Category Archives: Deep D&B

Ear& Drum: Session 220 – Call the Ambience 16: Vertigo

It’s been a long while between drinks for the Call the Ambience series, but we’re back better and more chilled than ever. Even thought the releases of this kind of music seem to be slowing down a little, the quality is still high when it does drop.

Etherwood, dBridge and Atlantic Connection all contribute some wonderfully blissful music, as do 90s originators Alaska, Voyager and Bill Laswell. I’ve been trying to squeeze Laswell’s – El Hombre Invisible (for William S. Burroughs) into a set for years, and finally managed to pull it off here. This 15 minute journey is something else, and shows how formulaic modern day D&B has become.

Call the Ambience 16: Vertigo – 1hr+ of Ambient D&B

Seathasky – For Love & Science
Rowpieces – 1st Love (Downtempo Mix)
Zero T & Beta 2 – Misdemeanour
Mystic State feat. Congi – Too Late (Captivate Remix)
Shebuzz – We Bring You the Future
Alaska – Azarca (Synkro Remix)
Muffler – November (Lo-Fi Hip-Hop Mix)
Ky! – I See U (Made in Russia Remix)
Voyager – Meraki
Bill Laswell – El Hombre Invisible (for William S. Burroughs)
The Vanguard Project & Fred V feat. Riya – No Words (Chill Mix)
Shebuzz – 34th Street
Atlantic Connection – Threshold
dBridge – I Know
Etherwood – Water in Your Veins
Sultan & Shepard feat. The Cut – White Lies
Etherwood – I Will Wave to You

Ear & Drum Session: 218 – Marinade

Going a bit deeper and darker in this mix of new-ish tunes. 2021 has been a good year for harder styles, and even though there isn’t as much minimal techy stuff coming out there is still a decent selection of deep beats and darker cuts still being produced.

Probably the deepest and darkest of them in this selection is the Missive triple play close to the beginning. Cavernous bass and stripped back beats characterised Missives top quality Lithos EP which came out around the middle of this year. Other tunes to keep an ear out for are T>I’s The Locksmith and Let it Go which both shred, Foriegn Concepts ragga tinged Kultja and Zero T’s killer VIP reworking of Goldie feat. Jose James – Truth.

Extra big shout to Offish for providing the opener on this mix, his LP Garden of Eyes is full of deep, dark beats and well worth a listen over at his Bandcamp page. https://offish.bandcamp.com/album/garden-of-eyes

Marinade – 1hr of Deep & Dark D&B

Offish – Pareidolia [Intro]
Disrupta & J Select – Tequila
T>I – The Locksmith
Missive – 9Test
Missive – Denoument
Missive – Stadius
Last Life – Trial
DuoSciemce – Mismatched
Foriegn Concept – Kultja
Mystic State feat. Congi – Too Late (Captivate Remix)
Cynical Gene – Nucleus
Bop – Surfing the Anxiety Waves
Goldie vs J:Kenzo – Official Jah Roller
QZB & Rider Shafique – The Banker
Goldie feat. Jose James – Truth (Zero T VIP Remix)
VROMM feat. Rider Shafique – Level Up
Loma – Watches
Foreign Concept, Enei & Magugu – Sticks
T>I – Let It Go
Minimalist & Heklur – The Titan
QZB & Gardna – Landline
Mystic State – Whole Half
Enei – Ignit

Ear & Drum Session: 214 – PFM x 4Hero

Recently PFM and 4Hero have remastered versions of some of their classic tunes that defined an era. PFM in the form of a bunch of singles and 4Hero with the re-release of their seminal LPs 2 Pages and Jacob’s Optical Stairway.

So what happens when you take two of D&B’s greatest acts and blend them together? Great things, that’s what!

PFM x 4Hero – 1.5hrs of 90s atmospheric masterpieces

PFM – For All of Us
4Hero – Universal Love (Single Version)
4Hero – Universal Love (Internal Affairs Mix)
Jacob’s Optical Stairway – Majestic 12
Jacob’s Optical Stairway – Fragments of a Lost Language
PFM – Is the Only and the One (Unreleased Original Full Length Version)
Jacob’s Optical Stairway – The Naphosisous Wars
4Hero – One Final Hour
Jacob’s Optical Stairway – Solar Feelings
JMJ & Ritchie – Free La Funk (PFM Remix)
4Hero – Evacuation Plan
PFM – Bonus Track
PFM – Wash Over Me (Original Instrumental Version)
Jacob’s Optical Stairway – Jacob’s Optical Illusion
David Holmes – Gone (PFM Remix)
Force of Nature – Cool Spot (PFM Remix)
PFM – Dreams (Club Mix)

EAR & DRUM SESSION: 205 – Knee Deep

The deeper side of D&B seems to have slowed down a little in the last year or so, but what it has lacked in quantity it has made up in quality.

Familiar names to the genre such as Calibre, Bungle and dBridge are still consistently rolling out quality stripped back tracks that perfectly loop. Best of all a healthy amount of new comers like VROMM, MKD, Ordure and Heron Flow have kept the vibe alive and run with it into deeper territories.

