Category Archives: Melodic

All Label Mix, Chill Out, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Intelligent, Melodic, Old Skool

Shadow Wax 6: 1996 Chilled Intelligence Part 1 – Ear & Drum Session 72

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The sixth installment in the retrospective Shadow Wax series looks at the chilled out vibes from 1996. No one could touch Moving Shadow during this era of sublime melodies and blissful beats. Artists like PFM, Flytronix, Wax Doctor, Dave Wallace, EZ Rollers and Unit 1 read like a who’s who of top Intelligent D&B producers.

For me these are some of the finest musical moments in Drum & Bass that still sound just as fresh today as when they were made. ’96 truly was a golden era for this sound, so if you like you beats chilled and smooth I suggest you kick back and enjoy the ride.

Shadow Wax 1996: Chilled Intelligence Part 1 – 1hr+ of Chilled out Moving Shadow

PFM – Cruising Detroit
Teqniq – Razzmatazz
Fytronix – The Rhode Tune
Mastermind – The Essence
Hoax – Meltdown
Essence of Aura – So This Is Love ’96
Neil Trix – Revolution
JMJ & Flytronix – Delusions
Wax Doctor – Cool Breeze
Unit 1 – Atlantic Drama
Dave Wallace – Flight
Dave Wallace – Waves
EZ Rollers – The Morning After
Hoax – Pipe Dreams
EZ Rollers – Vintage Moments
Vext – Visions

2012, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

The Soulution – Ear & Drum Session 70

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So recently on a certain D&B forum a colleague of mine suggested that the problem with D&B was that it couldn’t be fun without being cheesy or chavvy. Obviously hearing is in the ear of the beholder and every body’s idea of ‘fun’ is different, but it did get me thinking about the more fun and accessible D&B I had been overlooking lately. For me the D&B with the widest audience accessibility (ie. stuff that not just the headz would listen to) is the vocal and soul fueled variety. It has the vocals to hook in the ladies and give that sense of fun, it has the soul to get the hips swaying and it still has the beats & b-lines to keep the floor moving. Best of all it doesn’t have to degenerate into the cheesy festival style D&B that is seen as commercially popular.

So in response to my good chum Ocelot Ed’s question I put together this mix to provide a solution to Ed’s problem with D&B. As I said, everyone’s idea of ‘fun’ is different, but for me these types of tunes offer up a good balance of fun without the fromage, and there is still enough D&B grunt to keep the headz happy too.

Props have to go to Komatic as he seems to be all over this sound that’s not quite liquid and not quite deep, but has loads of soul and a real pump to the bass and beats. Other notable exceptions are Young Ax who always brings it with a real live sound to his soulful productions and the usual suspects of Duo Science, Spectrasoul and Technicolour who seem to constantly pump out quality tracks on a monthly basis.

The Soulution – 1hr of Soul Fueled D&B

Komatic – The Open Choice
Mage & M25 – Savanna
Young Ax – High Rollers
Komatic – Earth Turns
Paperclip – Whom I Belong
Anile & Hybrid Minds – Old TImes
Madcap – Our Love
Duo Science Feat. Skyeyes – Let Me Know
Deeper Connection – Quiet Storm
Soulproof – Inna Dem Clothes
Villem & McLeod – Hush
Spectrasoul – In Profile
Technicolour – Winter Rose
High Contrast – The Stand
Technicolour & Komatic – We Were Always One
Soul Culture – Stronger

2012, Chill Out, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

In A Round About Way – Ear & Drum Session 68

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In a round about way this is a liquid mix. I say this because liquid seems to be morphing lately and is a hard genre to pin down these days. Originally melodic party music, liquid now encompasses a much wider range of directions then it used to. There’s the still the up for it dance tracks, but lately also a deeper and more mellow aspect that has drawn me back into a music I thought might have be in danger of becoming to formulaic for it’s own good. I’ve also noticed some tracks taking on a more live jazz based flavour, reminiscent of Reprazent’s classic Brown Paper Bag.

So in the spirit of diversity I’ve tried to cover a little bit of everything in this mix. It actually started out as a quick sound check on my new set up, which now includes an Allen & Heath mixer, until I got carried away and went into a full blown set. So let me know if you can tell a difference in sound quality. 😉

In A Round About Way – 1hr of Chilled & Melodic Vibes from 2012

Phat Playaz & LM1 – Colour Of Time
Centik & Grimm – Don’t Wanna Do This
Phat Playaz & PFM – Time of Our Life
Sapphire – Snowdrop
Roygreen & Protone – Danube
Phat Playaz & MJT – Want You
Oscallist – The Silver Lining
Queensway – Darlin
Override – Take Your Time
Sato – Barn (Break Remix)
Break – They’re Wrong
Command Strange – Everything
Static & Scott Allen – Eastern Horizon
Smooth – Shifting Sands feat. Shaz Sparks (Part 2)
Crimson, Nizzo & Promenade – Stay
Roygreen & Protone – Tartagura
Plug – A Quick Plug For A New Slot
Command Strange & Dynamic – The Beautiful Things
Brother – Riverbank

All Label Mix, Ear & Drum Session, Intelligent, Jazz & Bass, Melodic, Old Skool

Shadow Wax Vol.5: 1996 Hard Intelligence – Ear & Drum Session 66

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Coming on strong with mu favourite era of Moving Shadow, 1996. The amount of tunes Moving Shadow released in 1996 was astounding, and even more incredible was the diversity and quality the label kept up during this time. This mix looks at the harder end of the Intelligent sound which was a precursor to the Jazz & Bass sound Shadow would specialise in a little later down the track.

