solid production that make you want to nod your head and move your feet.

Feel the Floor – 1hr+ of Floor Shaking D&B

L-Side & MC Fats – High Times (Break Mix)
Jubei – Barracuda
Silence Groove – No Service
DLR – Make My Mind Go
Kasra – Die 4 It
DLR, Script & MC Focus – Perception (Liohness Remix)
BCee, Charlotte Haining & Emba – Home for Good (Villem Remix)
Sweetpea feat. MC Chickaboo – The Jump Off
DLR – Sufferation
GLXY – Method
Paul T & Edward Oberon feat. Cleveland Watkiss – Music’s Got Soul
Stereotype – All I Need
Cosmology – Something Different
Lenzman – Down for Whatever (Jubei Remix)
Kidsonic – Deeper Love
DLR, Script & MC Focus – Perception (Trail & Dibby Remix)
The Sauce & Fox – Everything Boss
Future Cut – 20/21 (DLR Remix)
Universal Project – Lost In It
Mikal – Resample
Monia & Akuratyde – Amber
DLR – U.D.O
Kasra – Us
Acid Lab – Funk Tune
Punctual & Nabiha – The Step (Pola & Bryson Remix)

2021, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Roller, Uncategorized

Ear & Drum Session: 202 – Squelch

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Another liquid mix in a rolling style with some absolute belters thrown in. Starting off with Need for Mirrors – Without U, others such as Terror & Espa – Loaded Gun (BCee Remix) and Severity & Whiney – Broken Hearted (Whiney Remix) will have you singing along.

Also keep and ear out for new tracks from Marky, Alix Perez & Workforce, Need for Mirrors and the killer Zero T re-rub of Goldie and José James’ – Truth.

Squelch – 1hr of Liquid Rollers

Need for Mirrors – Without U
DJ Marky – 1992 Track
Madcap – Hide
Nelver – Our Time
Physics – Looking Back
Terror & Espa – Loaded Gun (BCee Remix)
Rowpieces – Come On (Version 1)
Alix Perez & Workforce – Distant Figures
Goldie feat. Jose James – Truth (Zero T Remix)
Koherent – Bliss
BCee & Charlotte Haining feat. DRS – Love for the Fallen
DJ Marky – Hunny
Flaco & Glen E.Ston – What You Need
Severity & Whiney – Broken Hearted (Whiney Remix)
Need for Mirrors – Coco
Nu:Tone – Sweeter
Heron Flow – Compare Love

2021, Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B, Roller

Ear & Drum Session: 201 – Rollin’ Dirty

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We’re back to some contemporary beats after the 200th Anniversary sets with a mix of rollers from 2020-21. These tracks are almost a genre on their own with their tuff but rolling beats and dirty basslines. They feel a bit more accessible and floor friendly that the usual hardcore D&B tracks and give a bit of a nod to the older Jump Up sound of the early 2000s.

Artists like Buunshin, Mikal and Was a Be are definitely leading the pack along with players like Workforce and Breakage in this sound. This set features work from Mikal’s amazing Metalworks LP which was packed full of tuff rollers and definitely a highlight for Metalheadz late last year.

As hard as some of these tracks are, it is almost impossible not to nod your head and have a smile while you’re at it.

Rollin’ Dirty – 1hr of Dirty Rollers

Degs feat. Pola & Bryson – Sleepless (Bladerunner Version)
Buunshin – Descended
Kidsonic & Swift – Follow Me
Substance – Be Forgiven
Mikal – Resampled
Mikal – Doesn’t Matter
Mikal – Journey into the Reverb
Was A Be – The Walk (Radiax Remix)
Mikal – Turn it Around
Goldie feat. Natalie Williams – I Adore You (Total Science Remix)
Mikal – Strident
Breakage – Valhalla
Was A Be & Radiax – Beijing Banger (Was A Be Remix)
Soul Intent & Ms Tempz – 2 Bad
Breakage – As We Enter (Break Remix)
OAKK, Rider SHafique & Radiax – Growning (Radiax Remix)
Duoscience – Shallow
Kidsonic – Deeper Love
John B – up All Night (Data 3 Remix)