With a forward-thinking approach and an ever-deepening influence in the drum and bass scene, Erotic Cafe returns with his debut album In The Midst Of Bias, a release that promises to challenge conventions and push sonic boundaries. Known for his genre-blending sound that fuses intricate atmospherics with gritty undertones, Erotic Cafe’s newest work demonstrates a flair for the unexpected. From subtle, shadowy synth layers to disjointed beats, he has a way of weaving a story that’s as emotive as it is dancefloor-ready. To celebrate the release, we’ve invited Erotic Cafe to take us on a journey through the tracks that have inspired him – songs that break the mold and dive into the atypical corners of drum and bass.
In this exclusive guest chart, Erotic Cafe shares ten tracks that embody the spirit of boundary-pushing experimentation, exploring realms of drum and bass that often go unnoticed. From under-the-radar gems to iconic pieces that rewrite the rulebook, these tracks represent the kind of bold, evocative style that’s defined Erotic Cafe’s own path in the genre. Prepare to uncover a different side of drum and bass as we delve into his personal selection – a perfect reflection of the unique sound he’s crafted on his latest release.
Listen to In The Midst Of Bias
Quartz – Cosmic Horror – R&S Records
This track, but also his other tracks, left me without words as soon as I listened to it for the first time. I was amazed by the amount of rhythmic innovation and hybrid sounds contained in this track. It can still be defined as drum and bass, but the pattern is not typical at all. That’s the kind of innovation I am looking for when I find inspiration. I love the intricate and mesmerising rhythms and the high tension built by the background atmospheres. It excites me a lot.
Heritage – The Revelation (Fiesta Soundsystem Remix) – Scuffed Recordings
I find this to be the perfect blend of old-school drum and bass, made of typical breakbeat sounds, and the Aphex Twin glitching techniques. It’s so raw, but also intelligent. It is cruel but deeply programmed. It is the anger of the nerds translated into jungle madness for the dance floor.
Simple Technique – Cold Steppin (Ulterior Motive Remix) – Cyberfunk
This track really just works every time I play it. Its dark sounds and atmospheres, the minimalistic but funky drum pattern and the dry bassline are perfect for double drops. This perfect balance of sounds blows me away. I could listen to this tune forever and never get tired.
RUINNA – Drill Power – NËU Music
This is pure madness. I feel so connected with RUINNA in terms of stylistic tastes, that’s why I had to ask him to collaborate on a song together and it came out incredibly crazy. “Drill Power” is one of the tracks that I can’t stop playing in my DJ sets, and every time that I do that, people completely lose their minds. It’s rhythm and sound design at the maximum power.
Dj Trace, HLZ – Parasite – Metalheadz
I tend to be complex, to produce and to like complex things but, as everyone knows the most effective things are the most simple. That is the case here. I really dig all the parts that make this song, from the raw drum sounds (I love the snare sound) to the dirty bassline that simply works forever and ever.
It brings back the real good old vibe of the genre that is getting lost, but implementing the sound pressure that we need nowadays.
gyrofield – Calico (Lethargic Mix) – VISION
As soon as she releases something new, I can’t wait to hear what she comes up with. I have been listening to her music for years, and it’s very exciting to see her journey and sonic evolution. She’s blending techno with drum & bass, but in a different way. Most of the time when we use these two words together, we expect 4×4 tracks with drum and bass sounds, but that’s not the case. gyrofield is taking the entire techno spectrum (that’s not just made of 4×4 kicks) and forcing it into drum and bass, so it’s basically techno injected with D&B patterns, breakbeats, and audio techniques but analogue sounds. That’s the kind of innovation I love. Listen to the music from new points of view.
dBridge – Wonder Where – Nonplus Records
It’s hard for me to describe what dBridge’s music provokes inside me. It’s always pushing buttons that are so hidden in the depths of my soul. This one, in particular, makes me feel melancholic for no precise reason. It’s like when you look at old pictures of you from years ago, remembering the moments that made you as you are today, feeling again the same emotions, thinking that things change and nothing comes back. But really, I don’t know why. I love music because it’s rational but can arouse emotions that doesn’t follow any logic.
Kavari – Attachment Style – Bandcamp
I love distortion, and I tend to put myself in tough situations. That’s why I chose this song. What intrigues me a lot is to play this track and see the uncertainty on the faces of the people on the dance floor. Music exploration is not the safest decision to take, but I like to see any kind of reaction, and risky choices don’t go unnoticed. Kavari is offering a free rush of adrenaline to everyone.
Oxius – Vardlokk (Censored The Audio & JuLo Remix) – Incurzion Audio
This is the kind of track that’s hard to define as D&B, exactly the same kind of tracks that create feelings that are missing from the standardised schemes that are being used today. That is innovation. Something that can be achieved only with the pure intent of finding new alternatives. It is not dependent on plugins or technological innovations that are pushing the boundaries of sound design, but it’s all about using the head to think and translate ideas into something that hasn’t been tested yet.
Current Value – The Field – MachineCode Recordings
Current Value is one of my favourite artists. I am still discovering his music from the past and I keep adding it to my collection because it fits so well what I am looking for today. The first time I listened to “The Field” I was driving my car in the countryside, going back home, and I gradually shifted into another dimension. This song completely abducted me and I kept focused on the progression of the sounds for its entire 12-minute length. I realised just some days after that it was that long. It’s a wall made of hypnotic fast-paced sounds that is impossible to climb. Embrace it and you will be fine.
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