Category Archives: Melodic

Drum Anne Bass – Jungletrain Session 181

When I first got Serato I went CD mad. I bought up as many old CD compilations as I could to convert all those sweet tracks I’d missed out on buying at the time of their release. Around this time a friend of mine rang me to say his girlfriend (Anne) was looking to sell off some old CDs and that I might be interested.

What Anne had was the mother load of 1996 intelligent and jazzy D&B compilations. Her taste was impeccable – Artcore 1-4, Jazz & Bass Sessions 1-3, Logical Progression 1-3, Lost in Space – Drum & Bass 1-2 and many more. To top it off she gave them to me cheap, and I mean dirt cheap. So to show my appreciation I said I’d do her a mix.

This is the result.

Drum Anne Bass •• 1hr of 96-97 Remixes and Rarities

Saint Etienne – The Sea (PFM Remix)
Soundman & Don Lloydie Feat. Elizabeth Troy – Greater Love (T-Power Retro Grade ‘N’ Motion Mix)
Omni Trio – Soul Promenade (Nookie Remix)
Statik Sound System – Revolutionary Pilot (Rob Smith Mix)
Link – Amenity (Chameleon Remix)
Adam F – F-Jam Featuring MC Conrad
Omni Trio – Living For The Future (FBD Project VIP Mix)
Omni Trio – Renegade Snares (Rob’s Reconstruction Mix)
Ken Ishii – Stretch (Shogun Remix)
N&G&O – Tekken (Windermere Dub Mix by T. Power)
Rogue Unit – Dance Of The Sarooes
Aladin – We Enter (Deep Forest Dub VIP Mix)
One True Parker – Bubblegum (Ray Keith Remix)
Garbage – Milk (Goldie’s VIP Trash Your Sh*T Mix)

The Stares – Ear & Drum Session 29

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

Globally Connected – Jungletrain Session 178

This mix is being re-hosted for ASC. His Covert Operations label was one of the finest atmospheric D&B labels, not only for it’s quality music, but also for it’s constant output of new talent from around the world. When the label folded last year it left a huge hole in the D&B landscape that still hasn’t been properly filled to this day. Even though his label has shut down ASC has gone on to bigger and better things joining up with the mighty dBridge on his NonPlus+ / Exit / Autonomic labels.

The Global Connections series (volumes 1-6) broke so many great producers and gave them their first chance to be heard. This mix is an hours worth of what I considered the best tunes from the series. If you like sci-fi beats and atmospheric melodies this will put some buoyancy in your floatation tank.

Globally Connected – 1hr of atmospherics from Covert Operations

Altair – Reminisce
Ezeekil – False Profit
Probe One – Storm Cell
Altair – Collateral
ASC – Monochrome
Method One – In The Quiet Hours
Kytel – New Eyes For Old
Noric – Aqueous Passage
Theory – Aurora Flash
Solar Empire – Dynamics
Km & Paralyzah – Nega
Neon – Higher State
Tidal – The N.O.C.
Ruxpin – Now I Turn To You

Back to the Basement – Jungletrain Session 186

Another request this time from my other half who actually asked me to put it on her iPod. But listening back to it I thought it was more than worthy of a re-upping here as well.

Basement Records was one of the original labels that got me into D&B. Running from the very beginning of rave back in 1989, Basement always had a broken beats integrated into their sound which is what drew me to them. They gave Peshay his first big break, along with Photek in his ‘The Sentinel’ guise and Source Direct under the ‘Intensity’ alias. As a label their influence on the early Breakbeat Hardcore and D&B scene can still be felt today even though they almost stopped completely around 1996.

Interestingly they have resurfaced with a dubstep and grime release called the Nu Basement EP. A lot of this set come from their digital re-releases and if you are interested in picking up some of these you can find them as the Classics Series here for download.

Back to the Basement – 1hr of Basement Records classics

Peshay – Endless Thoughts
The Sentinel – Pulse of Life
Ruff with the Smooth – Twisted Girl
The Architex – Blueprint
The Sentinel – Genesis
Peshay – Futurama
Jack N Phil – I Like It
The Sentinel – Awakening
Roger Johnson – Walk of Life
Roger Johnson – Drum N The Bass
Roger Johnson – One By One
Intensity – Intensity
The Sentinel – Heavy Vibes
Intensity – Forbidden Medicine

Producer Profile: ICR

Hungarian D&B artist Zoltan Gal, also known as ICR, has been a key figure in the country’s thriving D&B scene. In 1999 he established it’s online magazine and community site, ImpulseCreator.hu and has releases on dozens of diverse labels worldwide such as Offshore, Covert Operations , Good Looking, Nerve, Fokuz, Counter Intelligence, Flatline Audio, X-Tinction Agenda, Red Mist, Vibez and Influence.

In 2007, he started own label, Misspent Music, which continues to release high quality liquid and esoteric D&B. ICR has been integral in shaping the exceptional Hungarian D&B scene, and he continues to blaze a trail gloabally by releasing his latest album Restored as a free download. Not only is this incredibly generous, but I also think this will be the way of things in the future for music in general.

As a true D&B pioneer, ICR we salute you.

