Category Archives: Ear & Drum Session

Ear & Drum Session: 200 – Too Hungered Pt.1 & Pt.2

10+ years on and 200 Ear & Drum Sessions later here we are.

It took me a long time to figure out what I was going to do for the 200th installment of the Ear & Drum Sessions. Finally I hit upon taking it back to the beginning of the Ear & Drum and look at the much maligned 2000-2010 era of D&B. Talk to most headz and they’ll tell you this decade was the low point in D&B history, but like all sweeping statements this isn’t necessarily true.

As someone who has loved D&B since the beginning and never taken a break in over 25 years, I have always found tunes that have that special something to make me smile. This stands true even for D&B from the turn of the century. Artists like DKay, Klute, Marcus Intalex and Calibre made their names during this era churning out hit after hit and keeping it mighty real.

What you’re about to hear are the first two parts of a four part series looking back at the tunes I was playing during the noughties. Parts one and two look at 2000-05, with Part 1 one being the more melodic side of D&B at the time and Part 2 being the heavy hitters of the time.

Thanks to all of you who have supported me down the years and let me inflict my music taste on you. I hope you like this anniversary celebration and stick around for the next 200 mixes. Enjoy!

Too Hungered Pt.1 – 1.5hrs of melodic D&B from 2000-05

PFM – Cruising Detroit
Blame – Overhead Projections
Nasty Habits – Liquid Fingers
The Roots – You Got Me (Blu Mar Ten Remix)
D.Kay – Balearic Dream
Nu:Tone – Millie’s Theme
M.I.S.T., DJ Marky & XRS – Sunshine (Touch Me)
Calibre – It’s…
M.I.S.T. 7 High Contrast – 3am
DJ Marky & XRS – Closer
Everything But the Girl – Mirrorball (DJ Jazzy Jeff Sole Full Remix)
Jonny L – 2 of Us (Photek Remix)
Marcus Intalex & ST Flies – How You Make Me Feel
M.I.S.T. – Lover
Tomahawk – Until Dawn
4 Hero – 9 by 9 (M.I.S.T. Full Vocal Mix)
Klute – Part of Me
Logistics – Together

Too Hungered Pt.2 – 1hr+ of hard hitting D&B from 2000-05

Capone – Tudor Rose
Ed Rush & Optical – Rock Tha House
Jonny L – Trouble
Elementz of Noize – Guided by Lights
Photek – Baltimore
Influx UK – My Name is Universe
Sunchase – Next Rhythm
Seba & Paradox – Last Goodbye
DJ Kalm – Violet
Klute – Phone Call (Matrix Remix)
Amit – Roots
Teebee – The Force
Seba – Piemo for B
Influx UK – The Siren
Kiko – Passport

Ear & Drum Session: 199 – SUMMERY

It might be cold up north, but here in the southern hemisphere we’re in the middle of Summer and so I’ve thrown together a mix of tunes perfect for warm nights and even hotter days.

From Tokyo Prose, Alix Perez and BCee through to Calibre, Redeyes and Duoscience this is a good representation of who’s hot in the Liquid D&B scene right now. Special shout to Netsky for his take on the classic Everybody Love the Sunshine.

Summery – 1.5hrs of Liquid D&B

Machinedrum feat. Jesse Boykins III – Wait 4 U
Hiraeth – Greatest Day
DRS & Kid Drama – So High
Rowpieces & Monaco GZA feat. La Yee – Don’t You Never Go Away (Has Tempo Recall)
Shodan – Just You & Me
Goldie feat. Jose James – Truth (Zero T Remix)
Tokyo Prose – Jacknife
Alix Perez & Workforce – Distant Figures
Atlantic Connection – Refix (Instrumental)
Tokyo Prose – Gossamer
Acid_Lab – Distant Lights
BCee & Charlotte Haining feat. DRS – Love for the Fallen
Redicall – Transform
Monumental Banks – Loop Thinking
Mystific – The Sun (Mystical Sound Remix)
Duoscience – Bethesda
Alix Perez – Wondering at Loss
Calibre – Falls to You VIP
Redeyes – Delicate (Club Mix)
Redeyes – Slow Pace (Club Mix)
Atlantic Connection – Threshold
Physics – Crucify
Oat – What We Could Be
Duoscience – Emmaus
Alix Perez feat. Liam Bailey – Lost & Proud
Netsky, Daddy Waku & Chantal Kashala – Everybody Love the Sunshine

Ear & Drum Session: 198 – Four Stroke

First mix of 2021 is is the final in my 2-Step / Tech Step series looking back at 90s D&B Steppers. This one focuses on Jazz Step from the mid to late 90s featuring some amazing tunes from the likes of T.Power, B.L.I.M. and of course Photek.

