Skalpel - Polish Jazz EP (1999 promo CD-R)

No need to introduce Skalpel, the polish DJ couple that helped Ninja Tune to maintain the rest of the real Ninja sound with their 3 albums of dark breaks and samples from Polskie Nagrania series Polish Jazz, obscure to the world outside Poland until then. I'm not sure about the dating, Discogs say 2000, the felt tip on the disc says 1999. Given to me in May 2000 by DJ Vadim's tour manager, he had a box full of them, so it's no surprise that one of those found its way on Ninja Tune's A&R desk. I've added my favourite Sculpture videoclip for your viewing pleasure.

mp3 I 320kbps I 21 minutes I 49mb I link in comments

Jamie Myerson - The Lonely World EP (1997 Sm:)e Communications)

Jamie Myerson released this double-sided single on Arista owned electronic label Sm:)e Communications in 1997. I found it while I was digging for his second album Sky City Lift Me Up (not mentioned on Discogs, wow!), recorded after his departure from Columbia. Contains four tracks of smooth drum'n'bass and breakbeats acceptable at any time.

mp3 I 320kbps I 23 minutes I 52mb I link in comments

Dadamnphreaknoizphunk - Volume 2 EP (1997 Harthouse)

You see, Dadamnphreaknoizphunk started as a downtempo side project of acid techno freaks Oliver Bondzio and Ramon Zenker AKA Hardfloor. That's why the first results sound like Hardfloor track played on wrong speed. Can someone shift the pitch back please?

mp3 I 320kbps I 34 minutes I 78mb I link in comments

The Starseeds - Timequakes EP (1997 Millennium Records)

When I was writing a text for The Starseeds second album There Is Enough For Everyone, I simply couldn't resist to browse into their past for this great remix EP of their trancey jazzy song Timequakes. I remember once driving in the dark through falling autumn leaves with my friend Adam while Timequakes was booming from the car stereo. Man, we were so high we felt like flying through space.

mp3 I 320kbps I 25 minutes I 57mb I link in comments

St Germain-en-Laye - Mezzotinto EP (1994 F Communication)

Let's conclude the last days' inches galore with this batch of titles I couldn't find a good companion for. St Germain-en-Laye is of course Ludovic Navarre AKA St Germain and Mezzotinto EP is his first F Com release from 1994. Those who know his unforgettable debut album Boulevard will surely feel its roots in those six fine tracks with storming big band drums, nasty TB basslines and strong vocal samples.

mp3 I 320kbps I 29 minutes I 66mb I link in comments

Dreadzone - Captain Dread EP (1995 Virgin)

Second Light, the second and commercially most successful album of Dread Zone (now Dreadzone and on Virgin), gave birth to five singles, Captain Dread being the most dancefloor oriented. This remix EP contains 4 different versions by a band's friend Mark Stephen Davies AKA Pylon King and one by X-Press 2 (that Ashley Beedle again).

mp3 I 320kbps I 30 minutes I 70mb I link in comments

Renegade Soundwave - Positive Dub Mixes (1995 Mute)

Back in 1988, Renegade Soundwave didn't appear to be more than just another grebo crew doomed to perrish after first album. Somehow they persisted that period and became an icon of british club sound, call it house, big beat, dancehall or whatever you like. This remix EP contains six versions of the single Positive ID from their second eponymous album. Three of them produced RSW themselves (Positive Mindscape was also released on their final release The Next Chapter Of Dub), two were treated by Ashley Beedle, who delivered really laid-back versions, and one by french producer Bertrand Burgalat.

mp3 I 320kbps I 31 minutes I 72mb I link in comments

African Head Charge - Touch I EP (1994 On-U Sound)

Let's continue the short-players excursion, today in a rub-a-dub style. We've already had African Head Charge on Acid Jazz, so let's start with their full blooded On-U Sound release. This EP followed their seventh (and IMHO their best) On-U Sound album In Pursuit Of Shashamane Land and contains relaxed remix of Somebody Touch I, two extra tracks and, as a surprise, remixed version of Hymn from their 1990 album Songs Of Praise. No cover art again, please don't complain. If there will be some donations, I promise I'll consider buying a scanner again.

mp3 I 320kbps I 24 minutes I 57mb I link in comments

Neneh Chérie - Remixes (100% French Mixes) EP (1997 Delabel)

This 7-track french remix collection followed the success of the classic album Man by Neneh Chérie, oops, Cherry. Contains (as anticipated) good versions by Air, Doctor L and La Funk Mob, as well as some weak house and dance remixes by Christophe Monier and Emmanuel Top. As it seems, it was released in fancy foil pack, while my promo copy came in plane paper sleeve.
mp3 I 320kbps I 41 minutes I 95mb I link in comments

