Category: Ambient

“Tipper is the professional moniker for Dave Tipper, a British electronic artist/DJ/producer associated with styles including nu breaks, glitch hop, and downtempo. Originally part of the late-’90s drum’n’bass subgenre nu breaks, Tipper became entranced by the scene at age 16, when his older brother turned him on to the whole rave culture.

“Eventually growing bored with the fast tempos and repetitiveness of drum’n’bass, Tipper began to experiment with tempos — leading to his debut album, The Critical Path, in 2000 on the Higher Ground/Sony label. During the making of the album, Tipper began to suffer from hearing damage due to the elaborate and booming stereo systems inside his cars. With the problem sorted out, Tipper returned early the next year with his sophomore effort, Holding Pattern, which led to tours of both Europe and America. The DJ mix Tipper Presents Sound Off appeared later in 2001 via the Fuel label. Surrounded followed on Myutopia Recordings in 2003 and was one of the first electronic music albums to be recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound.

“With distribution by Kudos Records, Tip Hop marked the debut of his own Tippermusic label in 2005. Incorporating elements of hip-hop production, it helped lay the groundwork for glitch hop. His imprint also issued 2006’s The Seamless Unspeakable Something and Relish the Trough, 2008’s Wobble Factor and Tertiary Noise, and 2010’s Broken Soul Jamboree. The latter saw him embrace a downtempo, more ambient sound.

“After a series of EPs, Tipper announced in 2013 that health concerns would limit his festival appearances, and he released Dusty Bubble Box: EP Remixes to help raise funds for medical bills that included cardiac surgery the same year. After time off to recover, he returned with 2014’s Forward Escape, which hit the Top 20 of Billboard’s electronic albums chart. By that time, Tipper was making festival appearances with dedicated so-called uptempo or downtempo sets.

“In 2015, he released two EPs, Fathoms EP and It’s Like…, and in 2017, he returned with Flunked EP. It became his highest-charting release to date, reaching number 15 on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart.” ~ Marcy Donelson & Greg Prato, Rovi

“Psychedelic duo Simon Posford and Raja Ram are Shpongle, an ambient / electronica project formed in 1996 after the pair viewed a solar eclipse in India. After that event, they entered the studio and attempted to duplicate the experience in sonic form, and the result was a 20-minute track, “…And The Day Turned To Night,” which was featured on Twisted Records label compilation titled Eclipse. Shpongle’s full-length debut album, Are You Shpongled? was released in early 1999. Their sophomore effort, Tales Of The Inexpressible arrived in 2001 and featured the additions of Spanish and East Asian instrumentation. In 2005, the duo released their third album, Nothing Lasts…but Nothing Is Lost (Remastered, 2019) which was intended to be their final project. However, Shpongle returned in 2009 with Ineffable Mysteries, which incorporated world music themes, and the God Particle EP in 2010. Museum of Consciousness followed in 2013. Their sixth album, the appropriately titled Codex VI was released in 2017. In 2019 they played 2 sold out shows at Red Rocks, Colorado with the full live band. Work has already started on their 7th studio album to follow in 2022.”

“Kaleidoscope, Mindblast’s first LP ! Between Ambient, Bass Music, Hip-Hop and IDM atmospheres these seven tracks sign a new sound experiment. After two years of electro-acoustic work on soft and melancolic textures, this contemplative album takes you on a journey to the heart of dreamlike worlds. An eclectic creation, with multiple musical facets at the crossroads of modular and acoustic music.”

“The music of Liquid Bloom transports the listener to imaginative realms inspired by the resonance of the world’s ancient lineages. Founded & spearheaded by Amani Friend of Desert Dwellers, this project includes collaborations with luminaries such as Poranguí, Ixchel Prisma, Deya Dova, Rara Avis, Shamans Dream, Mose, Spice Trader, Numatik, and many others. Liquid Bloom provides a soundtrack for intentional expeditions, blending natural atmospheres and field recordings, sublime vocals and medicine songs, cross cultural instrumentation, and layered sound design. Liquid Bloom’s deep meditative styling inspires clear visions in our quest for inspiration and creative insight, its applications are limited only by the imagination.”