EZ Rollers & Aquasky were the two main stays of this sound and Walk This Land turned out to be THE defining tune going on to be remixed a million times and featuring in the sound track for the movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. At the same time some of Shadows more chilled artists were having a go at the hard sound with Omni Trio’s – Rhythm Methods and Dave Wallace – Expressions Part 1 getting a remix from Tango as prime examples.

Basically you can’t wrong with any of the Moving Shadow tunes from 1996, sp strap yourself in for some intricate drum work, wicked breaks and some sweet melody.

Shadow Wax Vol.5: Hard Intelligence – 1hr of 1996 Moving Shadow

EZ Rollers – Bad Up
Kudos – Horizontal Movements
EZ Rollers – Sunset Phobia
EZ Rollers – Walk the Land
Aquasky – Kauna
JMJ & Ritchie – Illicit Groove
JMJ & Ritchie – Universal Horn Remix
Dave Wallace – Expressions Part 1 (Tango Remix)
Omni Trio – Rhythm Methods
Technical Itch – Can’t You See (Funky Technicians Remix)
Foul Play – Karma Part 1
Omni Trio – Astral Phase
Aquasky – Nylon Roadster
EZ – Rollers – Rolled Into 1 (Photek Remix)

2011, Cross Genre, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic, Minimal

11: The Best of 2011 – Ear & Drum Sessions 63 & 64

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These are my picks for the best tracks of 2011. I split the mixes into two because there was definitely two sorts of flavours going on. Part 1 looks at the deeper side and Part 2 is more melodic and liquid based.

I hope 2012 is good to you and that we see more tracks as good as, or better, than these see a release in 2012. Happy New Year to you and yours.

11: Part 1 – The Best Deep D&B of 2011

N4m3 – Make Your Soul Open For The Road On Imagination
Nusense & NC-17 – Dirty
Dub Phyzics & Skeptikal – Marka (feat. Strategy)
Ill Skills & S.P.Y – This is Why
Calibre – Smooth Baby
Lynx feat. Sense MC – 9 Muses
London Elektricity – U Gottah B Crazy (Enei Remix)
Dub FX – Flow (Ill Skillz Remix)
Lenzman – Masquerade (Die, Interface & William Cartwright Remix)
Legion – Both Sides (feat. Adam White)
Icicle feat. SP MC – Dreadnaught
J Majik & Wickaman – Ritual
J Majik & Wickaman – Old HEadz
Rockwell – 4U

11: Part 1 – The Best Melodic & Liquid D&B of 2011

Marcus Intalex – Meltdown 2012 (feat. Calibre)
June Miller – Isis
Brookes Brothers – Tare You Down
Friction – Someone (Feat. Mclean) (The Prototypes Remix)
BCee & S.P.Y – Is Anybody Out There? (Friction & K-Tee Remix)
London Elektricity – The Plan That Cannot Fail
Panic Girl – Hide and Seek (Duo Infernale Remix)
Seba & Paradox – The Light (feat. Kirsty Hawshaw)
Anile – Change of Direction
Adele – Rolling in the Deep (Nu:Tone Remix)
DJ Marky & S.P.Y – Mystic Sunset
Marco Del Horno feat. Emi Green
Nu:Tone – The First Time (feat. Natalie Williams)
Calibre – Touch Me
BCee – So Right (feat. Darrison)
Bungle feat. Ayah Marar – The Siren

2011, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

Looking Up – Ear & Drum Session 60

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A mix of the new this time around. If you like your beats uplifting, but without the cheese this should fit the bill.

So many good tunes hitting in the later months of 2011 it feels like D&B is having a real resurgence ATM. Blue Motion are doing big things in the liquid and deeper realms, Calibre has come back with a vengeance not to mention a good crop of new producers such as Moleman, Getz and Need for Mirrors. The future is looking bright. A special mention to Dub FX – Flow (Ill Skills Remix) in this mix which would have to be one of the most infectious tunes of the years for me.

