Category Archives: Melodic

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

Do MP3s Dream of Electric Bleep? – Jungletrain Session 173

This one is an oldy but a goody. Well, when I say old it is a bunch of tracks from 2008 which is ancient in D&B terms.

The vibe is strong in this one with a good up lifting feel but a firm dance floor bent. It’s got some of my favourites from last year including the touching (yes D&B can be touching) Bachelors of Science – Song for Lovers, the forgotten classic that is Shapeshifter’s – The Ride and the pure Amen devastation of Theory’s – Aurora Flash.

Do MP3s Dream of Electric Bleep – 1hr of the beautiful and bold from 2008

Do the Math – Aint No Home

Gex – My Sadness (Club Mix)

Dirrrty B – Push It Higher

Stunna & Amaning – Mutual Life

Zyz Ruffen & Jssa – Outtah Here

ICR – The Way It Goes

Bachelors of Science – Song for Lovers

Km & Paralyzah – Nega

Stunna & Amaning – Just a Dream

Blasta – Son of Love

Altair – Reminisce

Shapeshifter – The Ride

Solar Empire – Dynamics

Theory – Aurora Flash

Camoe – Morning Sun

The Finest – Ear & Drum Session 11

1996-97 was the era when Drum & Bass was at it’s most popular in the broadest sense. From hardcore Hip-Hoppers to chart topping acts, everyone needed a D&B remix on their 12″ or album. Cafés, bars and restaurants were using it as muzac and every second advert on TV seemed to have a D&B backing track. It also happens to be the era when D&B as a music was at it’s most melodic and intricate, which is why I love the jazzy/intelligent D&B from around this time more than just about any other era.

This was a time when commercial success wasn’t such a dirty word (Sony and others were snapping up artists for their labels) and accessibility to the music didn’t seem like such a bad thing. Artists like Wax Doctor, LTJ Bukem, EZ Rollers, Omni Trio, Aquasky and many others all put delicate floating melodies over tough chopped up Amens and beats to produce a sound that you could play on a dance floor, but also play to your Mum and still have her stay in the room. The best thing about this era is that it still sounds as fresh today as when it first came out. It never seems to age or become disposable like some of the genres that came after it.

So in this mix I’ve tried to put together what was great about the 1996-97 Jazzy D&B genre. Some tracks you will have heard and, hopefully, there are a few obscure surprises in there that you haven’t. Best listened to with a good drink in your hand and your feet up on the couch, I suggest you kick back and enjoy what is not only great D&B, but great music too.

 

The Finest – 1.5hrs of 1996-97 Jazz & Bass

Nuyorcian Soul – I Am the Black Gold of the Sun (4 Hero Remix)
JMJ & Flytronix – In Too Deep
Flytronix – The Rhodes Tune
EZ Rollers – Dropping Science (EZ Remix)
Dr. S. Gachet – Remember the Rollers (The Meaningful Mix)
Omni Trio – Tripping on Broken Beats (Carlito Mix)
Statik Sound System – Revolutionary Pilot (Rob Smith Mix)
EZ Rollers – Sub Tropic
EZ Rollers – Believe
Photek – The Hidden Camera (Static Remix)
Aquasky – Opaque
Olive – You’re Not Alone (Roni Size Remix)
Alex Banks – Control
DJ Krush – Only the Strong Survive (Dillinja Remix)
LTJ Bukem – The James Bond Theme
Intense – Careless Minds
St. Germain – Alabama Blues (Wax Doctor Remix)
Ken Ishii – Stretch (Shogun Remix)
Wax Doctor – Finer Things
Adam F – Aromatherapy

Los Trio Omnios – Phuturefreq Session 7

I’ll be the first to admit that Omni Trio is like no other D&B producer in the game. His sense of melody and gentle touch in production makes his stuff far more than D&B and pushes it into the realms of ‘proper music’.

Ever since he started up with Rob Playford, Omni Trio has consistently released hit after hit and has provided some of THE anthems for the genre. His Albums Volume One – The Deepest Cut, The Haunted Science, Skeleton Keys, Byte Sized Life and Even Angels Cast Shadows are all classics.

I did this mix back in 2004, but still get requests for it today and so I thought it is well overdue for a re-hosting. It doesn’t cover every great track he has ever done, but you never could in just 2 hours. Even though a lot of the stuff in the mix is over 10 years old, I never get sick of listening to it and I hope you don’t either. Mr Robert Haigh, to you I say respect.

