2017, Ear & Drum Session, Jazz & Bass, Melodic

Jungle Jazz Vol.2 – Ear & Drum Session 133

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Back with another mix sourcing from the legendary Jungle Jazz compilations. This one covers 1998-2002 when the music was transforming from intelligent jungle into more jazz infused D&B as we know it today.

Some of these are straight up jazz tracks such as London Elektricity’s epic 10 minute ‘Rewind’ where as others are starting to take on the jazz-step sound of the naughties like Groove Rider’s remixes of Goldie’s ‘Believe’ and Bally Sagoo’s ‘Turn Bin Jaya’.One of the great things about the Jungle Jazz series was they had tunes I never saw get a vinyl release, so some of this music will hopefully be new to most of you.

My pick of the bunch would have to be 4 Hero’s – 9 by 9 (M.I.S.T. Full Vocal Mix) which pretty much kicked of the Liquid genre that is so huge today and Klute’s – Phone Call (Matrix Remix) which is pretty much the perfect D&B track in my humble opinion.

Jungle Jazz Vol.2 – 1hr of Jazz Infused D&B

London Elektricity – Rewind
Justice – Westside Centre (DJ Pulse Remix)
Nuyorican Soul – It’s Alright, I feel it! (Roni Size Remix)
New Jazz Hustler – Bombay
Shifty – Jazz Ass
4 Hero – 9 by 9 (M.I.S.T. Full Vocal Mix)
DJ Krush – Meiso (4 Hero Vocal Mix)
Goldie – Believe (Grooverider Remix)
Klute – Phone Call (Matrix Remix)
Bally Sagoo – Turn Bin Jaya (Grooverider Remix)
Adam F – Music In My Mind
4 Hero – Star Chasers (Photek Remix)
Shifty – Jelly Head
Photek – Modus Operandi

2017, All Artist Mix, Ambient, Chill Out

A Stranger Thing – A journey through the Upside Down

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If you’ve seen the incredible homage to 80s Spielberg that is Stranger Things, you’ll know that the soundtrack is both beautiful and haunting in equal measure. If you haven’t seen Stranger Things go and watch it now and come back, I’ll wait…

This is my first pure Ambient mix heavily based on the wonderful music produced by Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein. It is as drifting and floaty as you’d expect but, much like the show, has an unsettling underlying malice that never lets you relax completely.

Shouts out to Burial, Marc Romboy and Tawbaq who also contributed and here’s hoping this is the start of some more regular in terms of Ambient mixes. If you listen and like, leave me a comment so I know to do more. 🙂

A Stranger Thing – 1hr+ of Ambient Music

Burial – Subtemple
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – This Isn’t You
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Hawkins
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Walking Through the Upside Down
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – She’ll Kill You
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Hopper Sneaks In
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – They Found Us
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Leap of Faith
Burial – Beachfires
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Where’s Barb?
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – It’s Not My Boy
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – The Upside Down
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Cops Are Good at Finding
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Run Away
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Something in the House
Marc Romboy – Voyage de la Planete
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Speak of the Devil
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Tribulations
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Eleven
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Gearing Up
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Danger Danger
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Inside the Black Room
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Breaking and Entering
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Kids
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Kids Two
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Castle Byers
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Something in the Wall
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Lights Out
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Stranger Things (Extended)
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – What Do You Know
Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein – Photos in the Woods
Marc Romboy – La Machine du Temps
Tawbaq – Paralel Prologue

2017, All Artist Mix, All Label Mix, Ear & Drum Session, Jump Up, Jungle, Old Skool, Rave

Tru Jungle & Phat Playaz – Ear & Drum Sessions 131 & 132

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Welcome to the Ear & Drum’s first double post representing the influential and legendary sound of DJ Hype’s and his seminal label Tru Playaz.

Few labels, if any, have had as many anthems and hits as Tru Playaz. With a roster of incredible production talent like Zinc, Pascal, Swift and DJ Hype himself Playaz owned jungle and jump up through the 90s.

Tru Jungle looks at Hype and Playaz Jungle output from 92-96 and Phat Playaz continues on from 97-00 and is more of a Jump Up selection. These are straight up good times tunes made to get your head nodding and your feet moving and if you don’t recognise any of these tunes then you probably missed the 90s altogether.

6 Million Ways to Die, Rrroll the Beats, The Chopper, We Must Unite, Going Out for the Loot – DJ Hype was on fire during the early days of Jungle not just as a producer but as one of the scenes best DJs as well. Add to that his teaming up with Pascal & Zinc to form the Ganja Kru and you get jungle hit after hit.