Jazz Step was an avant-garde take on the 2-step sound, featuring a lot of live instrument samples such as sax, percussion and double-bass. Starting with Alex Reece’s – Pulp Fiction and closing out with Roni Size’s – Brown Paper bag, the style didn’t really survive the turn of the millennium. But that didn’t stop Jazz Step from having some of the most forward thinking and innovative tunes of the 90s.

Four Stroke – 1hr of Classic Jazz Step

Flex Camp – Style Wars
T.Power – Police State (Native Bass Edit)
Unguided Lights – Deep Blue ‘C”
Minx – Take Me To Summer (N Jay Remix)
B.L.I.M. – Their Culture
Hydro – Tha’ Bomb Shit
Elizabeth Troy – Let Me Be (L Double Remix)
N-Jay – Enceptia
N-Jay – Jazz 163
T.Power – Refraction Edit
B.L.I.M. – Jeamland 96
Morf – Spell
Photek – The Rain (Photek Remix)
Hidden Agenda – Dispatches #1
Elementz of Noise – Astral

Ear & Drum: Session 197 – Dead Set

The final in the silly season mixes is all about tough beats and booming b-lines. Rough D&B never really goes out of style, but it does eveolve and this year saw artists like Dom & Roland, Conrad Subs and Bungle bring back an original jungle vibe with a heaping serve of heaviness.

Metalheadz had a stellar 2020 with so many great LPs dropping it felt like every month there was something worth dropping from Goldie’s stable of production talent. But they weren’t alone with Dom & Roland’s self titled label, Doc Scott’s 31 Recordings and a whole host of other bringing the absolute heat.

Dead Set – 1hr of Ruff and Rowdy Beats

Goldie – The Mirrored River (Grey Code Remix)
Goldie – Prism (Dom & Roland Remix)
Heitor Leal Farnese – E näo foi à lápis (Thermal’s Black Dog Remix)
T95 & DRS – On Site
Soul Intent & Acid Lab – Clash of Headz
High Contrast – If We Ever VIP
Conrad Sub – Bump & Grind
Conrad Subs – Love Me Tender
Goldie feat. José James – Truth (Zero T VIP)
Hyroglifics – God Given
Bungle – Runaway
Polaris – Eternal Conflicts
DJ Marky & Pola & Bryson – Run the Streets
Myth – Long Time
Muffler – Super Heavy
DJ Marky – Parlet
Total Science – Lightweight (Break Remix)
Goldie – I Think of You (Digital & Spirit Remix)

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 195 – Looking Up

This is the first of three mixes I’m dropping for a little holiday therapy. Whether you’re having a whale of a time with family and friends or spending the holidays isolating solo, the one thing that will always get you through is good music. So hopefully these mixes will go some ways to helping you have a good break and get you through to 2021.

To kick us of we have a Liquid mix that sums up what strong year it has been for melodic and vocal driven D&B. Artists such as Alix Perez, Tokyo Prose, The Vanguard Project have had a massive year pushing the smooth soulful sound of D&B to ever greater heights. Even older artists such as High Contrast and Netsky who left the liquid sound behind for other sounds are coming back in with tunes reflecting their original sounds.

2020 may have been a tough year for most, but for Liquid D&B it was smooth sailing.

Looking Up – 1hr of Fresh Liquid

Machinedrum feat. Sub Focus – 1000 Miles
Smote – Light of My Life
Netsky & Becky Hill – Hold On
Tokyo Prose – Dust
Nuvertal – The Earth Forgives
Substance & Charlie Brix – Break the Habit
Alix Perez – Someone Else
Goldie – The Mirrored River (Artificial Intelligence Remix)
Monumental Breaks – Tidy Mind
Champagne – Tangible Leads (Physics Remix)
T:Base – Universe
Impression & Markem – Mystic Times
High Contrast – Calling My Name
Acid_Lab – Mr. Evans
T:Base – Power
Cnof – Never Know VIP
The Vanguard Project & Fred V feat. Riya – No Words
Netsky – I Choose You

Ear & Drum: Session 194 – Let’s Bounce

Heading deep into the Jungle with this mix of old classics, sneaky remixes and new takes. Earl Grey & Dead Man’s Chest, Circa 96, Dwarde and Tim Reaper look after the new school tunes, while the older tracks are a veritable who’s who of Jungle with DJ Rap, Adam F, Foul Play, Nasty Habits and Aprodite. And that’s just for starters.

If you like your beats OG this mix will more than fit the bill.

