11: The Best of 2011 – Ear & Drum Sessions 63 & 64

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

Free Alex Reece track for download: Phasion – Insight

Phasion – Insight

Those lovely people from Creative Wax are giving away this unrelease piece of history from on of D&Bs founding fathers. The press release reads…

Here’s an unreleased track by brothers Alex and Oscar Reece, circa 1999. The track features Pevin Everett on vocals and was part on an EP that never quite made it out the lab…enjoy

Can’t say fairer than that now can you. Go get it. 🙂

Slippery Surface – Ear & Drum Session 62

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

Deep Blues – Ear & Drum Session 61

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

Looking Up – Ear & Drum Session 60

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

Stelf’s Birthday Mix

Been an absolute age since anyone has requested a mix from me, so big ups to Charade for asking for this mix I did back in 2003 for my good mate Stelf’s birthday. Stelf is a man of impeccable music taste so I rolled together this mix of mellow tunes and D&B smashers from back in the day. The first half is the chilled bit, the second half is Amen damage.

The best bit about this mix for me is it takes me back to my 16th century cottage I was living in when I was Brighton based, and all the good times I had there. In the photo is (from left to right) Stelf on the ones and twos, DJ Cob in the middle and a very rare shot of myself doing the tea and spliff smiley.

As you can tell from the set list it is larger than your mum’s undies.

Stelf’s Birthday Mix – 2hrs of D&B Classics

Mystic Moods – Music is the Basis of All Life [Mystic Moods 007]
Octave One – Chill Out ’94 [31 Recordings 001]
PFM – Language of Love [Moving Shadow LP 004]
Dave Wallace – Waves [Moving Shadow 092]
Dave Wallace – Future Reality Part 2 [All Good Vinyl 005]
Photek – The Rain [Metalheads 008]
Therapy? – Loose, Photek RMX [A&M DJ 001]
PFM – Cruising Detroit [Moving Shadow LP 004]
Alex Reece – Pulp Fiction [Metalheads 011]
PFM – One & Only [Good Looking Records 003]
T-Power vs. MK Ultra – Mutant Jazz [S.O.U.R. LP 002]
Urban Soul Selective – Shine Your Light [S.O.U.R. LP 002]
T-Power – Trapesium [S.O.U.R. LP 003]
T-Power – Octagon [S.O.U.R. LP 003]
T-Power – Triangle [S.O.U.R. LP 003]
??? – White [Penny Black 011]
Dr S. Gachet – Remember the Rollers, Meaningful RMX [AUMR 007]
Turntable Terranova – Precipice, Krust RMX [Compst Record 024]
Ultraflex – Doors of Insaity [High Octane 003]
Concept 2 aka Andy C & Ant Miles – Cause & Effect [RAM LP 001]
Kemet Kru – Dangerous [Kemet 017]
Bangers United – Lord of the Rings: Part 1 & 2 [S.O.U.R. LP 009]
MC Gunsmoke & The Hempaholics – Court Case [S.O.U.R. LP 002]

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

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)

Call the Ambience, Again! – Ear & Drum Session 58

The last Call the Ambience set was such a pleasure to mix and got such a great response that I felt compelled to do another. I’ve road tested this one a train, a plane and a Balinese massage table and I can promise you it will relax you and take you to other places. Best listened to through the headphones for maximum effect.

Call the Ambience Again! – 1hr of Ambient Drum & Bass

Brookes Brothers – Outro
ASC – Citrus
Colla & Spar – U Know
Oak – Bedroom Community
Blue Motion – A Foggy Day
Blue Motion – Astronauts
Dominic Ridgway – Shadow Beats (Thorne Remix)
ICR – Such Unimportant Things like Us
London Elekticity – Fault Lines (Unquote’s Snowy Remix)
London Elekricity – Invisible Worlds (Bop Remix)
Morphy & Marginal – Old Thomas Dub
Blue Motion – When She Is Gone Stay
Fracture & Mark System – Closed Circuit
Marginal & Vendetta – Natural Selection
Terry Artovsky – Requiem For The Mankind
ASC – Polynormal
Technicolour – Permafrost
ASC & Bvdub – Symbol #2.4
Brookes Brothers – Outro

Last Gasp – Ear & Drum Session 57

Well summer has wrapped up for another year in the Nothern Hemisphere which means most the big festivals has once again come and gone. It also means festival season is about to hit down under. I wouldn’t describe this as strictly a festival set, but it is the closest I’ll ever come to playing the ‘big tunes’ from the festival season. It is also the first long form mix I’ve done in quite a while, as I figured I may as well get it all out of my system in one big hit.

So if you are missing the summer just gone, or looking forward to the oncoming season this is the mix for you. 🙂

Last Gasp – 2hrs of 2011 Summer Tunes

Fostec – Future Motion
Sundancer – Hold On
Flaco – Thunder
London Elektricity – Invisible Worlds (B Complex Remix)
Subsense & Defence – Road 2 Zyon
Friction – Someone (Feat. Mclean) (The Prototypes Remix)
London Elektricity – The Plan That Cannot Fail (Logistics Remix)
Physics – Party Starter
Getz – Keep On Loving Me
Calibre – Hummer
Marco Del Horno ft Emi Green – This Town is Ours (S.P.Y Remix)
Feint – My Sunset
Calibre – Touch Me
Metrik – More Than Words
London Elektricity – Elektricity Will Keep Me Warm (S.P.Y Remix)
London Elektricity – Yikes! (Lung Remix)
Metrik – T1000
Bungle – The Siren
S.P.Y – By Your Side (Logistiics Remix)
Eveson – Marley VIP
BCee – Glitter Balls
Genotype – Bass Fight
The Prototypes – Evolution (feat. Darison)
Friction – Flip The Page
Electrosoul System – Aquatique
Command Strange – Shine
Templecloud – One Big Family (Dexcell’s 7am Remix)
Bass Divison – Good Thoughts Good Things
London Elektricity – U Gottah Be Crazy (Enei Remix)
Naibu – Use of Weapons
ICR – Love, Hate and Between
ShockOne feat. Phetsta – Crucify Me (Part 1 Extended DnB Mix)
ShockOne – Polygon (Dirtyphonics Remix)

Shadow Wax Vol.3: Moving Shadow 94-95 – Ear & Drum Session 56

Part 3 of my Moving Shadow retrospectives, this time looking at the Intelligent sound from 1994-95. EZ Rollers, DJ Pulse, JMJ & Ritchie and, in particular, Omni Trio were absolutely on fire. The complexity of the beats and the melodies layered over the top of them are some of the best from that era, and if you love the Amen break as much as I do then you’re in for a treat.

Shadow Wax Vol.3 – 1hr+ of Moving Shadow Intelligence from 94-95

EZ Rollers – Rolled Into One
Omni Trio – Renegade Snares (Foul Play VIP Mix)
Omni Trio – Renegade Snares (Rob’s Reconstruction Mix)
DJ Pulse – Return Voyage (Pulse & Stretch Remix)
JMJ & Ritchie – Free La Funk
JMJ & Ritchie – Free La Funk (PFM Remix)
DJ Pulse – Let You In
Omni Trio – Nu Grooves ’94
Blame & Justice – Anthemia
Foul Play – Artificial Intelligence
Omni Trio – Together
Omni Trio – Rollin’ Heights (More Strings Attached Mix)
Foul Play – Music Is The Key (Omni Trio Remix)
Omni Trio – Soul Prominade
Omni Trio – Soul Freestyle
omni Trio – Ghost Rider
Cloud Nine – Blissful Ignorance
Foul Play – Being With You (Hopa & Bones Remix)
JMJ & Ritchie – Universal Horn