Tru Jungle – 1hr of Tru Playaz Jungle Classics

DJ Hype – Weird Energy (Hells Bells Mix)
Uncle 22 – 6 Million Ways to Die (DJ Hype Remix)
DJ Hype – Dreams
Fallen Angels – Hello Lover (DJ Hype Remix)
DJ Hype – Mash Up the Place
DJ Hype – Dawn of the Fever
Hardware – Lix
Hardware – Dreamin’ of You
DJ Hype – Rrroll the Beats
DJ Hype – Rrroll the Beats Remix
DJ Hype – The Chopper (Jonny Jungle Remix)
Ganja Kru – Going Out for the Loot
DJ Hype – We Must Unite
Rude Boy Monty – Steppa’s Anthem (Linerz Mix)
Pascal – Tru Grit
Ganja Kru – Computerised Cops (Pascal’s Mix)
Hmp – Runin’s (Origin Unknown Remix)
P-Funk – Skinz
P-Funk – P-Funk Era
DJ Zinc – The Source

These days Jump Up is a dirty word to most D&B lovers, but back in the day it was THE premier dance floor filler and Tru Playaz were the kings of the dance. You couldn’t go anywhere without hearing tunes like Peace, Love and Unity, Super Sharp Shooter, Reach Out or the insanely catchy Fugees bootleg Fugees or Not.

This isn’t music to sit back and stroke your beard to. These are leave your beer on the bar as you tear through the crowd to jump around on the floor like a mad fish tunes. Straight up pure fun and phat bouncing b-lines.

Phat Playaz – 1hr of Tru Playaz Jump Up Anthems

DJ Hype – True Playa’z Anthem
Yankee B – Mucho Dinero (Ganja Kru Remix)
Dope Skills – 6 Million Ways (Remix 1)
DJ Zinc – Toothbrush
DJ Hype – Peace, Love and Unity (feat MC Fats)
Freestyles – Musically Dope (Ganja Kru Remix)
Pascal – Favours
Ganja Kru – Magic
Ganja Kru feat. Rude Boy Monty – Gone are the Days
P-Funk – P-Funk Era (Zinc Remix)
Ganja Kru – Plague that Never Ends
DJ Hype – Only One Life (Ganja Kru Remix)
DJ Zinc feat. MC GQ – Bring the Dancer
DJ Hype – Closer to God
DJ Swift – 2nd Strike
DJ Zinc – Fugees or Not
DJ Zinc – Reach Out (Remix)
DJ Zinc – Super Sharp Shooter (Short & Sharp Mix)
Tribe of Issachar (feat. Peter Bouncer) – Junglist (DJ Zinc Remix)

Uncategorized

What’s that Patreon button doing there?

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I’ve been DJing for the love of it for 20+ years and giving my mixes away for free online for well over a decade. I’ve been approached by advertisers to put ads on my site and I’ve always resisted as making money out of mixing other people’s music doesn’t sit well with me.

I am just the vessel through which their music flows.

Even though I’ve plowed enough money to buy a house into my music collection over the years, I never really thought about getting paid for something I got so much out of. Playing music always seemed like payment enough.

But, recently a few people have asked if I have a Patreon and seemed a bit disappointed I didn’t. Each one of them wanted to thank me personally for years of listening pleasure and so here I am…

I will keep on doing what I have always done and run The Ear & Drum as a 100% free site where I can share my love of music with others.

If you do wish to support me, know that I see you as a true patron and that your patronage means a lot to a guy who just lives to mix great music.

Thank you.

2017, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

Max Headroom – Ear & Drum Session 130

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A couple of huge albums dropped recently from two of D&B’s finest purveyors in the form of Calibre and Klute. Not being able to resist I jumped on the decks to give both LPs a thorough bashing.

It’s not all about Calibre and Klute however, with outstanding music coming from Dawn Wall, Wilkinson and Macca & Loz Contreras plus some sneaky remixes including a Moby classic of all things.

Better late than never I guess.

Max Headroom – 1hr of Liquid D&B

Calibre – No One Gets You
Macca & Los Contreras – Against the Wall (FD Remix)
Command Strange – Face 2 Face
Keeno – Enigma
Klute – Loose My Way
Moby – Porcelain (pola & Bryson Remix)
Klute – Soul Boy
Dave Owen – Slave 2 The Game
Dawn Wall – Twin Falls
Alix Perez & SpectraSoul – So Close
Calibre – Footloose
Wilkinson – Wash Away
Calibre – Up In Smoke
Macca & Los Contreras – Always Yours (S.P.Y. Remix)
Kirsty Hawkshaw – Face To Face Again (The Joy) (Seba Remix)
Klute – Lost Sales
Jazzatron – Underspirit
Alaska – Solace
Dawn Wall – Mantis
Calibre – Complain

2017, Ear & Drum Session, Intelligent, Jungle, Melodic, Old Skool

Jungle Jazz – Ear & Drum Session 129

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Back in 96′ I bought a compilation CD (remember them?) by Italian label, IRMA, called Jungle Jazz. It was the first of 5 compilations and contained some of the best selections of Intelligent jungle and D&B I’ve ever heard.

All the big names were there like Jonny L, Photek and Roni Size but what made these compilations so great were the lesser known artists and remixes like Bukem’s remix of The Shamen’s – Tranzmazonia and the Peshay After Hours Remix of Ingrid Schroeder’s Paint You Blue. These tracks didn’t appear anywhere else and possibly only ever got pressed as dub plates for a select few DJs.

