Tag Archives: Ear & Drum Session

Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B, Old Skool, Tech Step

Roll Playing – Ear & Drum Session 69

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Everyone loves a roller, and no era did rollers quite like the start of the millennium. Stakka, Ed Rush & Optical, Matrix, and J Majik were smashing out big funky b-lines with those rolling techy beats that sent the floor crazy. Metro Recordings were one of the BIG labels in the game at that time and to celebrate the re-releasing of their classic tunes onto digital I thought I’d put together a mix that, for me, summed up the times and that awesome rolling sound.

If you are looking for the Metro back catalog you’ll find it here – The Metro Collection.

Roll Playing – 1hr from the Golden Age of Rollers

Optical – The Shining
Klute – Unwind Yourself
Ed Rush & Optical – Fastlane
Stakka & Skynet – So Confused feat. K.Tee
Matrix & Danny J – Paradiso
Matrix & Danny J – Vertigo
Ed Rush & Optical – Reach Out
J Majik – Solarize (Optical Remix)
Ed Rush & Optical – Kerbcrawler
John B – Up All Night (Epic Remix)
High Contrast – Music Is Everything (Influx Datum Remix)
Matrix Vs. Goldtrix – It’s Love (Trippin’)
Pressure Rise – Focus
Hatrias vs J Majik – Spaced Invader

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

2012, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session, Hard D&B

Fluctuations – Ear & Drum Session 67

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Coming in deep and hard on this mix of new tunes for 2012. Whilst not everyone has loved the minimal revolution, there is no doubt it’s influence has been felt across most genres and no more so than the harder end of D&B. Tracks like Dub Phizix & Skeptical – Marka have shown just how devastating the minimal sound can be when mixed in with some tough beats and a good vocal.

This stripped back sound has played right into the hands of producers like Loxy, & Ink and Jubei who already had quite a deep and minimal sound. Plus, it has allowed a few of the more chilled out minimalists such as June Miller and Need for Mirrors to step up and have a go at producing some harder edged music.

As the boundaries begin to blur across the D&B genres it’s the music that profits as people focus less on what the music is called and concentrate more on what it sounds like. Which means 2012 is looking like being a sweet year for D&B.

Fluctuations – 1hr of Hard & Deep D&B

Dabs & Amoss – Still There
Phobia – Clean Break
Mr Foul – Land of Look Behind
War – Rafale
Dom & Roland – Enforced VIP
Skeptical – Cold One (Jubei Remix)
Need for Mirrors – Columbia
Jubei – The Path
Subwave – Wheel of Time
Sunchase & Nickbee – Dawn Time
Dub Phizix & Skeptical – Marka (feat. Strategy)
June Miller – Walls of Jericho
Krakota – Tunnel Vision
NC-17 & Time Reaper – Burial Ground

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)

2012, Ambient, Chill Out, Deep D&B, Ear & Drum Session

Call The Ambience Part 3 – Ear & Drum Session 65

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Ambient D&B continues to go from strength to strength in 2012 with a few artists clearly leading the way. Obviously ASC and dBridge are doing some great things through the Exit label and June Miller continues to release consistently strong tunes. But Sam KDC and Skeptical are also proving to be ones to watch with their own take on the laid back sound.

The good news is that there are more ambient releases coming out that any other time in D&B’s history which can only be a good thing for the lovers of chilled beats.

Call The Ambience Part 3 – 1hr of Ambient D&B

Sam KDC – Everything You Touch
dBridge – City of Lonely Runways
Skeptical – These Words
Dominic Ridgway – Digital Funk
Asphonic – Forest Lullaby
Naibu – Come In Slow
June Miller – Tundra
Blue Motion – Blueberry’s in Autumn
ASC – Ubik
Data – Overflow
MC FLava & Blue Motion – Hide Me
ASC – 3rd Eye
Sam KDC – Dote (A Tribute to Nostalia)
ASC – Error Code

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, Cross Genre, Ear & Drum Session

Slippery Surface – Ear & Drum Session 62

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My last mix of the year as far as covering new tunes is concerned. So many great tracks in this set, confirming once again that 2011 has been a great year for D&B.

