Category Archives: Ear & Drum Session

2015, Amen, Ear & Drum Session

Drum Struck – Ear & Drum Session 103

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Percussive Drum & Bass has come a long way since the pots and pans style abstraction pioneered by the likes of Polar, Paradox and Equinox. These days some serious polish is going into the production plus the addition of some groove that makes it, dare I say it, almost danceable.

For me OM Unit is blazing this trail and his Inversion LP on Metalheadz was one of THE albums of the year across any genre. But there are many others following hot on his heels including some giant names such as Calibre, S.P.Y and Marcus Intalex all pushing their sound into territories unknown.

This mix may not be for all tastes, but if you are up for some challenging listening then dive right in.

Drum Struck – 1hr of Percussive D&B

OM Unit – Parallel
S.P.Y – Twilight Zone
Calibre – Eschaton feat. MC DRS
Nebula – Blackout
Digital, Spirit & Response – Different Style
Dub Phizix – Bounce
Liz-E – Need You
S.P.Y – Lost Orbit
Ulterior Motive – Inta-National
Marcus Intalex – These Days
Mefjus- Continuous
Ulterior Motive – Stay
ArQer & Realtime – Derpetroid
OM Unit – Touching Down
The Invaders – Burning Book
Vromm – F Plex
Goldie – My Little India
Icicle & Mefjus – Isolation
S.P.Y – Frozen

2015, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session

The Depths – Ear & Drum Session 102

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Strap on the tanks and come for a dive into the deeper side of D&B with me. We’ve got some Drumfunk, Minimal, Half-Beat, Dub and a little bit of Liquid to smooth it all out – oh and a some quality grime-style lyrics courtesy of Kool Keith, Fixate and Skittles.

Tune in, turn up (the bass) and chill out as we plumb the depths.

The Depths – 1.5hrs of Deep Drum & Bass

Rainforest – Dopamine Paradise
Snug – Ascension
Skyweep – Wisdom Goddess
Earl Grey – Bob Dub
Calculon & Austin Speed – Get Murked (Deft Remix)
OM Unit – the War
Nu:Tone – Metaphor 6000 (Feat. Kool Kieth)
Machine Code – Requiem (Huron Remix)
Mobility – Fully Interlocking (Feat. Dana)
Bungle – Lights
Mauoq – Dream On (Stunna Kingston Dream Dub Remix)
Abiotic & Wallwerk – Polar Lights
Chimpo – Haymaker
Chimpo – Bun it (Feat Fixate)
Icicle – Problem (Feat. Skittles)
Thriftworks – Pad FUKKK
Goldie – My Little India
OM UNit – The Crossing
Airstrike & Blak – Karma (Mercury Remix)
Blu Mar Ten – Thin Air (Kid Drama Remix)
Skyweep – Everytime (Feat. Natalie Williams)
PLK – Her Side
Synkro – Transient
Dexta & Mauoq – Time Patrol
Vromm – Fields of Vengence

2014, Amen, Ear & Drum Session, Intelligent, Melodic

Change of Atmosphere – Ear & Drum Session 101

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Back in 1996 LTJ Bukem was king. His brand of atmospheric (some called it Intelligent) D&B was uplifting dance floors everywhere and his Logical Progression LP was on rotation in almost every pub, cafe and bar. The combination of rapid fire syncopated beats couples with melody and atmospheric pads was pure magic.

Fast forward to 2014 and the atmospheric sound is starting to have a resurgence. I’m not sure it’s a deliberate movement the way it was in 96′, as I’m not finding EPs or LPs dedicated to it, but single tracks are popping up everywhere in amongst the amen heavy drumfunk and melodic liquid on labels like Celsius, Subtle Audio and Offworld Recordings.

I’ve spent most of the year keeping a folder aside just for these types of tracks. Knowing that eventually I’ll have enough to throw down a decent set of uplifting beats and swelling rhythms. And that time is now.

