Tag Archives: Ear & Drum Session

Shadow Wax Vol.2: Moving Shadow 91-93 – Ear & Drum Session 51

Part 2 of the on-going Shadow Wax series looking at all things Moving Shadow. This mix lifts the BPM a little one the first installment as we head into the 160bpm+ zone.

Amazing producers as you would expect with JMJ & Ritchie (aka EZ Rollers), Blame, Mixrace, D’Cruze, Omni Trio and a whole host more making an appearance. I’ve tried to slip in some lesser known tracks and rare remixes to keep it interesting, but it’s a Moving Shadow mix so you know it is all good.

Hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did mixing it.

Shadow Wax Vol.2: Moving Shadow 91-93 – More hardcore from the Moving Shadow vaults

JMJ & Ritchie – Hall Of Mirrors (Omni Trio Mirror Image Mix)
Blame – A21
Mixrace – Mixrace Outta Hand
D’Cruze – Want You Now (DJ SS & E.Q. Remix)
JMJ & Ritchie – Case Re-Opened (Deep Blue Brought To Trial Mix)
Joint – The Joint
Omni Trio – Thru The Vibe (2 On 1 Mix)
Higher Sense – Cold Fresh Air
Hyper On Experience – Lord of Null Lines
Blame – This Piano Track (2 Bad Mice Remix)
Foul Play – Finest Illusion (Legal Mix)
Foul Play – Open Your Mind
Omni Trio – Renegade Snares (Foul Play Remix)
Hyper-On Experience – Lords Of The Null-Lines (Foul Play Remix)
Hyper-On Experience – Thunder Grip
Hyper-On Experience – Disturbance (Tango Remix)
Deep Blue – The Helicopter Tune
Omni Trio – Feel Good (Original In Demand Mix)
Boogie Times Tribe Feat. Q Bass – Real Hardcore

Concrete Waterfall – Ear & Drum Session 50

Well I finally made it to number 50 in the Ear & Drum Sessions, now onto number 100 I guess.

This time around we are focusing in on the latest in tunes for 2011 and their are some absolute belters. Kicking off with Paul B’s – This is the Girl which is the best intro track I have heard in a looong time. Dark, trippy beats with a haunting bell that cuts through it, I love this track.

There are a few tracks from the Nu Blood 011 LP which really hold up well in the mix, plus the best bits from Nu:Tones album get a rinse out. Other big tracks for me are Icicle feat. SP MC – Dreadnaught, Gappa G & Lucky B – Ubiquity and Command Strange – Motion. But to be honest, it is all good stuff in this mix.

2011 is shaping up to be a to year for D&B, with a really deep, rolling sound cutting across all the genres. Lot’s of melody and vocals too, which is never a bad thing in book. Hope you enjoy mix #50.

Concrete Waterfall – 1hr of new beats for 2011

Paul B – This is the Girl
Physics – The Business
Rawtekk – Snowflakes
Anile – Change of Direction
Seba – Nostalgia
Seba & Paradox – The Light
Icicle feat. SP MC – Dreadnaught
Nu:Tone – Set Me Free
Gappa G & Lucky B – Ubiquity
Lenzman – Masquerade (Die, Interface & William Cartwright Remix)
Seba – Vanity
N4m3 – Make Your Soul Open For The Road On Imagination
Nu:Tone – Coming Back
Nu: Tone – The First Time
Stanza – Number Gas
Command Strange – Motion
Nusense & NC-17 – Dirty
Furi Anga – The Lycaon
Magnetic Man – Perfect Stranger (dBridge Remix)

Shadow Wax Vol.1: Moving Shadow 91-93 – Ear & Drum Session 49

Moving Shadow are without a doubt the label I have bought the most releases from. When the label folded in 2008 I felt like a part of Drum & Bass had died. Rob Playford’s label has had more outstanding releases from more heavy hitting producers than any other, and their influence on broken beats since 1990 can not be ignored. Their logo has the words ‘world domination’ written around it, and I think as a label they achieved this.