Ones to look out for are Mistabishi’s ‘Scene And Not Heard’ fresh of his Trip LP, Lynx – 9 Muses takes an almost Sage Francis style approach and Dub Phizix & Skeptical’s ‘Marka’ is just plain dirty D&B at it’s best.

Big up to all those who have been following during the year and here’s to more good D&B in 2012. Respect, Peace, Love and Unity to all.

Slippery Surface – 1hr+ of the last new tunes for 2011

S.I.N & Mutated Forms – Talk to Me
Dom & Roland – Coast 2 Coast
Mistabishi – Scene And Not Heard
Robert Manos – Trouble
ATP – For The Soul (SoulTec Remix)
Nuage, THRN & Anile – Don’t Exist (Anile Remix)
Adele – Rolling Deep (Nu:Tone Remix)
Loxy & Skeptical – Engage
Dub FX – Flow (Ill Skillz Remix)
Lynx feat. Sense MC – 9 Muses
Calibre – Smooth Baby
Consequence – Oden
Tokyo Prose & Phil Tangent – Parity
BCee – So Right (feat. Darrison)
Kasra & Jubie – The Rift
Dub Phizix & Skeptical – Marka (feat. Strategy)
ASC – Never Enough
Loxy & Resound – Conqueror X
Parallel & Tim Reaper – The Bird Tune

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

Deep Blues – Ear & Drum Session 61

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2011 seems to be the year deep drum & bass has really come of age. I’ve always loved the deeper side of D&B but up until now it has always been sidelined by faster, louder and more furious forms of the music. Artists such as Bop, Oak, ASC, Rokwell, Lynx and the pioneering dBridge have really brought the genre to the fore and in the process made some beautiful music.

This mix doesn’t feature many of the artists mentioned above, instead it focuses on the new wave of artists who have picked up on the vibe and taken the sound in their own different directions. One to look out for are Furi Anger who has been lurking for quite a while now and is really forging his own sound, Blue Motion who normally run a liquid vibe but are equally adept at turning out the deeper tracks and of course Rockwell who 4U track is a prime example that this sound can be deep and uplifting at the same time.

Kick back, close your eyes and fall into the deep.

Deep Blues – 1hr of new Deep D&B

Freeloader – Mind Rhythm (Kreed Remix)
Furi Anga (When Our World Jaded) Seba Remix
nCamargo – Lucid Dreams
Blue Motion – Computer Love
Sobersoul – Threat
Rockwell – 4U
Calculon – Odessa
Hybris – Please Exist
Amoss – Astrodome
Getz – Keep on Loving Me
MC Fava & Blue Motion – Stay Forever
Blu Mar Ten – Sweet Little Supernova
Fade & Mono – Grilled
Morphy – Desert Dub
Mikal – Epic

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

2011, All Label Mix, Amen, Ear & Drum Session

Shadow Wax Vol.4: Moving Shadow 94-95 – Ear & Drum Session 59

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Another in the continuing Shadow Wax series of mixes looking at the legendary Moving Shadow label. This one covers off the same era as Shadow Wax Vol.3 but takes the pressure up by focusing on the harder tunes from the label. Some of these are darkside, some are hard steppers and a lot are heavier remixes of the intelligent released Moving Shadow had out at the time.

Not much else to say really. Amazing music, from amazing artists on one of D&B most amazing labels. Win, win & win.

Shadow Wax Vol.4: Moving Shadow 94-95 – 1hr of hardstep, darkside and heavy remixes

DJ Pulse – Voyager
Mick James – Nice & Deep
DJ Crystal – King of the Beats
D’Cruze – Lonely
Renegade feat. Ray Keith – Something I feel
JMJ & Ritchie – Universal Horn (J.Majik Remix)
Foul Play – Beats Track
Flex & Fats – Somebody
Renegade – Terrorist
Foul Play – Re-Open Your Mind 95
Omni Trio – Living For The Future (FBD Project VIP Mix)
Foul Play – Cutting Loose (Remix)
Omni Trio – Shadowplay
Dead Dred – Dred Bass (Origin Unknown Remix)
Foul Play – The Stepper
DJ Pulse – Stay Calm (Foul Play Remix)
Foul Play – Ignorance
Omni Trio – Soul Promenade (Nookie Remix)
Omni Trio – Mainline (95 Lick)