![Ambitronica 08 compiled & mixed by Mike G]()
June 16, 2020
A 2 PART AMBITRONICA SPECIAL: DRUM 'N' BASS 'N' DREAMY BREAKS 1994-2017.
Compiled & mixed by Mike G at Rubycon Sound, May-June 2020. Tracklist at ambientmusicguide.com.
Around 1994 I remember hearing the track ‘Mutant Jazz’ by the mysterious T Power vs MK Ultra. It was getting airplay on Oz public radio station Triple J, which broke a fair bit of new indie and electronic music from the UK back then.
It started as a slow, funky trumpet-led lounge break that – completely unexpectedly – segued into the fast, stuttering, skittering beats of what I soon learned was called jungle. Then, following this initial segue, ‘Mutant Jazz’ improbably and brilliantly married both: slow and fast, dreamy and kinetic.
As jungle quickly morphed beyond the underground and spread around and outside the UK it became known as drum ‘n’ bass. The more ambient, atmospheric tip championed by the likes of LTJ Bukem and his label Good Looking Records became yet another iteration of ambient dance music alongside ambient techno, IDM, ambient dub, lounge, ambient breaks and a slew of other subgenres. Two or more of these styles were frequently fused together, and “intelligent” drum ‘n’ bass was one of the most eclectic and inventive styles of them all.
These two mixes capture rich, atmospheric drum ‘n’ bass and breakbeat tunes that are personal faves, mostly dating from back in the day but also a few recent ones including cuts from genre giants Blu Mar Ten. Pioneers like Bukem and A Guy Called Gerald are here, but so too are some stonking cosmic tracks from Australian and New Zealand artists which you have probably never heard and I think you’ll like. A lot.
![Ambitronica 07 compiled & mixed by Mike G]()
June 16, 2020
A 2 PART AMBITRONICA SPECIAL: DRUM 'N' BASS 'N' DREAMY BREAKS 1994-2017.
Compiled & mixed by Mike G at Rubycon Sound, May-June 2020. Tracklist at ambientmusicguide.com.
Around 1994 I remember hearing the track ‘Mutant Jazz’ by the mysterious T Power vs MK Ultra. It was getting airplay on Oz public radio station Triple J, which broke a fair bit of new indie and electronic music from the UK back then.
It started as a slow, funky trumpet-led lounge break that – completely unexpectedly – segued into the fast, stuttering, skittering beats of what I soon learned was called jungle. Then, following this initial segue, ‘Mutant Jazz’ improbably and brilliantly married both: slow and fast, dreamy and kinetic.
As jungle quickly morphed beyond the underground and spread around and outside the UK it became known as drum ‘n’ bass. The more ambient, atmospheric tip championed by the likes of LTJ Bukem and his label Good Looking Records became yet another iteration of ambient dance music alongside ambient techno, IDM, ambient dub, lounge, ambient breaks and a slew of other subgenres. Two or more of these styles were frequently fused together, and “intelligent” drum ‘n’ bass was one of the most eclectic and inventive styles of them all.
These two mixes capture rich, atmospheric drum ‘n’ bass and breakbeat tunes that are personal faves, mostly dating from back in the day but also a few recent ones including cuts from genre giants Blu Mar Ten. Pioneers like Bukem and A Guy Called Gerald are here, but so too are some stonking cosmic tracks from Australian and New Zealand artists which you have probably never heard and I think you’ll like. A lot.
May 28, 2020
Episode 05 features recent music by Roger & Brian Eno, Woob, Lingua Lustra, Boris Lelong, Saphileaum, Ember, Federico Mosconi, and classics from Vangelis, Ishq and Mychael Danna.
The Tranquility Tones mix series showcases harmonic drones and dreamy progressions, timeless music from then and now.
Compiled & mixed by Mike G at Rubycon Sound, May 2020.
Tracklist at http://ambientmusicguide.com
April 14, 2020
In both its first incarnation (1994-1998) and its second one (2003-2006), the UK-based Emit label (officially spelt em:t) delivered a varied, idiosyncratic vision of ambient music in the tradition of the great ambient labels of yore like Editions EG. Although now long gone, Emit's reputation in the dance and electronic underground for quality and innovation remains undiminished to this day. The artists provided us with some of the most thrilling, audacious chill-out music of the 90's and beyond.