In the early days when I was cutting my teeth on rave tunes Moving Shadow had some of the deepest, roughest and most danceable tunes on the scene. Rob Playford as 2 Bad Mice (along with Sean O’Keeffe & Simon Colebrooke) was killing it with Bomb Scare, an anthem so large it still influences producers and gets sampled today. Blame’s – Music Takes You and Omni Trio’s – Mystic Stepper pretty much kicked off the lighter and more musical Intelligent genre of Jungle and D&B. And Kaotic Chemistry’s – Illegal Subs showed just how catchy and devastating Breakbeat Hardcore really could be.

This mix is the beginning of a series that will take you through 15+ years of Moving Shadow History. It is going to be long and god knows how many parts there will be to it, because as a label Moving Shadow have literally thousands of releases. But one thing I do know is that the mixes are going to be quality and the music exceptional.

Shadow Wax Vol.1 – 1hr of Moving Shadow from 91-93

Cosmos & Dibs – Oh So Nice
2 Bad Mice – 2 Bad Mice
Cosmos & Dibs – Star Eyes
2 Bad Mice – Ware Mouse
2 Bad Mice – Bomb Scare
2 Bad Mice – 2 Bad Mice (Remix)
Tone Def – Big Love (Love Mix)
Sci – Uprising
Blame – Music Takes You (Original Version)
Blame – Ecstasy Takes You
Blame – Music Takes Two
Blame – Piano Takes You
Hyper On Experience – H.E. Anthem
Kaotic Chemistry – Space Cakes
Omni Trio – Mystic Stepper (Feel Better)
Kaotic Chemistry – Illegal Subs (Krome & Time Remix)
Blame – 2 Bad Mice Take You

The Price – Ear & Drum Session 48

Another mix of new stuff from the first quarter of 2011. This mix starts of in definite minimal territory and then heads towards the deeper and more melodic side of things.

A big shout to Seba who’s 12″ Nostalgia / Vanity is by far the strongest release of 2011 so far. Other notables are Unquote as always with his sublime track – We Breathe Yoghurt Lying On A Strawberry Bed, Duo Infernale for their remix of Panic Girl’s – Hide and Seek and 3D Stas – Surface of a Doomed Planet which is an absolute monster of a tune.

The Price – 1hr of new tunes for 2011

Unquote – We Breathe Yoghurt Lying On A Strawberry Bed
Gerwin – One Tone Trip
Kantyze – Hot Cold
Mindmapper – Respirator (June Miller Remix)
Rockwell – Rekoho Sunshine (X Untold)
Panic Girl – Hide and Seek (Duo Infernale Remix)
Quadrant – Rage and Rapture
Vospi – Reverence
Nu:Tone & Logistics – Bleeper
Seba – Nostalgia
Chook feat. Claud Muno – You Are All You Have
ATP – Hey There (Enea Remix)
Seba – Vanity
Wreckage Machinery & blue Motion – Dream On
3D Stas – Surface of a Doomed Planet

Subbase Station One – Ear & Drum Session 47

Suburban Base & Moving Shadow were first two major labels in the Breakbeat/Hardcore scene. By ‘major’ I mean spitting out top quality 12″ release after release and managing to pump out CD compilations as well. The Suburban Base influence was all over pirate radio in the early days and looking at their roster of artists it is pretty easy to see why.

Between Sonz of a Loop Da Loop Era, Krome & Time, D’Cruze, Blame, DJ Hype, Foul Play, EZ Rollers, 2 Bad Mice and Marvelous Cain they had just about every big name in the Breakbeat/Hardcore scene. Rave anthems were the name of game back then and Subbase had them covered. I don’t remember ever seeing a DJ’s crate worth his salt back in 92-93 who didn’t have a stack of Suburban Base records in his selection.

This mix was played live on my birthday at a party I held. I did consider going back in to the studio to do a more controlled version of the mix, but I got worried I would lose the energy and spontaneity captured in this one. So I have left well alone and just let it roll. I’m dedicating this mix to Stevie Boy who reminded me just what a great label Suburban Base were and to all those who remember.