Respect to all the producers old and new keeping the sound fresh and fabulously deep.

Knee Deep – 1hr of Deep D&B Beats

Krust – It’s a Lot (Calibre Remix)
Dom & Adres – Limelight
Redders – No go
Muffler – Watchdog
Doctor Jeep & Rohaan – Unreal (Rohaan Remix)
Camo & Krooked, Mefjus & Sophie Lindinger – No Tomorrow (Tom Fisher Remix)
Bungle – Runaway
Goldie feat. Jose James – Truth (Zero T VIP Remix)
VROMM feat. Rider Shafique – Level Up
Kasra – I Don’t Know What the Future Brings
Andy Scopes & Madcap feat. Singing Fats – Trouble
MKD – Krill
dBridge – Tear in Vain
Ordure – Hold Me Close
Mystic State – Whole Half
Heron Flow – Compare Love

Ear & Drum: Session 196 – Brutalism

Part two of the holiday mixes focuses on the deeper side of D&B with new tunes from Fixate, T>I, Serum, Om Unit and Conrad Subs. While Minimal seems to have faded a little in 2020, a new more rolling take on the stripped back D&B sound has taken it place which I am totally there for.

Perfect for a late night couch session, this mix might go well with a drop of something stronger and a smoke.

Brutalism – 1.5hrs of Deep D&B

H20 – Dusted
Fixate – Focus
Oat – IntoTheSun
FX909 – Meltdown (Peyo Remix)
Degs feat. Pola & Bryson – Sleepless (Bladerunner Version)
Goldie – I Think of You (Digital & Spirit Remix)
H20 – Parasite
DJ Marky & Pola & Bryson – Run the Streets
Mistrust – Dreamer
T>I & Zombie Cats – Sidestep
Airglo & Stash the Groove Bug – Boom
Daniel Power – Upstream Colour
Hyroglifics – God Given
Russell Small – It Is What It Is (Bad Ass Disco) (Carl Cox DnB Remix)
Breakage – Valhalla
T95 & DRS – On Site
T>I & D*Minds – Pulling Teef
Serum & Kasra – Fade Out
Waeys – Ephemeral
Acuna – Back to the Brainstorm
Philip K Dick – Drips
Bop & Subway – Higher Dimension
Om Unit – Joyspark
Mystic State – Expectations
Shinbu – Sacrifice
Conrad Subs – Beyond This

Ear & Drum Session: 180 – Deep Dive

I have always been a huge fan of Teebee’s early works on Certificate 18 and later on his own Subtitles imprint. Teebee recently went on a remastering rampage on his entire back catalogue of early LPs, EPs and 12″s all of which can be found on his Subtitle’s Bandcamp – https://subtitlesmusic.bandcamp.com/

To say I was pleased is an understatement. I pretty much own most of these tracks on vinyl already, but was more than happy to pony up again for the digital remasters because there is just so much great music in this man’s back catalogue. From singalong R&B bootlegs to dark, brooding techstep monsters one thing Teebee’s early work has is serious funk.

If you are feeling any of the tunes you hear in this mix please do the right thing and purchase them for yourself. They are cheaper than ever and have never sounded so good.

Deep Dive – 2hrs of Teebee at his Finest

TeeBee – Kung Fu
TeeBee – Destiny
TeeBee – Space Age
TeeBee – White Venom
TeeBee – Lifeless
TeeBee – Two Faced
TeeBee – Only You
TeeBee vs. Brandy – You DOn’t Know Me (TeeBee Vocal Remix)
TeeBee – Forever Lost
TeeBee – Severed Dreams
TeeBee – Vengeance
TeeBee – Black Rain
TeeBee – Blue Rose (Chrisp & TeeBee’s Lynch’ed RMX)
TeeBee – Capable
TeeBee – Guilty
TeeBee – Gravity Distortion
TeeBee – Retrofunk
TeeBee – Warehouse
TeeBee vs. Future Prophecies – Let The Bass Kick
Calyx & TeeBee – The Quest
TeeBee – The Force 3
Cause4Concern – Luca (TeeBee Remix)
TeeBee – Frequencies
TeeBee – Deceive
Photek – Ni Ten Ichi Ryu (TeeBee Remix)
TeeBee – Human Reptile (Alternative Remix)
TeeBee – Let Go
TeeBee – Rave Alarm
TeeBee – State of Unrest
TeeBee – Silent Depths
TeeBee – Sunday Sessions
TeeBee – Dimensional Entity
Kraken – Side Effects (TeeBee Remix)

Ear & Drum Session: 178 – Ozone

Heading back out into deeper waters with this mix of moody and minimal sounds. D&B is all about setting a mood, so this seems fitting for the times.

The whole thing starts and finishes with Dom & Roland who’s latest album, Lost in the Moment, is a much deeper and pensive affair than his usual style. Other standouts are Dub Phizix & Strategy making a return with their signature sound on Deh, new comer Jolliffe with Time Please and Creep in the Dark and Breakbeat luminary Decline going back to his D&B roots with Crossover.