 

Los Trios Omnios – 2hrs of Omni Trio  

Through the Vibe (2 on 1 Mix)
Nu Birth Of Cool (Rogue Unit Mix)
The Elemental
Rhythm Methods
Serpent Navigators
Astral Phase 
Who Are You? (Aquasky Remix)
Sanctuary
Twin Town Karaoke (Guardians of Dalience Mix)
Fire Island 
Red Rain
Skeleton Keys
Meltdown
Breakbeat Etiquette
Secret Life (Silent Storm Remix) 
Higher Ground
Nu Birth
Lucid
Higher Ground (Breakbeat Etiquette London Steppas Mix)
Artificial Life (Harp Tune)
First Contact (1.25)
Diffusion Loops
Rogue Satellite (Extended Mix)
Lucid (London Steppers Remix)
Less Than Zero
Who Are You (EZ Rollers RMX)
Renegade Snares (High Contrast Remix)
Thru The Vibe (John B Remix)

Rolled Gold – Ear & Drum Session 9

This is just as much a review as a mix, as I focus on the amazing label Golden Orb. This label has been up and running for about a year now and already they are up to release number nine. The fact that I could find an hours worth of quality music to fill a mix is a real testimony to the quality control set down by those at Golden Orb.

Operon, the labels manager, pricked up my ears with release one which had the madly funky Inside Man on it and from there the label has never looked back. The artist roster has some better know producers such as DJ Clart and Melbourne’s ATP, but the label isn’t shy with breaking new talent. They have a string of producers I’d never heard of, but who I will be keeping a serious ear out for in the future.

The best way I can describe their sound is a cross between the golden age of the ‘intelligent’ Moving Shadow releases (think Storm From The East), Good Looking and Fokus recordings. Even though Golden Orb has all these similar elements, they still manage to have a distinct and unique sound which is both lush and deep all at the same time.

Their last two releases, the Eastern Promises EPs, sees them toughening up their sound quite substantially with Invisible Landscape’s – First is Forever and Shebuzzz’ – In Infinity clear standouts. In Infinity is what can only be described as an out and out Amen spanker and is a dead cert for making the floor go mad.

If you like what you hear in this mix please give them your support by buying their stuff from .

 

Rolled Gold – 1hr mix of Golden Orb Digital

D-Fect – The Dayz
Cutworks – Alone in the Silence
ATP – Montego Funk
ATP – Struggle
Koritsa – Mine (Infuzoria Mix)
ATP – Soho Lament
DJ Clart – So Selfish
Intelligent Manners – Showtime
Command Strange – Goa
Flirt with Dirt – Taken to Reverie
D-Fect & Crix – All I Ever
Operon – Inside Man
Invisible Landscape – First is Forever
Shebuzzz – In Infinity

Muttly Much? – Jungletrain Session 176

Hailing from Canada, Mutt blazes a trail with his unique sound. His melodic and soulful style is second to none in D&B today.

For me Mutt was the best new comer to D&B for 2006-7. His sense of melody, stripped back beats and soulful vocals make his sound relaxed and easy on the ear. But when it comes to rolling it out, he heads into a dubby dance hall style that gets the floor moving proper. I can’t say enough about him really. :fanboy: 

This mix is for him and anyone who loves his sound.

 

Muttly Much? – 1hr of Mr Mutt

Mutt – Strangers
Mutt – Trying Measures
Mutt – Lately
Mutt – Hot Lick Squeeze
Mutt – Kush Talk
Mutt – Come to Terms
Mutt – Nice As Me
Mutt – Advance Money
Mutt – Same As You Feel
Mutt – Crazy
Mutt – Hands Free
Mutt – Draw on Me
Mutt & Paul T – Hips, Thighs and Alibis
Mutt & Apeture – New Jazz Lick
Mutt – Dublites (D-Bridge Remix)
Mutt & Perpetuum – November
Mutt & Redeyes – Virtue
Mutt – Credence

Earthlings – Jungletrain Session 199

Earth Records was Bukem’s off shoot label for rare-groove based music. Although a lot of the compilations that came out under the Earth banner didn’t have a lot of D&B on them, the D&B tracks they did have were amazing and sublime.

