"A load of great albums to reacquaint myself with" Martin James [Melody Maker | The Guardian | Muzik]
A brief history...of how two long-time agent provocateurs from Chicago, collaborated to compile the greatest Downtempo "Best Of" list of all-time!
❒ A Guy Called Gary: Guidance Recordings label DJ and A&R. Compiled Hi:Fidelity Lounge 3 & Hi:Fidelity Lounge 4, as well as, Hi:Fidelity Dub Sessions 4, Destination:Chicago [Japan], and Mundial Muzique 2. A Guy Called Gary has DJ'd along side "Downtempo" luminaries; Gilles Peterson, DJ Cam, Blue States, DJ Oil [Troublemakers], DJ Ender [Nuspirit Helsinki], along with maintaining residencies in cities from Chicago to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico... Chill to the latest installment of Hi:Fidelity Lounge
❒ Architektur: Est. 2000 | Lounge Productions, Burning Bowl Records, & Passport Radio [WRUW, KOOP, WXDU]. Exclusive interviews with members of Gotan Project, G-Stone & Thievery Corporation. "Big up to Architektur, the man behind the great 'Musik for Film' compilation, this cd is a must-have for every downbeat | chilled dub fan, great stuff!!" - FM Brussels. Wire Magazine described Architektur's album, Travelogue, as 'Meat Beat Manifesto collides with Shorty Rogers' | ★★★★1/2, #1 KPFA, #5 Dub - Juno [UK], and aired on BBC, FM4, KCRW... Tune in to the Finest in Downbeat & Dub on Passport Radio
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1
Kruder & Dorfmeister The K&D Sessions 1998 [2CD] Massive Attack Blue Lines 1991 Tricky Maxinquaye 1995 Tosca Suzuki 2000 Portishead Dummy 1994 Gotan Project La Revancha Del Tango 2000 Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band A Special Album 2003 Kruder & Dorfmeister G-Stoned 1993 Nightmares On Wax Smokers Delight 1995 Yonderboi Shallow And Profound 2000 Massive Attack Protection 1994 [2CD] Thievery Corporation The Mirror Conspiracy 2000 Kinobe Soundphiles 2000 Jazzanova The Singles Collection 1997-2000 Fila Brazillia Maim That Tune 1995 Tosca Opera 1997 Peace Orchestra Peace Orchestra 1999 Thievery Corporation Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi 1996 | 1999 [2 versions] Xploding Plastix Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents 2001 dZihan & Kamien Freaks & Icons 2000
top101 Video Playlist [1 - 20]
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21
Boozoo Bajou Satta 2001 Portishead Portishead 1997 Quantic The 5th Exotic 2001 Lemon Jelly Lemonjelly.ky 2000 The Dining Rooms Numero Deux 2001 [Guidance version] Urbs Toujours Le Même Film... 2005 AIR Premiers Symptomes 1997 United Future Organization Now And Then 1990-1997 [2CD] Pressure Drop Food Of Love 1990-2003 [2CD] Royksopp Melody A.M. 2001 DJ Bootsie The Silent Partner 2004 Tosca Dehli 9 2003 [2CD] Bent Programmed To Love 2000 Mr. Scruff Keep It Unreal 1999 Waldeck Northern Lights 1996 Karma Thrillseekers 1999 Sofa Surfers Cargo 1999 David Holmes Let's Get Killed 1997 Air Moon Safari 1997 Quantic One Off's, Remixes and B Sides 2006 [2CD]
top101 Video Playlist [21 - 40]
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41
Massive Attack V Mad Professor No Protection 1995 Walkner.Mostl Heaven Or Hell 2000 Bitter:Sweet The Mating Game 2006 Tipsy Trip Tease - The Seductive Sounds Of Tipsy 1996 Bonobo Animal Magic 2000 Karminsky Experience Inc. The Power Of Suggestion 2003 Bazille Noir Bazille Noir 2001 Funki Porcini Hed Phone Sex 1995 [2CD] Thievery Corporation Abductions and Reconstructions 1999 DJ Cam Mad Blunted Jazz 1996 [2CD] Solid Doctor How About Some Ether [Collected Works 93-95] [2CD] dZihan & Kamien Gran Riserva 2002 MUM The Szabotnik 15 Mission 2002 Minus 8 Elysian Fields 2000 The Dining Rooms Tre 2003 Twilight Circus Dub Sound System Dub Voyage 2000 Fila Brazillia Luck Be A Weirdo Tonight 1997 Up, Bustle And Out Master Sessions 2 2001 General Electrics Cliquety Kliqk 2003 Bent The Everlasting Blink 2003