Subbase Statione One – 1hr of Suburban Base Records

Run Tings – Fire Burning
Sonz of a Loop Da Loop Era – Far Out
Future Assassins – Future Sound
Krome & Time – This Sound is for the Underground
Smart E’s – Sesame’s Treat (Krome & Time Remix)
D’Cruze – Life (Hands to Heaven)
Sonz of a Loop Da Loop Era – Breaks the Unbreakable
Blame – A21
Krome & Time – The Slammer (Nookie Remix)
Sonz of a Loop Da Loop Era – Calm Downizm
Krome & Time – The Slammer
DJ Hype – I Don’t Understand
EZ Rollers – Rolled Into One
Flex & Fats – Somebody
DJ Hype – Weird Energy
Foul Play – Open Your Mind
2 Bad Mice – Underworld
DJ Hype – The Chopper (Johnny Jungle Remix)
Marvellous Cain – CB4

Headz Space Part 2 – Ear & Drum Session 46

This is the second installment of the Headz Space series focusing on the amazing music found of the Deep Space: Drum & Bass compilations. This is a bit of a Birthday celebration mix as I’m officially old as today, but you get the gift. If you like your early era atmospheric or intelligent D&B then you’ll love this.

So many good tunes in here, and quite a few rarities as well. Mandalay – Flowers Bloom (Foul Play Mix) is a classic, Blu Mar Ten’s – The Fountain is a ten minute journey into blissful beats and Elements by The Amalgamation of Soundz is definitely a lost classic.

There are some quite well known tracks to such as Saint Etienne – The Sea (PFM Remix), St Germain – Alabama Blues (Wax Doctor Mix) and Omni Trio – Trippin’ On Broken Beats (Carlito Mix) which I just had to throw in because they are all definitive examples of the intelligent sound.

Headz Space Part 2 – 1hr+ of Intelligent and atmospheric D&B from 96-98

Mandalay – Flowers Bloom (Foul Play Mix)
Minx – Dreamtime
Morcheeba – The Music That We Hear (Omni Trio Mix)
Blu Mar Ten – The Fountain
South – Georgia Landing (Omni Trio Remix)
Mark Penny – Moods
Recoil – The Bridge
EZ Rollers – Retro (Guardians of Dalliance Remix)
Saint Etienne – The Sea (PFM Remix)
Twisted – Elements
St Germain – Alabama Blues (Wax Doctor Mix)
Omni Trio – Trippin’ On Broken Beats (Carlito Mix)
Omni Trio – Fire Island
N&G&O – Tekken (Windermere Dub Mix by T. Power)
Jhana – Say Say Say (Doc Scott Vocal Mix)

Modern Primitive – Ear & Drum Session 45

A mix of new stuff from the tail end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011.

A special big mention to the Siberian Jungle LP where a lot of this stuff has come from. It’s a Russian comp with artists I’ve never heard before but daaaaamn can they put a tune together. It’s mainly epic trance and bass type stuff but Vospi’s – Reverence is THE best jazz & bass track I’ve heard in ages. If you get a chance track it down.

Other stand outs for me are Seba’s rolling Keep Me Waiting and dBridge’s beautiful remix of Magnetic Man’s Perfect Stranger.

Modern Primitive – 1hr of new tunes for 2011

Eveson – Life In The Balance
Metrik – Ocean Drive
Stipple – Stalker
Magnetic Man – Perfect Stranger (dBridge Remix)
3D Stas – Surface of a Doomed Planet
Scuba – In_2
Dave Schichman – That Face
Kiat – Feeder
Mutated Forms – Chasing Dreams
Alternative Vibes – the Dawn
Ultima C – Seven Days
A-Sides – One DJ
Vospi – Reverence
Dynamic Stab – The Future of Iron Empire
Seba – Keep Me Waiting

Headz Space Part 1 – Ear & Drum Session 44

This mix is for those that need to relax. The chilled out D&B from 96-98 is some of the most beautiful music of any genre. Artists like Photek, PFM, Aquasky and Roni Size were on top of their game when they produced these tracks. There are plenty of rarities in this mix to keep you blissed out and hunting for you own collection.

All the tracks from the mix come from the magnificent Lost In Space: Drum & Bass compilations, which along with the Artcore Series, are the best collections of Intelligent and Atmospheric D&B you’ll find. If you don’t know get to know.