Change of Atmosphere – 1hr+ of Atmospheric D&B

Nebula – Encounter (VIP)
Actraiser – Strange New World
S.P.Y & Total Science – Double Trouble
Will Miles – Falling
Tim Cant – Fusion Chillout
Calibre & Marcus Intalex Feat. Fox – Something Heavy
Tremah – Trouble Shooter
Dave Webber – Drifter
Enjoy – Safe for a Mistake
Parhelia – Moon Machine
Roygreen & Protone Feat. Monologue & Lameduza – Through The Alps (Survival Remix)
Airstrike & Blak – Karma
L-Side – Tomorrow Never Dies
Anile – Voidrants
Anile – To Live Without
Eveson – Tempest
Tim Cant – Ultra Generic
Blade – Universal Rhythm
Furney – Tear in the Rain
Jam Theives – Distant Lover

2014, Ear & Drum Session

One Hundred – Ear & Drum Session 100

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I started this blog almost 6 years to the day as a way of getting my love of Drum & Bass music out to the world. Since then I’ve uploaded 99 exclusive Ear & Drum mixes and countless archives of older mixes that pre-dated this blog. I don’t do it for money and have kept advertising away. Having never produced, I figured the best I could do was promote other peoples music I love through my mixes. The reason I do this is for the love of a music that over the past 20 years has given me so much pleasure that I feel I owe it something. I have to give something back to all those producers who toil away in their studios, making next to no money and awesome music.

In the last six years The Ear & Drum has had over 75,000 views and over 22,000 mixes downloaded. The most popular being the very first mix I posted featuring PFM which has had just over 700 downloads. This is my 100th mix for the Ear & Drum and as a way of doing something special I put together 100 of my favourite tunes from the past two years. It’s over five hours long. It will take you ages to download. But I can guarantee you it’ll be worth it.

I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported, and who still supports, the Ear & Drum and Drum & Bass music. I read every comment and every time someone thanks me for a mix I feel like it’s been worth it. An extra big thanks to ChaNinja, William, Jonathan (How about that gig in Berlin next year?), CyKosis, DNR, Paige, Stelf and Jedi John (Glad you’re mixing again mate.) who have regularly commented and supported me down the years. And an even bigger thanks to Raps, Mike, Cob and the Peligra Kru who showed me just what a powerful medium the net can be for spreading the gospel and getting mixes out there.

Here’s to mix number 100 and hopefully another 100 more to come. 🙂

One Hundred – 5hrs+ of Amazing Music

Sub Focus – Twilight
Bungle – Aura
Furney – Charlotte’s Song
Sub Focus – Turn It Around Feat. Kele
Artificial Intelligence – War Horse Feat. MC DRS
Lenzman – Empty Promise
Lenzman – Empty Promise (Jubei Remix)
Mistabishi – Dark Pools
Rental – Paper Shuffler
Technimatic – Sheltered Storm
Nudge – Fair Question
Never – White Clouds
Total Science – See Your Face Feat. Riya
Fred V & Grafix – Clouds Cross Skies
Hybrid Minds – Meant To Be
Seba – Shades of Me & You
Seba – Never Let You Go (Blu Mar Ten Remix)
Bipolar – State of Play
Lenzman – My Tearz Feat. Steo
S.P.Y Feat. Total Science – Cold Harsh Air
Level 2 – Conquest VIP
Amoss – Bumbaclart
Technimatic – Intersection
Sunchase – Next Rhythm (Engage Remix)
Vadav – Karma
Rawtekk – Snowflakes (Ambient Version)
Karma – Lil Ghetto Boy (Alexus Remix)
Bachelors of Science – Beats Still Own the Rhythm
dBridge & Skeptical – Move Way
Facing Jinx – Time
Greyscale – Impossible Dream
Naibu – Fireflies (Light Mix)
Seba – Under the Sun
S.P.Y – You
dRamatic – Straight Talking
Nu:Logic – Morning Light
Nitri Feat. Grimm & Level 2 – Secrets
Command Strange & Malaky – Regrets
ST Files & Response – Nailbomb
Contra – Espanola
Technimatic – Mirror Image
Pharrell Williams – Happy (Makoto 170 Edit)
Sprinter – Suffocate
DuoScience – Neglect
Amit & Rani – I’ll Cut You Down
Hybris – Losing It
BCee – Think Twice
LTJ Bukem – Atlantis (Marky & S.P.Y Rework)
Seba Feat. Kirsty Hawkshaw – Nothing Can Replace
Break – Who We Are
The INsiders – Meltdown
PFM – This Must Be Love
Bachelors of Science Feat. Ben Soundscape & Kemo – Ainokea
Data – Vice
Nitri & Level 2 Feat. Grimm – Lies (Calibre Remix)
Nitri & Level 2 Feat. Grimm – Lies
Total Science Feat. Grimm – Another Time
Intelligent Manners – Move Me
Klute – Turnaround
Shrust – Cocoon
Seba – Can’t Describe
Mineral – Living the Dream (ESC & Subsense Remix)
Telmo A – Between Two Worlds (Phil Tangent Remix)
Actraiser – Future Encounters
Enei Feat. Eastcolours – 2012
Airstrike Feat. Allison Grey – Frozen
dBridge – Death of a Drum Machine
SJ Clart & Reza – The Chances (Vocal Version)
Keeno – As One
Paramount & Patricia Edwards – Angels
Breach – Jack (Calibre Remix)
Etherwood – Unfolding
Alix Perez Feat. Sam Wills – Annie’s Song
Sub Focus Feat. Alpines – Tidal Wave
Phil Tangent – Restitution
DLR & Script – Bue Room
HLZ, DJ Chef & MC Fats – Souljah (HLZ Remix)
Stray – LA Zoom
Tokyo Prose & Phil Tangent – Parity (Klute Remix)
Vilem & McLeod – Another Star
LTJ Bukem – Music (Technicolour Remix)
Nookie – The Eclipse (Furney Remix)
BCee – The Falls
SJ Marky & S.P.Y – Yellow Shoes (Calibre Remix)
Hybrid Minds – Why (Fourward Remix)
S.P.Y Feat. Jo-S – Future Tense
soulTec – I Hear You Knocking
Bcee – Captured In Time (Chris SU Remix)
CLS – One Month
Cyantific – Walking Away
High Contrast – Twilight’s Last Gleaming VIP
Lenzman – Broken Dreams (Makoto Remix)
Rowpieces – Cosmic Funk
Shuwa – Inversion
Alex Reece – It’s Alright
Frederic Robinson Feat. Stray – Bloom
Marcus Intalex – Riots
Om Unit – Grey Skies Over Chicago
Paperclip – Structure 15
Seba – Balance of Power