The joy of modern DJing is I can now spin these exclusive tunes that have been lost to time. So I’ve revisited my old Jungle Jazz CDs and pulled together a set of my favorite tracks from the first few Jungle Jazz comps. This really is beautiful music and whether you like D&B or not, it is hard not to appreciate the skill and passion that sits behind these amazing tracks.

Jungle Jazz – 1hr of Intelligent Jungle

Dust – Donna Jane
Hidden Agenda – Is It Love?
Click’n’Cycle – Amerikas Problem
Blim – Jeamland
Namaste – Open Your Eyes
Clan Greco – Tilt
Nookie – The Blues
Jonny L – This Time
The Shamen – Tranzmazonia (LTJ Bukem Mix)
Skin 4 – Aura
Roni Size – It’s a Jazz Thing
Wax Doctor – Atmospheric Funk
Recycle – I Can’t Help It
Bubble Jet – Emotionalectric
Ingrid Schroeder – Paint You Blue (Peshay After Hours Remix)
St. Germain – Alabama Blues (Wax Doctor Mix)
MC Det – Freeform Reality

2017, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session

Free Diving – Ear & Drum Session 128

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Stripped back beats over cinematic soundscapes characterises this blend of deep and moody D&B. I’m always amazed at just how laid back producers can make music that sits at 172bpm. It’s a neat trick and one I’m glad is cropping up more and more in a genre normally thought of as full on and frenetic.

There is the odd track that rocks out in here, but I always try to bring it back to centre with more float than flat out. Enjoy the ride.

Free Diving – 1hr of Deep D&B

Eschaton – Kokoro No Heiwa (Ziyai Remix)
Om Unit – The Mirror
Atlantic Collection – Rockdub
Pageant – Lost in Space
Skitty – Rocka
Moresounds & J:Kenza – Real Tree Riddim
Calibre – Fire & Water (DJ Madd 165 Version)
Pageant – The Forgotten Soldier
Last Life – Menisco
Last Life – Smoke & Shadows
Hyroglifics – Terra
Derrick & Tonika – Fata Morgana
BCee – Class of 92′ (Conduct Remix)
Electrosoul System – Under Deep Sky
Blu Mar Ten – Singularity (feat. Kite)
Flaco – Inferno (feat. Submorphics)
Signal – Downfall (feat. Zoe Klinck)
Calibre – Iron Ball
Last Life – Slow to Speak
Amit – Thick Lip
Om Unit – Lightbody Transfer

2009, Cross Genre, Down Low Session, Mash-up, Old Skool

The Down Low: Session 036

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I did this mix back in 2009 as a Christmas gift to all my friends in the UK and had completely forgotten about it until I stumbled over it last week. The idea was to mash up old and new tracks that shouldn’t go together.

Hence you have little pearls such as Missy Elliot – Best Best (Two Fingers Remix) and
2 Bad Mice – Drum Trip II or Santogold – Unstoppable into the rave classic Skanna – Heaven. In fact rave features pretty heavily at the front end of this mix with some absolute classics and lesser known tracks from back in the day. Who remembers The Prodigy – Claustrophobic Sting? No one that’s who, but just like every track on here it is a belter.

So enjoy a stroll through my eclectic memory lane and have a good weekend.

The Down Low 036 – 1hr Mash Up of Old and New School

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

2017, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Liquid D&B, Melodic

Sunday Sounds – Ear & Drum Session 127

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Looking for something to listen to over the weekend? Try these chilled out liquid Sunday Sounds on for size. Melodic D&B tunes have come a long way and these relaxed liquid numbers prove that as a genre liquid is rapidly becoming just as diverse as D&B itself.

From the half-beat Jam of Hydro and War to the vocal swing of DRS’s – I Will this is the perfect mix to add a little atmosphere to your day. Special shout out to the mighty Mitekiss and his track Final Hours which has been on steady rotation since I picked it up. With a perfect blend of Rhodes keys, sub-bass and floating vocals it is everything good music should be.

Sunday Sounds – 1hr of Chilled Liquid

Hydro & War – Jam
The Vanguard Project – Daredevil
Mystical Sound – I Can Feel You
Artificial Intelligence – Dreams of Freedom
Need for Mirrors & Phil Tangent – Shifting tones
Villem & McLeod – If I Had
Naibu – Les Soirees
Need for Mirrors & Phil Tangent – Polaroid
DRS – I Will (Feat. Patife & Vangaleliez)
Eschaton – Sadhana (Pageant Remix)
BCee – Delerious (Kimyan Law Remix)
Villem & McLeod – Perfect Solution (Feat. MC Fats)
DRS – This Ain’t Love (Feat. Calibre)
Klax – The Sway
Satl – Rescue Me
Mitekiss – Final Hours
LSB – The Optimist
Sam Binga – Greatest Distance (Feat. Romaine)