Let’s Bounce – 1hr of Old & New School Jungle

DJ Monk – Dance Hall Style
ST Files – St Files Part 1.1 (Remix)
Aston – The Sign (Remix)
Earl Grey & Dead Man’s Chest – Fugitive Version
The Committee – Final Conflict (Tango Remix)
M.A.2. – Hearing is Believing (Remix)
DJ Rap – Rumble (Flapjack Remix)
Adam F – Lighter Style
Harmony – What a House
Foul Play – A.I. (The Last Ronin Remix)
Harmony – Just a Game
Nasty Habits – Technology
Lemon D – Jah Love (VIP Mix)
Aphrodite – Bass Lights (VIP Mix)
Dwarde & Time Reaper – So Strange
Harmony & Xtreme – Let Me In
Circa96 – Fantasy (Tim Reaper Remix)

Ear & Drum Session: 193 – Crazy Times

We’re living in interesting times, and sometimes you need a little something to take your mind off things and just be.

That was the aim with this mix of soulful tunes full of catchy vocals and sweet melodies. It still rolls like a train, but it’s a smooth ride all the way to the station and easy to just stare out the window and enjoy the world passing by.

Crazy Times – 1hr of Smooth D&B

DRS, Dynamite MC & Etherwood
Villem & Leo Wood – We Had a Song
Redeyes – Changes.Illusions (Club Mix)
BCee & Charlotte Haining – The Hills
Duoscience – Lose the Touch
Low:r feat. Sixar – Social Mania
Duoscience – Attempts
PFM – Living Without You
BCee & Charlotte Haining feat. DRS – Love for the Fallen
DRS, Dynamite MC & DJ Marky – A Song for You
Artificial Intelligence feat. Satl – No Choice
Askel & Elere – Shy
Duoscience – Ironic
Patience – Ocean View
Redeyes feat [ K S R ] – A Thousand Times
Artificial Intelligence – Good Times
Phaction & Leo Wood – I Have You (Ill Truth Remix)
Duoscience – Sparta
Motiv – The Woman The Got Away
DRS, Dynamite MC & LSB – Adoration
Motiv – The Woman The Got Away (Tease)

Ear & Drum Session: 192 – Bristol Cities

The Bristol / Manchester sound is like nothing else in D&B. Full of ragga style vocals, dance hall style beats and vibes and yet quintessentially English. Sam Binga, Chimpo and to a lesser degree Om Unit exemplify the low-fi, down and dirty sound.

With its street style worn proudly on its sleeve, it one of those sounds that once you get into it you just want more.

Bristol Cities – A quick mix of Bristol Beats

Chimpo – 1996 (Illegal Remix)
Chimpo – Big Ed (Generation X Mix)
Sam Binga & Redders – Vandilero
Sam Binga & Rider Shafique feat. Tiffanie Malvo – Proud (Enei Remix)
Dub Phizix vs. Fixate – Babalugats
Chimpo – Good Love
DRS, Dynamic MC & DJ Zinc – Get Down
Dub Phizix & Strategy – Deh
Madcap – B-Boy
Sam Binga & Rider Shafique – Organic
Sam Binga & Halogenix – I’m an Adult
QZB feat. Rider Shafique – City On The Lock
Shy FX feat. Sinead Harnett – Too Shy (Breakage Remix)
Soul Intent & Ms Tempz – 2 Bad
Workforce – Your Moves

Ear & Drum Session: 191 – Bring the Drums

With Jungle being a hot property in D&B again, it’s easy to forget that Atmospheric D&B has been flying the Amen flag this whole time. With producers like Seba’s Secret Operations label and Eshaton’s Omni Music keeping the sound alive, Atmospheric D&B is better than ever. So much so we’re starting to see older producers like J Majik and ASC who moved away from the sound returning to their roots.

Backed up by established producers such as Bop, Duoscience and Greekboy the sound of rinsing Amens, lush pads and melodies and deep sub-bass is one that never seems to get tired.

Bring the Drums – 1hr of Atmospheric D&B

Blade – Unreleased
Anile – Earth & Mars
Seba – Nostalgia
Jrumhand – Intuition
ASC – Clear Skies
Rainforest – Villalongin
Bop – Memories
Seba – This is Our House
Circa96 – Cave Dweller
J Majik – Serenity
ASC – Moment of Truth
Eschaton & Future Engineers – Ascension
AwakenFM – Atlantis
Antony G – Getting Lost in Prague
Focus 2 – Nova Era (Alex DB Nu Old Skool Age Version)
Duoscience – Good to Be With (Recap)
Greekboy & Okee – Lands of the Unknown