Bukem’s own Constellations with DRS on vocals sets the tone for the mix, but big back-in-the-day artists like Blame, Crystal, Addiction, Phunky Technicians & Doc Scott all make this a listening pleasure.

Don’t just stand there, chill out. 

Earthlings – 1hr of Earth Recordings

LTJ Bukem – Constellations
Pablo – Do What You Gotta Do
Appaloosa – Traveling
Blame – Revival
Intense – Flashback
Vincent – Scythe (Studio Mix)
DJ Crystal – Mind Games
DJ Addiction – Senses
PHD & The Funky Technicians – Above & Beyond
Words 2B Heard Meets Ad-Ill (Planet Invasion) – Con-Quest
Doc Scott – Tokyo Dawn

Sofa Beats – Jungletrain Session 143

Sea Monkey strikes again dredging up this mix from 2007. This one is designed as an after-party mix to massage your mind. Follow the instructions and you’ll be fine.

So it’s 5am and you’ve all just got home.

You don’t even remember inviting half these people?!?

You don’t care though, because the weird guy has a cute sister.

Is she giving me the vibe?

You’re still slightly spangled, but because you’ve been banging it all night, anything too heavy is going to do your head in.

What you do?

1. Put the kettle on
2. Hit the lounge
3. Roll a phatty. (optional)
4. Play this mix
5. Talk crap till bed time

This one’s for those that chill like that.

 

Sofa Beats – 1hr of Beats for the Lounge

Alix Perez & Sabre – Old Flame
Mutt – Just A Kind Of
Implex – The Shape of Time
Calibre – Bullets
Alix Perez & Sabre – Solitary Native
Calibre – Got a Thing
Alaska – Born Again
Mutt – Hot Lick Squeeze
Logistics – City Life
Electrosoul System – Moving in Transit
Calibre – Late Night Squeeze
Mutt – Butterscotch
Saburuko – Stellar
Pentagon – Summer of 73

Sharp Fokuz – Jungletrain Session 134

A cheeky Sea Monkey reminded me that this set was a corker and well worth going in the request pile. It’s an all Fokuz Recordings showcase, so if you like their sound you’ll like this.

Fokuz have been coming on strong in the last 12 months to forge a sound that is both deep, melodic and firing. For me nothing sounds quite like this label and I’ve been itching to put together a mix of their sound for quite a while. With the release of their Treasures from the Deep LP the time is right to lay down a hours worth of pure melodic class.

Big ups to the Fokuz peeps for letting me mix this one up (yes I did ask permission) and big ups to all their artists for consistently putting out tracks I can’t resist buying on site. My only grumble is that I don’t have as much of their stuff as I’d like too.

If you know the label you’ll enjoy this, if you don’t know the label then now is a perfect opportunity to catch up on what you’ve been missing.

 

Sharp Fokuz – 1hr of beats from the deep

Implex – The Shape of Time
Unit One – Two Spirits
Spinor – Revenge
Bcee & Lomax – Letting Go
Icicle – That Tune
Aorta – Love, Hope & Future (Bcee & Lomax RMX)
Psidream – Inner Strength
Mathematics & FX 909 – How I Love You
Autumn & ICR – Yesterday
Greeley & Lomax – Can’t Wait 4U
Spinor – Deep Blue
Icicle – Can’t Be
Icicle – Magnetism
J Cut – The Beginning
Mathematics & FX 909 – How I Love You
Mav – God of Speed

Progressive Future Music – Ear & Drum Session 1

To say PFM is a legend in the field of atmospheric drum & bass is a chronic understatement. Although not huge in volumes of output, just about every track PFM has produced is golden and is so lushly crafted that they always take you on a journey. If I had to point to a single producer who sums up the Good Looking sound it would be them/him.

This mix goes to all those who have had a ‘moment’ on a dance floor some where at some time when a PFM track has smoothed it’s way into a mix and transported you to a better place.

Click the thread title to listen, or right-click & save-as to download.

 

Progressive Future Music – 1hr of PFM

PFM – Cruising Detroit (98 Remix)
PFM – Danny’s Song
PFM – One and Only
Mandalay – Flowers Bloom (PFM Secret Lover Mix)
PFM – The Western (Words 2 B Heard Vocal Mix)
PFM – The Mystics
PFM – Language of Love
PFM – Dreams PFM – In Love
PFM – Wash Over Me
Saint Etienne – The Sea (PFM Remix)
PFM – For All of Us