Looking Up – 1hr of upfront & uplifting D&B from 2011

Blue Motion – Everywhere I Go
Moleman – Silver (Anthony Ash Remix)
Tali vs Shimon – Into the Deep
Muffler – Can You Feel It
Cyantific & Wilkinson – Get Into It
Trei & L.A.O.S. – The Light
Mav – Grace Light
Dub FX – Flow (Ill Skills Remix)
Getz – Keep On Loving Me
Need For Mirrors – Lofar
Toal Science – No Justice (Jubei Remix)
Marco Del Horno feat. Emi Green – This Town Is Ours (S.P.Y Vocal Remix)
Blu Mar Ten – Sweet Little Supernova
Calibre – Touch Me
Bungle feat. Ayah Marar – The Siren

All Label Mix, Amen, Ear & Drum Session, Melodic

Shadow Wax Vol.3: Moving Shadow 94-95 – Ear & Drum Session 56

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Part 3 of my Moving Shadow retrospectives, this time looking at the Intelligent sound from 1994-95. EZ Rollers, DJ Pulse, JMJ & Ritchie and, in particular, Omni Trio were absolutely on fire. The complexity of the beats and the melodies layered over the top of them are some of the best from that era, and if you love the Amen break as much as I do then you’re in for a treat.

Shadow Wax Vol.3 – 1hr+ of Moving Shadow Intelligence from 94-95

EZ Rollers – Rolled Into One
Omni Trio – Renegade Snares (Foul Play VIP Mix)
Omni Trio – Renegade Snares (Rob’s Reconstruction Mix)
DJ Pulse – Return Voyage (Pulse & Stretch Remix)
JMJ & Ritchie – Free La Funk
JMJ & Ritchie – Free La Funk (PFM Remix)
DJ Pulse – Let You In
Omni Trio – Nu Grooves ’94
Blame & Justice – Anthemia
Foul Play – Artificial Intelligence
Omni Trio – Together
Omni Trio – Rollin’ Heights (More Strings Attached Mix)
Foul Play – Music Is The Key (Omni Trio Remix)
Omni Trio – Soul Prominade
Omni Trio – Soul Freestyle
omni Trio – Ghost Rider
Cloud Nine – Blissful Ignorance
Foul Play – Being With You (Hopa & Bones Remix)
JMJ & Ritchie – Universal Horn

2011, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Melodic

Deep Down – Ear & Drum Session 54

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It’s no secret I am a big fan of the deeper sounds of D&B, and as the music has evolved it seems more and more producers and heads are turning to the deep side. This batch of tunes is a good spread of what is great about the deep rolling sound at them moment.

Marcus Intalex deserves a special mention for his debut LP ’21’ as does Mr Jospeh with his ‘What a Lovely Time It Was’ LP also on debut. June Miller as always brings space and depth to the music, Eastcolors to has a very deft touch and Ill Skillz & S.P.Y provide my favourite track in this mix the Chicago tinged ‘This is Why’

Deep Down – 1hr of Deep D&B from 2011

June Miller – Isis
DJ Ded – Just Funk
Eastcolors – Taken
Chooga – I Remember All
Mr Joseph – Teardrop
Mr Joseph – Necessary
Fabels & Express – Safe in Orbit (Eastcolors Remix)
Synth Sense, Anile & Rose – Seeking You
Koto – The Intermission
Ill Skillz & S.P.Y – This is Why
Marcus Intalex – Celestial Navigation (Feat. S.P.Y)
Total Science & S.P.Y Feat. Kevin King – Past Lives
Blueprint – Lost Notes (Stunna’s Found Notes Remix)
Artificial Intelligence – Stand Alone
Lenzman – More Than I Can Take (Enei Remix)
Amit – Doomed Youth

2011, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

Good Noodle – Ear & Drum Session 52

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Liquid has been making a big comeback lately after a period of being noodly for want of a better word. But it seems the rolling b-lines that have been infecting a lot of D&B has crept into the liquid genre, and with some great results.

Intelligent Manners are on form of late ‘Come Show Me’ and ‘Black Tea’, Seba continues his complete ownership of D&B with Mr Downstairs and Legion’s ‘Both Sides’ is for me one of THE tracks of the year so far.

Good Noodle – 1hr of 2011 Liquid

Despot – Winteria (Flame Remix)
Intelligent Manners – Black Tea
Skyweep Feat. Sunset Cafe & Katie Epworth – Laight of Day (Mage Remix)
Intelligent Manners – Come Show Me
London Elektricity – The Plan That Cannot Fail
Seba & Method One – Mr Downstairs
DJ DNS – On in 2010
Mute & Mako – Astral Transmissions
Command Strange & Intelligent Manners – Talking About Love
Majestics – Don’t Lie
Subreachers – Elysian Fields
MJT & Wreckage Machinery – November
MJT & Wreckage Machinery – Colours (First Take Bonus Version)
Majestics – In My Heart (feat Flower)
Kevin Rudolph feat. Lil Wayne – I Made It (Rockwell Dub Remix)
Mutt vs Million Stylez – Miss Fatty Bootleg
Legion – Both Sides (feat. Adam Wright)

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)