2014, Ear & Drum Session, Free Tunes, Liquid D&B, Melodic

All’s Well That Ends Well – Ear & Drum Session 99

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Last mix in the double figures for the Ear & Drum Sessions, and it’s a little ripper. Full of melodic gems from the Liquid end of D&B – perfect sunny day tunes to get you bouncing.

A special mention has to got Makoto for his bootleg of Pharrell Williams ‘Happy’. Easily one of the best commercial tracks of the year, it only gets better after Makoto has given it an atmospheric rework. And best of all it is yours to download for free right here.

Other notables are Technimatic with his new ‘Desire Paths’ LP on Shogun Audio which is well worth a listen. Plus the good people at Fokuz Recordings with their ‘Crossroads EP’. There are only three tracks on it, but all three were strong enough to be included into the mix and include emerging artists I’d never heard of.

Enjoy number 99 and get ready for a special number 100.

All’s Well That Ends Well – 1hr of Liquid D&B

Bop – Lucid Dreaming (feat. Elsa Esmeralda)
Logisitcs – As Sure as Sunrise (Feat. Hugh Hardie)
Actuaries – Homeward Bound
Pharrell Williams – Happy (Makoto 170 Edit)
Technimatic – Night Vision
Technimatic – Perseverance
Bungle – You & Me (Villem Remix)
Anth M – Inner Moment (Oddsoul Remix)
Technimatic – Music Is Music
Pablo Nouvelle – You Don’t Understand (Calibre Remix)
Element Down & Laura Wadley – Electricity (Rune & Kaiza Remix)
Fullmetal, Kaiza & Rune – Crossroads
Shapeshifter – The Touch (Netsky Remix)
Keeno – As One (feat. Pat Fulgoni)
Vortex Involute – Closing Doors (Nelver Remix)
SubSid – So Hold On
Vaptor – Lay Down Your Soul (Rune & Kaiza Remix)

2014, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

White Rabbit – Ear & Drum Session 98

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Perfect for the return of the warmer weather here in Australia, this is a summery little number full of Liquid rollers and tunes to sing along to.

Big ups to Perth boy Greg Packer back on form with Danny Rhodes and his tune ‘Gone Away’. Another old favourite of mine who’s back producing the goods is Redeyes with his tracks ‘Reflections’ and the Lenzman colab ‘Thieves in the Night’.

Did someone say Lenzman? Really this mix belongs to him and his massive new LP out on Metalheadz. It’s a liquid lovers dream and easily in the top three D&B LPs to come out this year across any genre. Lenzman’s ear for a perfect melody and rolling b-line has always been spot on and it’s great to see him getting support from a label as big as Headz.

So that’s it. not much else to say other than turn it on, crank up the bass and enjoy some beautiful music.