ICR – Restored

1. ICR – Painful Every Day
2. ICR – Hailstones From Heaven
3. ICR – Hungry Man (remix)
4. ICR – Nevermore (remix)
5. ICR – Remember
6. ICR – You Don’t Have To Know The Title
7. ICR – Downhill
8. ICR – Heavy Water
9. Robot Death Squad – Tokyo Burner (ICR remix)
10. Rufige Cru – Krisp Biscuit (ICR remix)
11. ICR – Less Than Three (DJ Trax remix feat. Assorted Anonymous)
12. ICR – How The Glitch Stole Christmas

Come Again? – pfradio.com Session #1

Some people may remember back in the day when I played for Phuture Frequency Radio. Run by the amazingly versatile and talented DJ Raptures / Iambic, Phuture Freq has gone from strength to strength over the last eight years until it is now in the top 100 itunes radio stations.

Around Christmas time Raps contacted me and asked if I would like to contribute a set and I jumped at the chance. The result was this mash-up mix of all sorts from old hardcore through to modern day ambient and even into the uncharted territories of Exile’s twisted music. I’m dedicating the set to Rapture’s for being a great mate down the years, and for always inspiring me to do more musically.

Come Again? – 1hr of Mashed-Up Beats for pfradio.com

Bass Boy & Techmaster P.E.B. – Activated
Blame – Music Take You
Soul Delay – My Shadow (138 Remix)
Missy Elliot – Best Best (Two Fingers Remix)
2 Bad Mice – Drum Trip II
Kaotic Chemistry – Illegal Subs
Tipper – Disolve (In)
Santogold – Unstoppable
Skanna – Heaven
Exile – Merlin
The Prodigy – Claustrophobic Sting
Universal Love – Deeply
Shapeshifter – Summer Haze
D-Bridge – Wonder Where
Ruxpin – Now I Turn To You
Panda – Leaving Amsterdam
Shapeshifter – The Ride

Finer Things – Ear & Drum Session 26

Last year I did a mix of old 96 chilled jazzy tracks called The Finest. I guess you could call this a sequel of sorts. There are a few well know tracks amongst this lot, but by in large I’ve tried to pick some of the more obscure tracks from the golden era of D&B.

I’m sending this one out to Haste, Blick and Niddle (Nidal) who never cease to amaze me with their knowledge of old D&B and who’s mixes are always welcome on my iPod any time. Respect fellahs.

Finer Things – 2hrs of jazz & bass classics from 1996

Elisabeth Troy – Let Me Be
DJ Krush – Only the Strong Survive (Dillinja Remix)
Alex Banks – Control
Elementz of Noize – Astral
Natural Mystic – Got to Have You
Foul Play – Artificial Intelligence
Hyper-On Experience – East Coast Vibes
Spring Heel Jack – 60 Seconds Dub
Jonny L – 2 of Us
Wax Doctor – Off Shore Drift
Plug – Snapping Fuss
Tekniq – Awakening 96
JMJ & Flytronix – In Too Deep
EZ Rollers – Believe (Photek Remix)
Q Project – Solar System
Doc Scott – Tokyo Dawn
Wax Doctor – Finer Things
E.R.K. – Still Not Smoking
B.L.I.M. – Jeamland 96
P.F.M. – The Eleventh Hour
P.F.M. – The Mystics

Producer Profile: DJ Clart

I first heard of DJ Clart through the Golden Orb Weavers EP with his track So Selfish. His ability to toughen up a liquid track and still keep it melodic jumped out at me straight away. Just to prove it wasn’t a fluke he dropped the monster Avenue on Sole Digital, the super smooth Watchout VIP on Liquid Brilliants and sublime Mysterious Ways with Glen E Stone on Quilin’s 4 Corners EP.

To call Clart liquid doesn’t really do him justice. His diversity is always underpinned by a ‘deepness’ that remains consistent in all his releases. His use of organic bass lines which he twists into growling stabs and the crisp, clean and loud production on his beats really make his tracks hold up in a mix.

It’s looking like a big year for Clart with upcoming releases on Peer pressure, Next Sense, Ingredients, Vampire and Influenza Media. I am convinced 2010 will be year that this talented producer blows up big.

Just top get a taste here is a free track Clart has graciously let me host. It’s a bootleg of Lupe Fiasco’s Paris Tokyo and whilst quite a bit lighter than some of Clart’s official releases it still shows what talent he is.

Enjoy. 🙂

Lupe Fiasco – Paris Tokyo (DJ Clart’s D&B Bootleg)

New Year’s Break – Ear & Drum Session 24

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)

The Way It Is – Ear & Drum Session 22

Liquid seems to be on the move at the moment. Whilst some camps are still pushing the dance floor sound, others are bringing a deeper influence. Russia seems to be a gold mine for new talent, and an amazing amount of melodic and minimal music has surfaced this year from the eastern block. The sound still holds it’s melodic base, but strips back the beats and lets the sub-bass pulse.

This mix is essentially the a best of all the new liquid(esc) music I’ve bought in the last couple of months. There are some traditional hand clap numbers in there, but I mainly try and focus of the deeper side of the sound.

The Way It Is – 1hr of Melodic Beats

Alix Perez feat. Peven Everett & Spectrasoul – Forsaken
Marky & XRS – Rotation (Stress Level & TC1 Remix)
Bonobo – The Keeper (Redeyes Remix)
A-Sides feat MC Fats – What You Don’t Know (Total Science Remix)
Quadrant – Whisper
Majestics – Force of an Attracting
Simplification & Edward Oberon – Loveline
Simplification – The Trilogy
Majestics – Coming Back
Mr Sizef – Garmoniya Mirov
DJ Clart & Glen E Stone – Mysterious Ways
Eveson – Deeper Still
Bcee – Disciple
Donnie Dubson – Battlecat
Calibre – Intro
Donnie Dubson – Grapefruit
Calibre – Tru Beat
Fourward – Eyelash