ICR & Matt-U - Soulshine (tracks from the trash)

Both hungarian ICR and Matt-U started producing in Reason around 2002 after a few years of tracking. They co-operated on several tunes developing their skills and collecting experiences of producing. This album of unreleased material shows how their style changed over these years from trance influenced atmospheric dnb to soulful liquid.

01 Drop (intro) - 1:34 (2004) excerpt from ICR feat. Matt-U 'Drop Everything'
02 Matt-U - Blue (ICR remix) - 5:42 (2003) originally slated for Orion's New Deep 2 mix, but unfortunately it never happened. anyway props to John!
03 ICR & Matt-U - Shellfish - 6:47 (2003) "really nice track, some nice cosmic touches inside the piece" - LTJ Bukem
04 Matt-U - Blue - 6:34 (2003)
05 ICR - Slingblade (Matt U remix) - 6:22 (2003) different version subtitled 'Dream' available on The Public Diary album
06 Matt-U & ICR - Deserted - 6:16 (2003)
07 Matt-U & ICR - Starfish - 6:15 (2003)
08 Matt-U & ICR - We're All Monkeys - 5:42 (2002)
09 ICR & Matt-U - Soulshine - 6:29 (2002) our first collaboration ever, and we still love this vibe!
bonus tracks:
10 ICR - Change Inside - 6:24 (2004) Appears courtesy of Offshore Recordings. the remix made by ASC has been signed in one day for Offshore! released on OSR011, Nov 2004
11 ICR - Strong Enough VIP - 6:28 (2003) original version is compiled by hungarian Freee Magazin cover CD in issue May 2003. this VIP version is originally made for Test Flight Recordings

http://www.drumandbass.hu/icr/soulshine/

Bartók Eszter & Caramel bootlegs

Hungary's most popular televison singer contest "Megasztár" artists bootlegged in d&b - "Elefántdal" remix championed by DJ Palotai, aired so many times at Radio Cafe, and played in the actual TV show background set during a commercial break.

http://www.drumandbass.hu/icr/elefant/

Want My Love / Always & Forever / Blue Fairy

artist: ICR
title: Want My Love / Always & Forever / Blue Fairy
label: Strictly Digital
catalogue: SD136, SD137, SD138
format: digital download
date: 09/2005
country: UK

Daytrip

artist: ICR
title: Daytrip
label: Covert Operations
catalogue: COVCD001
format: CD
date: 07/2005
country: USA

info:

Covert Operations have several full length artist albums lined up, the first of which is "Daytrip" by the incredibly prolific ICR, whom you my also know from his releases on Offshore, Nerve, Good Looking, Basswerk, and his forthcoming 12" on Covert Operations Vinyl Subscription Series 2. Covering a vast range of styles and sounds, "Daytrip" is going to be an LP you'll be talking about and listening to for years to come. There's 14 tracks (including interludes) that span 74 minutes of aural pleasure. This is gonna be a CD only release, with vinyl versions of a handful of the tracks available on the vinyl subscriptions we're offering! This is unrelated to the vinyl subscription scheme, which we are still take orders for. We have these CD's in hand, ready to ship immediately. Remember, you can only buy it directly from us! buy it now!

tracklist:

01. Before Noon (Insert)
02. Drab Somedays
03. Frames Of Mind
04. Gaps
05. Dusk (Insert)
06. Dislike
07. Alcora
08. Fast & Furious
09. Dawn (Insert)
10. Uprise
11. New Day
12. Shining Down On Me
13. Noon (Insert)
14. Primavera

Words remixes

artist: ICR
title: Words (ICR remix) / Words (Lowbrow remix)
label: Nerve
catalogue: NERVEBP003
format: digital download
date: 06/2005
country: UK

Ritkán esik szó internetes megjelenésről a "Füles" rovat keretein belül, de úgy érzem, hogy e virtuális 12 inch-es mellet nem szabad szó nélkül elmenni. Főleg, hogy egyik hazai büszkeségünk, ICR release-éről van szó.

ICR-nek ez már nem az első Nerve kiadós megjelenése, hiszen a mostani 'Words' remixek előtt ugyanitt jött ki az eredeti verzió is az 'Arcadia'-val, szintén "Beatport exclusive" formában. Az egyik átdolgozásért maga a szerző a felelős, aki az Original mix-hez képest jócskán felturbózta szerzeményét. A Words 2005 remix gyönyörű zongorafutamokkal és pad-ekkel indít. Ez a felemelő hangulat egészen az első kiállás végéig el is tart, mely után sokkal szigorúbb, technoid elemekkel variáló, jellegzetes "icrzúzda" hallható. Tovább hallgatva, bő egy perc után azon veszi észre magát az ember, hogy a pokol mély bugyrai után újra a bárányfelhők közt lebeg - elérkeztünk a második kiállásig. Itt viszont már a drop előtt beúszik a komor szinti téma, majd az utolsó percben újra a fellegekben érezhetjük magunkat. Mesterien van váltogatva a két hangulat, észrevétlenül csúsztat át atmoszférikusból technoidba, majd vissza. Univerzális zene, sok fajta szettbe passzol.

