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Here are the Top 10 played artists for the group Downtempo Heaven taken from the group front page for June 2009. These are unique to our group alone and makes for interesting listening.

I have included tracks that are free downloads or at the very least will allow you to listen to the full track. Let me know your feedback, comment and tag the tracks below - enjoy!

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Artist: Glideascope
Track: CB Radio
CB Radios were all the rage back in the early 80's, some crackled speech and rolling beats...

Artist: De-Phazz
Track: Anchorless
Some of the best in Downtempo Jazz...

Artist: Mo' Horizons
Track: Dance Naked Under Palmtrees
A mixture of trippy vibes and 'spaghetti western' chill.

Artist: Beauty's Confusion
Track: Moments Like These
Early Trip-Hop vibes

Artist: Bliss
Track: Don't Look Back
African sounds blended with electronica and smooth vocals

Artist: Yonderboi
Track: Badly Broken Butterflies
Not often you hear male vocals on downbeat electronica, well here you go

Artist: Bitter Sweet
Track: Dirty Laundry
midtempo lounge track, reminiscent of Jem

Artist: Federico Aubele
Track: Postales
Fans of Gotan will enjoy this track.

Artist: Ganga
Track: When I Close My Eyes
Always produces quality material.

Artist: Modus
Track: The Colour Of Love
Middle Eastern sounds with an operatic backdrop

Happy Listening...
-LoveDownTempo

Here are the Top 10 played artists for the group Downtempo Heaven taken from the group front page for May 2009.

Where possible I have included tracks that are free downloads or at the very least will allow you to listen to the full track. A trip down memory lane for some. Let me know your feedback, comment on the tracks and enjoy!

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Artist: Glideascope
Track: Istanbul (Screenplay Edition)
Imagine travelling to exotic Istanbul, with a downtempo backdrop...

Artist: Bonobo
Track: Dinosaurs
Doing what Bonobo does best, silky smooth, chill.

Artist: Massive Attack
Track: Unfinished Sympathy
A classic, simple!

Artist: Parov Stelar
Track: Powder
Great vocals, melodic piano.

Artist: Boards of Canada
Track: Sixtyten
Superb downbeat electronica.

Artist: Moby
Track: Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?
A tribute to melancholy from Moby.

Artist: Coldplay
Track: Viva la Vida
Not the first band that springs to mind for this genre, but a great track.

Artist: Nightmares on Wax
Track: Nights Interlude
Always produces quality material.

Artist: Sia
Track: Breathe Me
Superb whispering vocals, and orchestral strings that move you...

Artist: De-Phazz
Track: Anchorless
Downtempo Jazz, in fine form...


Happy Listening...
-LoveDownTempo

Download -Alone (Live Sax/Violin Version) recorded at The Cobden Club London, T Scan Awards 2005.

Made available from the Glideascope podcast "Chill Sessions"

Another free download Alone (Live Vocal Version) this was recorded live at Cargo, London 12 July 2005. Taken from an old Glideascope podcast...

Download Devushka (Beautiful) free from the Glideascope website!

Here are a few of my thoughts.

For me downtempo can be broken down into various genres:

Trip-Hop,
Electronica,
Ambient,
Dub,
Chill Out, etc.

But it is a lot more than this. It can either be very electronic in nature or utilise all acoustic instruments.

It can utilise soft whispering female vocals, melodic rappers, obscure vocal samples, or be purely instrumental.

With influences from Classical, World and Reggae to Hip-Hop and Electro.

It tends to reside within a low range of BPM (beats per minute), 50-90 and tends to relax, and evoke feeling - causing the head to nod rather than your body to dance, and will often take you to another world.

Some people term it background, dinner party/coffee table music or even Muzak. But for those who appreciate music rather than washes of unconnected sounds - will appreciate what we all mean by DownTempo Heaven.

Peace.

-LoveDownTempo

This is the fourth installment of Top 7 tracks. Some more free downloads that I have managed to discover on my LAST.FM travels.

If you like the tracks click on the links and download to your heart's content, the tracks may not be free for long!

Here is some more downtempo heaven

Please let me know your thoughts, feedback is always welcome and if you love the selection, please send your shouts. Here are some of my feelings on the tracks below:

Glideascope - some downtempo dub with strong string flavours. Love It.
Celloman - with his blend of percussion and cello solos.
Atonalis - Ambient glitched electronica, very unusual.
City Rain - Sun soaked chill out, beautiful.
Tango Tempo - some rock fused downtempo, interesting...
Smolik - some Polish downtempo remixed,
Bliss - just beautiful.

Some more freebies '100% FREE!', for the moment at least...

Artist: Glideascope
Track: What Kinda Madness

Artist: Celloman
Track: Chebba

Artist: Tango Tempo
Track: No Smock Jazz

Artist: City Rain
Track: Boat in my Mind w/ Poratz

Artist: Atonalis
Track: recon-love flower

Artist: Smolik
Track: CYE (el Marecky's remix)

Artist: Bliss
Track: Time Time Time

Peace from London, UK.
-LoveDownTempo

This is the third installment of Top 7 tracks. Some Trip Hop classics all from the mid 90's. Difficult to choose 7, but fun compiling this list.

This is another selection of downtempo heaven

As always please let me know your thoughts, appreciate your feedback.

Artist: Portishead
Track: Roads
Album: Dummy

Artist: Massive Attack
Track: Protection
Album: Protection

Artist: Tricky
Track: Overcome
Album: Maxinquaye

Artist: Smoke City
Track: Underwater Love
Album: Underwater Love

Artist: Morcheeba
Track: Trigger Hippie
Album: Who Can You Trust?

Artist: Air
Track: Talisman
Album: Moon Safari

Artist: Sneaker Pimps
Track: Wasted Early Sunday Morning
Album: Becoming X

Peace from London, UK.
-LoveDownTempo

PS. Check out the free downloads in the 2nd installment of downtempo heaven.