White Rabbit – 1.5hr+ of Liquid Goodness

Greg Packer & Danny Rhodes – Prelude in G# Minor
Lenzman – Collapse
Greg Packer & Danny Rhodes – Gone Away
Lenzman & Redeyes – Theives In The Night (Technimatic Remix)
Break – Moving On
Sunny Crimea – Never Say Goodbye
Redeyes – Reflections
Actraiser – Twighlight Express
Contra – Espanola
Dose – Soul Food
Lenzman – Ever So Slightly (AI Remix)
Stereotype & Nelver – Evermore
Actraiser – Midnight Wanderers
Actraiser – Future Encounters
Eveson & MC Fats – Vignette
Lenzman – Starz (feat. Kevin King)
Lenzman – Paper Faces (feat. Martyna Baker)
Deeper Connection – So Deep
HLZ, DJ Chef & MC Fats – Souljah (HLZ Remix)
Lenzman – Always
Bipolar – Interlude
Lenzman – Just Can’t Take (feat. DRS)
Lenzman – Burner
Nelver – Full Sky
Phil Tangent – Remembrance
Technimatic & LSB – Rotary Motion (Calibre Remix)
Command Strange – Could Be Mine
Lenzman – It’s Yours (Interlude)
Utah Jazz – January Silence
CLS – One Month
Lenzman – Through My Eyes
S.P.Y – Dusty Fingers (feat. Diane Charlemagne)
Simplification & Nelver – My Love

2014, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

The Chillin – Ear & Drum Session 97

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This is a big ol’ liquid D&B mix chock full of deep rollers and warm fuzzy b-lines. Some say the genre has gotten formulaic, but personally I think the sound has just been nailed down and perfected. Certain producers are now they are flexing their skills into more and more melodic territories that works a wonderful magic on the ears.

Calibre, Seba, BCee, Bachelors of Science to name just a few are killing it and have been for quite a while. Labels like Fokuz, Influenza Media and Celsius rarely put out dud releases now, and I get excited every time I see something new from any of these labels.

This is one of those sets that could fill the floor if played at full volume or a bean bag if your sitting at home with your phones on. Put it on, slip onto your comfiest chair, relax and enjoy.

The Chillin – 1.5hrs of Liquid Goodness

Flashback FM – Take a Ride
Andy Sim & Kalum – Revitalise
Macca & Changing Faces – Clouds Cross Skies
Bachelors of Science – Beats Still Own The Rhythm
Chase & Status – Blk & Blu (Calibre Remix)
Zoe Phillips – Road Signs (Hugh Hardie Remix)
Bipolar – State of Play
Facing Jinx – time
Pluton, Skyer & Physical Illusion – Sunrise
BCee – Think Twice
Total Science – Another Time (Feat. Grimm)
Sektor – Back in the Days
Seba – Can’t Describe
Klute – My Black White feat. Close
Nitri & Level 2 feat. Grimm – Lies (Calibre Remix)
Furney & Locksmith – Dub A Dub
Tim Cant – Sacred Moments
BCee – The Falls
Maduk – Avalon (VIP)
Kalum – Zen
Break – They’re Wrong (Calibre Remix)
Break – They’re Wrong (Calibre Alternative Remix)
Tokalosh – My Way
Rowpieces – Eternal Peace
Oddsoul feat. Anastasia – Summer Lovin’ (Colossus Remix)
Tokyo Prose – Songbird
High Contrast – Twilight’s Last Gleaming VIP
Flashback FM – City at Night

2014, Ambient, Cross Genre, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session

Call The Ambience 6: Lost Patients – Ear & Drum Session 96

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It’s taken me a long time to build up a good selection of tracks to continue my Call the Ambience series, but this one is worth the wait. Starting out almost beatless, we move into Bukem-esq atmospheric territory and then toughen up with a claustrophobic sting of tougher (but still spacious) tracks. It does settle back down towards the end, but the light and shade is definitely what makes it.

You might notice the tracklist has some interesting characters in it, including a couple of D&B’s lost sons in the form of Mistabishi and Alex Reece. Neither of whom have lost any of their experimental touch. One of my favourite producers of deep darkness, Amit, gets the back-to-back treatment plus Seba and Klute also go-head-to head. The best transition however is Skeptical – Always Be Mine (feat. Collette Warren) into Facing Jinx – Time which elevates to a crescendo that reminds me of the old Good Looking nights at The End.