A másik átirat elkövetője Lowbrow, akiről azon kívül, hogy skót származású, nem sokat tudni. Engem speciel D-Bridge utóbbi munkáira emlékeztet ez a remix, bár lehet, hogy egyedül maradok ezzel a véleményemmel. Mindenesetre a zene nagyon mély, nagyon minimál, és ha valaki egyszer ráérez az ízére, sokadik hallgatás után sem fogja megunni. A dobképlet egy teljesen egyszerű 2step, viszont nagyon szépen szól. Hiába, egy ilyen lecsupaszított track esetében ügyelni kell a részletekre. A bassline szintén dicséretet érdemel, ezen kívül az eredeti verzióból importált effektek is ügyesen lettek felhasználva. A legszebb talán mégis a vokál és a néhány akkordnyi zongora a kiállásban, ami némileg elüt a kissé technos vonaltól. Viszont így nem válik unalmassá ez a feldolgozás sem.

Megérdemelt volna ez a release egy fekete korongot is, ötös. Meghallgatható, és megvásárolható Beatporton.

Showcase mix by Paul Reset

"Well, I've been hearing ICR's work for quite a while now - and IMO he's one of the best producers around in dnb at the mo - effortlessly covering each little sub genre of dnb effortlessly - from liquid rollers to deep n dark bizness right up to hard as ya like smashers…so I decided to put this mix together to showcase some of his work - with his blessing of course…check it out if you get a mo - and let us know what you think."

tracklist:

"Two Steps Backwards"
"Whales of August"
"Every End"
"All Your Secrets"
"Heartbroken"
"Roundabout"
"Pointless"
"Hold It Down"
"Snowdrop (rmx)"
"Second Chances"
"Magic Man"
"Dislike" (set for release on Covert Operations)
"Fill The Sky"

mp3 is removed, reupload soon

New Day / Dislike / Uprise

artist: ICR
title: New Day / Dislike / Uprise
label: Covert Operations
catalogue: COV012
format: 12" vinyl
date: 07/2005
country: USA

info:

ICR is the latest artist we welcome to our roster and he offers us 3 seminal pieces from his forthcoming CD album, Daytrip. New Day is all about the summer vibe, with is catchy pads and sultry vocal. The warm bassline just confirms the tracks appeal even more. You'll be singing this one in the shower for some time to come! Dislike is an opposite to New Day, with it's space age theme and cold keys and Gattaca samples, this is one to inject some mood into the mix. Finally, Uprise shows ICR's versatile skills as a produer as he injects downtempo interludes into the drum & bass soundscape. You have to hear it to believe it.

tracklist:
A. New Day
AA1. Dislike
AA2. Uprise

The Public Diary of Zoltan Gal aged 22 and 2/3

Words from Zoltan to the sounds of ICR. Does it make any sense?

Once I had a tune named ASPD which stads for anti-social personality disorder. It was four years ago so it's not a new thing.

What are diaries and sounds for?
Its pretty the same. To express your thoughts and feelings, to create something out of nothing. A little bit of a verification that you are exist, you are alive and there's something in you that you can share.

Why now? What is the concept?
On the one hand I felt I have so many tunes - about 70 in the last two years - that I could not release in any form but wanted to make them public. What's the point of making songs only for yourself? On the other hand I felt strongly about letting this all out in the hope of leaving things behind can help starting new things. The only concept is to be sincere, to make a personal collection of sounds whether there is anyone who likes it or not.
All the original tunes are specially edited and/or remixed for this particular project (except Untrue remix, Keynote and Roundabout) as it is reflected in the titles. It's not only diverse drum & bass, but there's a little breakbeat (Break The Sky), downtempo (Hopelyhen, Words v050123), a bit of electronica (Useless) and leftfield too (Switchboard To Your Soul, Mindframe). All slightly passed as a whole story. Check the personal notes according each track at drumandbass.hu/icr/diary

tracklist:
01 I'm A Fool
02 Unture (ICR "Wants You" Mix) [original by Soulproof]
03 Slingblade (Dream)
04 Stumbling Hungarian 7000 Miles From The Caribbean (Daydream)
05 Keynote
06 Useless
07 Break The Sky
08 Let It Snow / Hopelyhen
09 Close By
10 Switchboard To Your Soul
11 Roundabout
12 Where The Lions Weep
13 Mindframe
14 One Step Forward
15 Words v050123
16 Guide To The Last Sea
17 World Dissapears

Absolutely loved it. Some amazing interludes and fresh pieces and the way it gels together kind of reminded me of my own work and how I do stuff.
(ASC, Covert Operations)

No nonstop beats, many melodic soundscapes, easy BPM-switches. Timeless stuff. Now I listen to it the third time. Good flow from the beginning to end.
(Lightwood, Santorin)

http://www.drumandbass.hu/icr/diary/

My first interview - for the Ukrainian DJ Roodbwoy

What have you heard about Ukraine & Ukrainian drum&bass scene?