top101 Video Playlist [41 - 60]
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61
Rob Smith Meets Henry & Louis Time Will Tell [Dub] 2005 Parov Stelar Seven & Storm 2005 Boozoo Bajou Remixes 2003 Tosca J.A.C. 2005 Seelenluft Synchronschwimmer EP 2001 The Bush Chemists Light Up Your Spliff 1996 Amon Tobin Bricolage 1997 Thievery Corporation The Richest Man In Babylon 2002 Waldeck Ballroom Stories 2007 Organic Grooves Black Cherry 2002 MUM Mum 2000 International Observer From The Dungeons Of Dub 2010 Jon Kennedy We're Just Waiting For You Now 2001 Luke Vibert | BJ Cole Stop The Panic 1999 Noiseshaper King Size Dub Special 2001-2009 Sofa Surfers Transit 1997 Karma Pad Sounds 1997 Bonobo Dial 'M' For Monkey 2003 UKO UKO 2001 J-Walk A Night On The Rocks 2002
top101 Video Playlist [61 - 80]
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81
Zero 7 Simple Things 2001 Goldfrapp Felt Mountain 2000 Seelenluft The Rise And Fall Of Silvercity-Bob 2000 Visit Venus The Endless Bummer 1998 Count Basic The Peter Kruder | Richard Dorfmeister Remixes 2001 Mo'Horizons Come Touch The Sun 1999 Ursula 1000 The Now Sound Of Ursula 1000 1998 Gerd High, Wide and Wonderful! 2001 Troublemakers Doubts & Convictions 2000 Nightmares On Wax Carboot Soul 1999 Dubphonic Smoke Signals 2003 The Butch Cassidy Sound System Butches Brew 2004 Howie B. Music For Babies 1996 Baby Mammoth Best Foot Forward 2001 Waxolutionists Counter Fight 2004 45 Dip The Acid Lounge 2000 Waldeck Balance Of The Force 1998 A Forest Mighty Black Mellowdramatic 1998 Leggo Beast From Here To G 2000 Yonderboi Rough And Rare 2001 101 Easy Star All-Stars Dubber Side Of The Moon 2010
top101 Video Playlist [81 - 101]
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Honorable mention...to all of the labels who helped elevate this sound through their influential compilations. Collections that featured the many tastemakers...the curators who exposed us to the songs that would emerge into classics.Renowned labels that produced these compilations include: Compost, Stereo Deluxe, Guidance, Vienna Scientists, Echo Beach, Mole Listening Pearls, Tru Thoughts, Pussyfoot, Spray, Musicpark, Uptight, ESL, Crammed Discs, !K7, and Ninja Tune, among many others...
Special shout-out to...
Boards Of Canada, Bobby Hughes, Ian Simmonds AKA Juryman, Uptight Productions, Horace Andy,Alex Cortiz, The Deadbeats, Snooze, I:Cube, Sven Van Hees, Nuspirit Helsinki, Wax Tailor, [Dunkelbunt], Subatomic Sound System, Dubblestandart, On-U Sound, Mo'Wax, Schema, INFRACom!, Wonderwheel, Fort Knox, Rhythm & Culture, Cheap, and Thrill Jockey.
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For clarity...there are many artists that we adore, and additional releases by the "Top 101" artists, who ultimately didn't make this list. Gary & I compiled artists who helped define the "Downtempo" sound. We made a concerted effort to capture, recognize, and encompass the origins, and evolution of this genre. We also highlighted certain LP's as more genre defining of the sound, and gave them preferential treatment over other releases when ultimately ranking. Overall, this list was compiled by two individuals who share a love and a passion for the Downbeat | Dub sound. Peace.
Most notably...Dub music is underserved. Mainly, because the genre has, and deserves it's own rankings [The Top 125], but we would be remiss if we omitted Dub in it's entirety. Especially, given that King Tubby's innovated genius permeates throughout the entire spectrum of "Downtempo" music... Give thanks & praise!