It's been a Drum'n'Bass Day

Posted by: Mike Hanson on 23 August 2000

I don't know why, but I've really enjoyed plumbing the depths of Drum'n'Bass today. Here's what's been played:

Everything But the Girl "Walking Wounded" - This is pretty soft-core, but it's the only drum'n'bass that my wife enjoys. The rest of it's a little too dark and intense.
Goldie "Timeless"
Grooverider "Prototype Years"
µ-ziq "Urmur Bile Trax, Vols. 1 & 2"
Goldie "INCredible Sound of Drum'n'Bass"
Breakbeat Era "Ultra-Obscene" - This is a 1999 release from Roni Size and company. It's full of vocals, yet still maintains that hard-core drum'n'bass essence.
LTJ Bukem "Progression Sessions" - I just picked this up from the record shop, so I haven't listened to it yet. It's highly recommended, though, and I'm really looking forward to it.

It's too bad the day is so short, as I've got lost more that I would like to hear. Oh well, there's always tomorrow. Catch you later!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Smilies do not a forum make.

[This message was edited by Mike Hanson on WEDNESDAY 23 August 2000 at 22:20.]

Posted on: 23 August 2000 by Mike Hanson

Further to my earlier message, I've given LTJ Bukem's "Progression Sessions" (volume 3) a full listen, and I've decided to exchange it for something else. I was hoping that it would be a little harder sounding, and it's really quite smooth.

I could have lived with that (since it was certainly harder than the offering from Everything But The Girl), but there was a lackluster rapper blathering throughout the entire album. It got very monotonous, very early on, and it never improved. If you could remove the voice, the music would have been fine by itself.

I'm also considering LTJ Bukem's "Logical Progressions", but I'm not interested if it's just like ProgSes3. Has anyone heard it, and what did you think?

Oh well. I think I'll play some of Goldie's "Saturnz Return" to finish off my day. It's not his best album, but it has a few good moments. Catch you later!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Smilies do not a forum make.

Posted on: 24 August 2000 by John Channing

Mike,
If you don't like the Progression Sessions then I would give Logical Progression a miss. All Bukem's stuff is fairly soft but funky. I don't think I have heard PS vol 3. Volume 4 has two disks one with MC and one without, I prefer with since MC Conrad is really quite good.
John

Posted on: 24 August 2000 by Mike Hanson

Although I prefer hard-core stuff, I also enjoy the soft, funky stuff on occasion. It was the MC that ruined it for me. Yes he was capable, but it was excessively monotonous, and his voice didn't intrigue me enough to keep me interested. It also seemed to be "plunked on top" most of the time, rather than being an integral part of the music.

If "Logical Progression" doesn't have the MC, then I would probably enjoy it. Catch you later!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Smilies do not a forum make.

Posted on: 24 August 2000 by Dev B

Mike,

If you like the harder stuff go get the 'Pure Drum & Bass' Compliation mixed by Grooverider, all the cuts are very hard, dark and the mixing is superb. One of the best jungle albums I own. The Progression Sessions vol.3 is a bit soft for me also, but I think 1,2 and 4 are all excellent MC Conrad does make a valid contribution.

Also check out Fabio Presents 'Liquid Funk' the third CD (the one he mixes, is quite superb) also go get Grooverider presents 'The Prototype Years' the second CD is the one to get into here.

I have been enjoying a lot of Garage and Techno recently, and on the Garage tip 'Incredible, SOund of the Dreem Teem' is worth checking out and the latest 'Carl Cox live' is very strong stuff too.

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Posted on: 25 August 2000 by Mike Hanson

Dev:

"Pure Drum & Bass" sounds great. I'll check it out. I've got Grooverider's "The Prototype Years", but there's only one CD. Is there a version with two?

Joe:

I won't be out there tonight, but I'll try again in two weeks. I checked the blurb for Resolutions on allmusic.com, and it looks interesting. I may pick it up between now and then. Catch you later!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Smilies do not a forum make.

Posted on: 30 August 2000 by John Channing

A Guy called Gerald - Essence

It's been a good few years since the release of Black Secret Technology and drum and bass has moved on a long way in the mean time. Some of these changes are reflected in Essence, but essentially this is a refinement of the kind of D&B that was popular back in 94/95 and will suit the people who enjoyed Black Secret Technology. Personally I like this album, it has some massive bass lines, some good (old skool jungle) breaks, as well as some pretty decent vocals. It's not as hard as, say, the typical Moving Shadow release and not as soft as Bukem so it should have general appeal.

Posted on: 31 August 2000 by Graeme Cree

For a "softer" jazzier D&B sound have you tried Down to the Bone? Their debut CD "From Manhattan to Statten" was well received in the contemporary jazz world - Jazz FM No. 1 for weeks back in '97 (but maybe that will put you off). Checkout tracks 2 and 5 for starters. Their follow-up "Urban Grooves - Album II" in '99 is not quite so good IMHO but track 2 "The Zodiac" is pretty mean (take a listen at CDNow.com).

Great Saturday morning music!

The "Internal Bass" label is quite good for this sort of thing.

Onwards / upwards

Graeme