To be honest not much despite it's neighbouring Hungary. I've heard good things about producers like Sunchase, Cyb Orc, Kind of Zero (who has also signed stuff for US label Cymbalism just like me) and Purple Unit. This year from central and eastern Europe some great talent have attracted attention internationally. So I guess Ukraine must have a solid scene just like his big brother Russia (not to be sounding political). Also I've heard about DJ Tapolsky and the world-famous ukrainian Vodka from a friend over there (Cheers Lindus! ;)

What about drum&bass scene in Hungary? What are the most famous DJs, producers, MCs, promoters?

The first jungle party was held in 1996 but it blew up in 1999 really, thanks to promoters like Tilos Radio, Bladerunnaz and Nowsound. For now there are big name dnb and breakbeat DJs flying in to play the capital Budapest on an almost weekly basis. Internet helped a lot too. I established the country's first online magazine (impulsecreator.hu) dedicated to urban music and after 5 years I can say we did a lot for the local scene, in addition with co-organizing parties lately, guesting DJs from the UK too. As for producers I have to start the list with Tactile group consisting SKC, Chris.SU, the DJ-duo Airbag (Longman and Bratwa) and Safair, also Mindscape who are currently in the limelight. Newcomers Matt-U, Jade, Soulproof, Snatch and Cord also worth to mention and also I hope we can hear about Anorganik and Nightshift again - extremely underrated. As for DJs Palotai is the godfather of not just d&b but all kind of breaks, also Bal from Bladerunnaz and Midlow from Nowsound. Theres no MC I could mention really.

What DJs, producers, and labels do you co-operate with?

I have recorded for labels Breakbeat Science, Orgone, Basswerk, Nerve, Good Looking, Offshore, Cymbalism, Testflight and Covert Operations. As for producers I often co-operate with local producers Matt-U of Soulproof and SDD with whom I have a tune forthcoming on Cymbalism and another one on such a BIG label but its not confirmed yet. Also I did a remix for ASC in return of the Offshore release and I hope to have a remix from Resound too.

Please, tell us about your first musical experience. What was first: DJ-ing or making music?

Actually I never wanted to be a DJ, I'm too unsocialized for this type of entertaining haha. First musical experience? When I was a kid I used to listen all kind of dance music so far as we could get from MTV and stuff. I was introduced to d&b thru a german satellite radio called Evo-Sonic. That was off the hook, I still have some tapes recorded. Then I was inspired to start messing around samples and trackers, so you know the rest.

Describe your sound in three words.

Thats a hard one. I'd rather pick up three words that people use to say about my tunes and I'm very proud of that: original, deep and has sense of musicality.

Are you a DJ? What kind of drum&bass do you play? What are your favorite drum&bass labels, producers?

Not DJing. There's a lot good music out there (and as much bad too) so its hard to narrow it down to a few labels and producers but here are some from the top of my head: Klute, Matrix, TGM, High Contrast, MIST, Calibre, Paradox, Pieter K, Teebee, Polar, Sonic, D-Kay & Lee, Sci-Clone, Dom, Technical Itch... Labels: Commercial Suicide, Space, Metalheadz, Soul:R, Hospital, Inperspective, Violence...

What music do you like to listen at home?

Besides drum & bass I like listening everything not just electronic dance music but a lot of hip hop, jazz, even some metal stuff (like Deftones) or good pop music. I think if you are open-minded and can see music not segmented in genres you can find good music from every style, its just matter of taste. Though its more and more hard to find quality off the bullshit.

What do you think of modern drum&bass sound such as Mindscape, Noisia, Tactile, Pacific? (People in the central & eastern Ukraine like this sound very much. By the way I'm from south Ukraine & people in south & western Ukraine like more pumping sound such as High Contrast, Hold Tight, J Majik, Origin Unknown & heavy;))

First of all I wouldn't call it modern. Drum and bass is a cyclic thing with styles coming full circle again and again. The techy/technoid/new neurofunk or whatever we call it is not my cup of tea however I admit they work on the floor and have a vibe but I can hardly find off them that catches my ear.
Although I dont really like to listen and judge music that is being categorized before. Commonly I like the music I can get the essence of it, something that you can relate to, something deepness and original. But of course I understand people want anthems and jump up too. At the end of the day there's always good d&b and bad d&b in every subgenres.