Llorca - The End EP (1999 F Communications)

This EP by another great F Com artist Ludovic Llorca followed the success of Little Computer People EP and contains the downtempo hit The End and jazzy house track Lemonade, both in two versions.

mp3 I 320kbps I 26 minutes I 59mb I link in comments

Alexkid - Castlesmadeofsand Volume 2 EP (1998 F Communication)

Alexkid was always my fav F Com artists and I'm sorry not to have more of his pre-Bienvenida EPs. Castlesmadeofsand contains three great tracks ranging from atmospheric disco house to chilled drum'n'bass. No remixes though.

mp3 I 320kbps I 26 minutes I 61mb I link in comments

Alex Gopher - Gordini Mix EP (1997 Disques Solid)

Do you remember those Gordini-tuned Renaults, all blue with a white stripe? Oh how I wished to have one when I was 10. This great remix EP brings the title track by Alex Gopher tuned by Daphreephunkateerz, Air, Bang Bang, Etienne De Crécy and less known Mr. Learn and Extra Lucid. Pedal to the metal!

mp3 I 320kbps I 33 minutes I 139mb I link in comments

Air - Casanova 70 EP (1996 Source Lab)

Another evening of short-players ahead, this time in a French manner. Casanova 70 was the second EP by brilliant duo Air. Contains the tracks Casanova 70 and Les Professionnels already known to you from Premiers Symptômes collection, accompanied by two bouncy remixes by Brendan Lynch. Nice collector's item, just for the cover art.

mp3 I 320kbps I 22 minutes I 51mb I link in comments

Hefner - An Evening With Hefner EP (1998 Inertia)

On his second platter Hefner delivers three tracks of smart breakbeats, upright bass and sampled epic strings. Listen to it at least twice because. this guy can be a complicated fellow. This crisp vinyl rip was donated by kind reader whose name I cannot recall because I've deleted it while cleaning old unpublished posts. Named, tagged and cover added by me. If you're reading this, stand up and take your credit.

And once again: If anybody has the two volumes of Sounds Like Inertia label compilation or Victor Malloy's debut album The Musings Of Monsieur Malloy (320 or lossless) please share with us. Thanks.

mp3 I 320kbps I 18 minutes I 42mb I link in comments

Mr. Scruff - Large Pies EP (1997 Cup Of Tea)

One of the first releases of my favourite beatmaker Andrew Carthy AKA Mr. Scruff confirms that years he had spent at studio mixing desks producing and remixing other artists were worth the wait. Large Pies has that characteristic minimalistic crunchy pre-Ninja sound similar to his self-released unnamed debut album (we may get to it later). For some reason the dicogs offer only white cover with black drawing (by Mr. Scruff himself of course) while my copy is black with white drawing.

mp3 I 320kbps I 28 minutes I 64mb I link in comments

Jhelisa - Friendly Pressure EP (1995 Dorado)

I swear I have both her Dorado albums somewhere and will post them soon. In the meanwhile enjoy this lovely remix EP. The disc contains my fav remix by Ashley Beedle but as I grow older, I enjoy the Quiet Storm mix more and more.

mp3 I 320kbps I 38 minutes I 89mb I link in comments

Kid Loco - Blues Project EP (1996 Yellow Productions)

This debut platter from Kid Loco contains actually only four songs, one of which, Sister Curare, you already know from A Grand Love Story. The rest is rather abstract breaks'n'samples trip hop in 1996 fashion. A must-have for all Kid Loco fans.

mp3 I 320kbps I 30 minutes I 70mb I link in comments

Ingrid Schroeder - Bee Charmer EP (1996)

Donated by HOUSE4EVER.
mp3 I 320kbps I 34 minutes I 78mb I link in comments

Chris Bowden with 4Hero - Hero EP (1998 Satellite)

Marc Mac and Dego AKA 4Hero meet saxophone player Chris Bowden in this one-off session, released on Satellite Records, an experimental subsidiary of Soul Jazz Records. Chilled classical sound with some cool breakbeats and sax, some vocals too. A recommended listening for sunday afternoon.

4Hero - Earth Pioneers EP (1997 Talkin' Loud)

Earth Pioneers EP is the first release after Marc Mac and Dego AKA 4Hero signed with Gilles Petterson's Talkin' Loud label and includes mostly material from their (then) forthcoming album Two Pages which finally made them famous outside strictly drum'n'bass community.

mp3 I 320kbps I 33 minutes I 76mb I link in comments