This one goes out to Dan who’s courage in the face of adversity is a true inspiration to me, and my old mate Stelf who I know is feeling the ambient version of Snowflakes. Stelf (if you’re reading this) consider this your belated birthday present. 😉

If I had to call it, I’d say this is the best mix I’ve pulled of this year, so if you only download one mix from the Ear & Drum I’d make it this one.

Call The Ambience 6: Lost Patients – 1hr of Ambient D&B

Mistabishi – Dark Pools
Rawtekk – Snowflakes (Ambient Version)
Rantoul – Paper Shuffler
Alex Reece – Retrowaxable
Skeptical – Always Be Mine (feat. Collette Warren)
Facing Jinx – Time
Vadav – Karma
Amit & Nomine – Mr CLark
Amit & Rani – I’ll Cut You Down
Seba – Mesmerism
Klute – Give It All (feat. Naomi Pryor)
DLR & Skript – Blue Room (feat. Martyna Baker)
Congi – Transparent
Marginal – Elusive Moment
Derrik & Tonika – Genius
Nuage – Above Time
Alix Perez, DJ Rashad & DJ Spin – Make It Worth It
Soul Intent – Dubplate Special
Acra – Boarderland State
Alex Reece – It’s Alright

Amen, Chill Out, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Intelligent, Melodic, Old Skool

Shadow Wax 8: 1997 Chilled Intelligence Part 1 – Ear & Drum Session 84

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Back to the golden era of Drum & Bass with this tidy selection from the god father of D&B labels Moving Shadow. This rolls and flows majestically through intelligent amen driven beats and bass from start to finish.

Omni Trio, JMJ & Ritchie, Flytronix, EZ Rollers, Hoax – all the big names are in here and so are some of their biggest tunes. Anyone who can remember far back enough to when The Rhode Tune, Sanctuary and Free La Funk first hit will remember they changed everything.

If these tunes are new to you, you are in for a real treat. If you were luckily enough to be listening to drum & bass back in 97, enjoy this roll down memory lane.

Shadow Wax 8 – 1hr of 1997 Chilled Intelligence

Hoax – Temple Bell
Omni Trio – Sanctuary
Omni Trio – Sancturay (Funky Technicians Remix)
Essence of Aura – So This Is Love
Flytronix – The Rhode Tune
Dead Calm – Searchin’
EZ Rollers – Subtropic
JMJ & Ritchie – Free La Funk
Kudos – Soul Searching
Hoax – The More I See You
JMJ & Ritchie – Beyond Therapy
Mastermind – The Morning After
Hoax – Pipe Dreams (Flytronix Remix)
Hoax – The Mission

2014, All Artist Mix, Amen, Ear & Drum Session

Klute-aronomy – Ear & Drum Session 94

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Those who know my musical taste will know I’m a BIIIG Klute fan. So big in fact I have done a few all Klute mixes down the years (Check them out here) to promote the man’s genius as a producer. It has been a few years since I’ve done an all artist mix, and if anyone was to get me back on the all artist mix train again it would have to be Klute.

His latest album The Draft (Buy it here) is a beautifully crafted & balanced D&B album that demonstrates why he is one of the genres greatest and most consistent producers. There’s a good chunk of that LP in this mix, along with a whole swag of tracks from the last 3-4 years plus a couple of remixes of old classics.

If you dig Klute you’ll dig this. And please, please support the guys Commercial Suicide label by buying tracks from their official online store. The label (and indeed Klute himself) deserve as much support as they can get.

Klute-aronomy – 1.5hrs of Klute

Klute – Sober Light of Day
Klute – We R The Ones (Ulterior Motive Remix)
Klute – Last Words
Klute – Come Back To Me
Mute & Mako – Essential Forms (Klute Remix)
Klute – Media
Klute – Our Pretty Lives
Klute – Take A Breath (Invaders VIP)
Klute – Best Bits Not Over
Klute – Most People Are Dicks
Klute – Sick Drive
Klute & Silent Witness – Friendless
Klute – Ashram
Klute – Will You Still Love
Klute – Party Hands
Klute – Give It All (feat. Naomi Pryor)
Klute – Strnage Dinner
Klute – Birdland
Klute – Turn Around
Tokyo Prose & Phil Tangent – Parity (Klute Remix)
Klute – Divinity
Klute – Hang With Me
Klute – We’re All Dying
Klute – Rosemary
Klute – Revolution
Klute – Haloween
Klute – Trust Me
Klute – Fool’s Love
Klute – The Draft