How will drum&bass change its sound in few years in your opinion?

Hard to predict it. I think nobody could see the blew up of latin, brazil flavoured dnb, the disco influenced stuff, or the revival of the edits scene. I dont think if there would remain so much unexplored territory but I think as it became wordwide now, there will be always some producer who can come up with something original and inspiring. We don't know what the future holds and that's how it can be exciting. Also a lot of things has to be changed over the next years as we already see some bad things too, distributors going down, labels cant find platforms to release their music, sales are also on a low level. And its all going to take effect on the sound too.

Please, tell us about the most interesting & exciting drum&bass events you took part in.

I've been involved in d&b for more than 5 years but haven't been to a single event yet. Hard to explain why but I think this is the most interesting but not as much exciting thing about me :)

In what countries would you like to play in nearest future?

As I'm not DJing (and I guess I never will) I would not have the opportunity to play anywhere but if I were I'd visit Japan and New Zealand for sure.

Who would you like to co-operate with?

Essentially I like to make music on my own, that's how you can express yourself mostly. Of course working with others can be very useful too, can guide you to different directions. I only co-operated on tunes sending over tracks via CDs and Internet so I definitely would like to do something realtime with Matt-U and SDD. As for a dream-collabo I wouln't name anybody as I think I don't deserve it yet :)

What are your plans for the future?

To find a job and a girlfriend haha. No, seriously. More than two release a year going up exponetially. Oh yes, and hope I can buy monitor speakers next year. I have to hear my poor subs to make me laugh on myself :)

Some words for the farewell.

Thanks for the opportunity for the first interview I did on the answering side. Look out for the forthcoming Offshore 12" and Progression Sessions 10. You can reach me at www.drumandbass.hu/icr! Peace to Ukraine!

Progression Sessions 10

artist: V.A.
title: Progression Sessions 10. - LTJ Bukem feat. MC Conrad Germany Live 2004
label: Good Looking
catalogue: GLRPS010X
format: 2CD
date: 12/2004
country: UK

info:

Good Looking's prestigous mix series back with the tenth session, recorded live in Germany. Tracks from the liquid cream de la cream: Greg Packer, Makoto, Stress Level & TC1, Basic Operations, Ill Logic & Raf, Mathematics vs Tactile to name but a few. ICR featured with track entitled Splashdown.
Recorded live on the Progressive Sessions Germany tour 2004 at Muffathalle, Munich.

tracklist:

01. Greg Packer - Organ Tune
02. Makoto & DJ Inza - Eastern Dub
03. MC Conrad & Makoto - Golden Girl
04. Kymera - This Soul Is Mine
05. Stress Level & TC1 - No Way Back
06. Catch 22 - Burning Up
07. Basic Operations - Erasoul
08. Ill Logic & Raf - Shootout
09. Mathematics & Tactile - Rub-A-Dub
10. Makoto - Promise
11. ICR - Splashdown
12. Catch 22 - Survival
13. Catch 22 - Brotherhood
14. Makoto - Let Me Love You

With Conrad & Makoto's fantastic 'Golden Girl' currently riding high in junglist's hearts, the label that helped to take jungle to the masses is currently on the rise again, following a few years during which that trademark Good Looking sound appeared lose relevance somewhat. This two CD set takes in one of Bukem & Conrad's ever-tight live sets, and also a pristine studio mix of deep and dreamy Good Looking beats. It's that latter that works best, particularly when the baritone-voiced Conrad launches into a rendition of the aforementioned 'Golden Girl'. Bright and breezy. ~ Knowledge

LTJ Bukem and MC Conrad have touched every corner of the globe and provide a sound that people from all walks of life can relate to and enjoy. You even find people that don�t normally like drum and bass at the famous Logical Progression sessions enjoying the music as much as any die hard D&B head. No wonder the Progression Sessions series on CD has done so well, and no doubt this next instalment of the legendary duo, live in Munich, will be another huge success in giving us all the listening pleasure of their live experience. As well as a very limited DVD release of the gig you can expect 2 CD�s, the first being the live mix featuring the smooth vocals of Conrad and the second as an exclusive studio mix from the main man. This release includes plenty of the latest releases from Good Looking such as the massive anthem �Golden Girl� from Makoto (featuring the sweet vocals of Conrad) as well as fresh bits from CIA, 31 records and Social Studies. Other artists also included are Greg Packer with �Organ Tune�, Stress Level & TC-1�s �No Way Back�, Catch 22, Basic Intentions and Ill Logic & Raff�s �Shootout� to name a few. Just like with all the Progression Session live series, this release is truly one not to be missed. Treat yourself to some quality music! 10/10 ~ DOA