So pull up a couch, put on your headphones and kick back to these dreamy tunes.

Headz Space Part 1 – 1hr+ of Chilled out D&B from 96-98

Jimpster – Martian Arts
Jonny L – 2 of Us (Photek Remix)
Aquasky – Moondance
Kumo – Tiger Style (Local Zero Remix)
Statik Sound System – Revolutionary Pilot (Rob Smith Remix)
Eat Static – Hybrid (PFM Remix)
Grand United – Dig So Deep
Nutcase & Papchubba – Things Will
Aural Imbalance – Secret Motion
Dimensions of Elegance – Naked Symphony
Skylab – The Trip (Roni Size Remix)
Future Loop Foundation – I Want To Believe
Outernational Meltdown – Hungry On Arrival (Spring Heel Jack Remix)
The Advantage – Cassiopeia
One True Parker – Bubblegum (Ray Keith Remix)

Unrelease Yourself – Ear & Drum Session 43

Getting in one last mix for 2010 and it is a belter. This year has been good for D&B in general, but for me the quality of the free music circulated in 2010 is as good if not better than the official releases. Free tunes in general allow a producer to get away from producing tracks that need to fit into a record labels ‘sound’ and allows them the freedom to really let fly.

For me this year Subwave’s ‘Gift EP’ and S13’s amazing ‘Yourself EP’ were standouts. Deep, melodic and totally different from anything else out there (they are also available for download here at the Ear & Drum). But to be honest all the tracks in this mix are great and really show that D&B is still evolving in all sorts of exciting ways.

If you want to save yourself time searching for the tracks in this mix I haven’t hosted here at The Ear & Drum during the year, then try looking at THIS LINK which leads to a DOA thread about the best free MP3s from 2010.

Happy New Year to everyone who has supported me throughout the year and here’s hoping 2011 is even better.

Unrelease Yourself – 1hr of free and unreleased tunes from 2010

Metrik – Ocean Drive
The Law – Atlantic Blues
Infinity – The XX (Bachelors Of Science Remix)
Booka Shade – Regenerate (Thinnen Remix)
S13 – Yourself
Soul Intent – The Dark Robotics Orchestra
S13 – Immortal
Sabre – One Hundred Teeth (Parallel Remix)
Subwave – Gift
Random Movement – Cutting Thru Hackney
Blu Mar Ten – She Moves Through [ASC Remix]
Alic Perez – Self Control
Alex Reece – Basic Principles (Commix Remix)
Able Danger – UGNX
Sabre – One Hundred Teeth (Enei Remix)
S13 – Earth Ulro

Screwface – Ear & Drum Session 42

Ruff and tuff D&B doesn’t hold a great deal of interest to me these days. Neuro has become very formulaic, new jump up isn’t a patch on the old jump up and skullstep is just, well skullstep (nuf said). However I do still manage to find the odd harder edged track which does appeal and in here are some of the best ones I could find for the final quarter of the year.

Nu:Tone and Logistics have combined their powers to create the fierce Nu:Logic sub-brand. Sundown is a proper amen boomer of the highest order and New Technique totally lives up to it’s name. Limewax is one of those guys you either love or hate, but for a skullstep-esq (is that a word?!?) producer he has some serious talent. B Key used to be one of my favourite producers, and his Guitar Track proves that he can still produce a smooth but tuff track when he puts his mind to it.

If you like your hard beats you’ll love this, but if you don’t I’d still recommend giving it a go as there is more to hard D&B then formula, skulls and air raid sirens and I think this mix proves that point.

Screwface – 1hr of tuff D&B from the end of 2010

Nu:Logic – Sundown
Limewax – One of Them
B Key – Guitar Track
Nu:Logic – New Technique
Subwave – Darkness Dub
Artificial Intelligence – Moment of Truth
Break & Silent Witness – Kontroller
Black Sun Empire – Deadhouse (feat. Jade)
Beta 2 – Release
Trei – Mindless
Audio – Genesis Device
Subwave – Road Rage
Theory – Jungle Soul
Gemini – Down
DJ Trace – Fantazia