This two-volume mix series captures my personal highlights from the official Emit releases, as well as from three 'ghost' albums that were more or less finished but never released.
Respect to the various Emit crews: David Thompson, Chris Allen, Tom Smyth, Will Joss, Matt Hall and John Bagguley.
Escape your speakers.
Compiled & mixed by Mike G @ Rubycon Sound, March-April 2020.
More at http://ambientmusicguide.com/
April 14, 2020
In both its first incarnation (1994-1998) and its second one (2003-2006), the UK-based Emit label (officially spelt em:t) delivered a varied, idiosyncratic vision of ambient music in the tradition of the great ambient labels of yore like Editions EG. Although now long gone, Emit's reputation in the dance and electronic underground for quality and innovation remains undiminished to this day. The artists provided us with some of the most thrilling, audacious chill-out music of the 90's and beyond.
This two-volume mix series captures my personal highlights from the official Emit releases, as well as from three 'ghost' albums that were more or less finished but never released.
Respect to the various Emit crews: David Thompson, Chris Allen, Tom Smyth, Will Joss, Matt Hall and John Bagguley.
Escape your speakers.
Compiled & mixed by Mike G @ Rubycon Sound, March-April 2020.
More at http://ambientmusicguide.com/
December 10, 2019
Exotic grooves, atmospheric downtempo and cinematic spaces from Marconi Union, Bersarin Quartett, Bluetech, Banco de Gaia, Pitch Black, Entheogenic, Autumn of Communion, KiloWatts, Saafi Brothers, Animat, d'Voxx, Sven Kössler & Si Matthews, Robodop Snei, Sacred Seeds, Symbion Project, Data Rebel, Johan Agebjorn, Rildrim, Backstage Gurus and Tara Putra.
The 6-part Best Of 2019 mix series showcases some of the music from AMG's Best Albums of 2019 Reviews feature, plus other outstanding tracks from the year that was. All mixes compiled by Mike G @ Rubycon Sound, Oct-Dec 2019.
Mix#1: Drones & Tones
Mix#2: Deep Space Tech
Mix#3: Mod Classical & Post-Rock
Mix#4: Balearica
Mix#5: Environments
Mix#6: Ambitronica
More at http://ambientmusicguide.com
December 10, 2019
Atmospheric sounds from Biosphere, Ishq, Sounds from the Ground, Autumn of Communion, Hibernation, Motionfield, Ohio (Taylor Deupree), Off Land, Pitch Black, Tom Adams. Andrew Heath, Soda Lite, Ashan, In Quantum, Darren McClure, Aerium, Moss Garden and Andrea Castiglioni.
The 6-part Best Of 2019 mix series showcases some of the music from AMG's Best Albums of 2019 Reviews feature, plus other outstanding tracks from the year that was. All mixes compiled by Mike G @ Rubycon Sound, Oct-Dec 2019.
Mix#1: Drones & Tones
Mix#2: Deep Space Tech
Mix#3: Mod Classical & Post-Rock
Mix #4: Balearica
Mix#5: Environments
Mix#6: Ambitronica
More at http://ambientmusicguide.com
December 5, 2019
Lush downtempo beauties from Kaya Project, Sounds from the Ground, Lemmer & Pabst, Nancy Noise, Dr. Deep House, Johan Agebjorn, Hibernation, Hatar, Robot Koch, Globular and and Collective Sound Members.
The 6-part Best Of 2019 mix series showcases some of the music from AMG's Best Albums of 2019 Reviews feature, plus other outstanding tracks from the year that was. All mixes compiled by Mike G @ Rubycon Sound,Oct-Dec 2019.
Mix#1: Drones & Tones
Mix#2: Deep Space Tech
Mix#3: Mod Classical & Post-Rock
Mix #4: Balearica
Mix#5: Environments
Mix#6: Ambitronica
More at http://ambientmusicguide.com