I’d like to send a thought and prayer out to all those currently in the war zone that is the USA. Stay safe, be the change you want to see and know things are always darkest just before the dawn. #blacklivesmatter

Ozone – 1hr of Deep D&B

Dom & Roland – State of the Art
Oliver York – Treasured
Entire – Taura
Moresounds – Flocon
T>I – Foot Drop
Dub Phizix & Strategy – Deh
Atlantic Connection – Gravity
Dom & Roland – Binary Star
Jolliffe – Time Please (feat. Jake Blake)
Contact Lost – Vector
Jolliffe – Creep in the Dark (feat. Ad-Apt)
Adred feat. Robert Manos – Flesh Wounds
Fetus – Dirty Air
Rockwell – Vent
Decline – Crossover
Adred – Sci-Fi
Acid_Lab – Instinct
Dom & Roland – A Broken Heart

Ear & Drum Session: 175 – Flight Nine Six Dash Seven

Part three of my Flight 96 series where I pull out some rare and lesser heard tunes from D&B golden era of 1996. This time around we’re heading into pure D&B territory. In 96′ D&B was only just starting to come together as its own genre, with jungle and hardcore still being played at the same parties and raves.

In this mix we have some lesser heard remixes of classics like Goldie’s ‘Angel’ (also called Saint Angel) twisted by Peshay in his Back From Nam Remix or Skylab’s The Trip amazing rework by Roni Size!

We also have a heap of tunes that either didn’t get a full release or were very limited in release from some of the scenes biggest names like Omni Trio, T.Power and Source Direct. Plus a bunch of producers I’d never heard of like Vert, Paolo and Scissor Hands. This one is going to be quite the ride.

Flight Nine Six Dash Seven – 1.5hrs of Obscure 96′ Drum & Bass

Vert – Hole Tone Java
Hyper-On Experience – Disturbance (Tango Remix)
Goldie – Angel (Peshay Back From Nam Remix)
Boymerang – Blue Notes
L Double & Younghead – New Style
Paolo – Vinyl Frontier
Roni Size & Represent – Natural Thing
Plug – Snapping Fuss
Skylab – The Trip (Roni Size Remix)
Spring Heel Jack – Galapagos II
MC Fats – Don’t Take the Shit
Johnnie Blaze – Strumming Dubs (VIP Mix)
Scissor Hands – Dirty Call
Skycutter – Independence Day
Source Direct – Call & Response
Underground Beat Movement – Check Dis
T.Power – Tama
Trafalgar – Radio Macho (Adrenalin Dub)
Omni Trio – Red Rain

Ear & Drum Session: 172 – Flight Nine Six Two

This is part two of my deep dive into obscure and rarer track from 1996. Last time we looked at Intelligent D&B and this is on a similar tip. While a lot of these tunes could be considered Intelligent, I think of them as even more chilled out.

Artists such as T-Power, B.L.I.M. and Kid Loops had their own take on the Intelligent sound that was less jazz focused and chopped up drum edits and more soulful cruising and laid back. Perfect for a couch session or recovery after the party is over.

Flight Nine Six Two – 1hr of Chilled out D&B from 1996

Gangster Sound feat Mrs B – Paradise (Dangerous Mix)
Lunar Funk – Spacewalk
United Future Organisation – Loud Minority (Alex Reece Remix)
Kid Loops vs Cool Breeze – Shift Then Return
Universal Love – Deeply (Ryder’s Dream 128 Mix)
T-Power – The Inti Raymi (Remix)
B.L.I.M. – Jeamland
Herb E – Light (Darwin Mix)
Jodeci – Feenin’ (LTJ Bukem Remix)
Kid Loops vs Cool Breeze – The Valley
Kid Loops – Digital Breakdown
Kid Loops vs Cool Breeze – Five Seven Five Seven
Dave Wallace – Expressions Part 2
Mr Psyche – The Drop

Ear & Drum Session 166: Altitude

One last mix for the decade before we dive head-first into the 20s.

It really doesn’t seem that long ago that Photek’s ‘Into the 90s’ was released, so to be here 30 years later is pretty crazy. Thank you to everyone who has listened in at the Ear & Drum during the past 10 years and here’s hoping the next 10 years (or even just the next) treats you better than the last.

If I could wish for anything in the new year it is for people to do more listening. Not just to music, but in general. I think the last decade has been dedicated to the self absorbed masses shouting out there opinions without giving anyone else’s opinion a second thought. You can’t form a proper opinion without listening to the other side of the argument, so sit down, shut up and just listen.

Here is to less shouting and more listening in 2020.

Altitude – 1hr of Cruising D&B

Bop – Waterfall
Kimyan Law – Luba
Document One – Holy Moly
Bladerunner – Breathe
Alix Perez – Trinity
Sunchase – Karabi
Seba – Curved Boundaries
Seba – In Your Arms Again
DRS & Need For Mirrors – Bobby
Came & Krooked – Black & White (Kimyan Law Remix)
Kimyan Law – White Moth Anthem
Bop – Memories
Hiddenwave – Visualise
Smote – Just Come In
Hiddenwave – Nior
Workforce – Your Moves
Rainforest – Horde
Hiddenwave – Hold Me
Two Fingers – You Ain’t Down