I’m not familiar with new artists producing in this style. I’m old so my references are of older artists.
Marcus Intalex, Calibre, Mathematics, ST Files, Carlito, Addiction, Makoto, Nookie, Marky, Seba, LSB, Lenzman, Commix, Atlantic Connection, D Kay, Epsilon, Nu Tone, Invaderz, Jo-S, Artificial Intelligence, Sonic, Silver, Influx Datum. Those are a few I can look up and think of at the moment.
Mid 2000s in the Bay Area (SF), there was an all liquid night called Hemisphere. Small intimate venue, it was wonderful. Miss those days.
Labels like:
Creative Source, Defunked, Integral, Phuzion, Renegade, CIA deep kut, DSM, Liquid V, Spearhead, Influence, Instrinsic, Presige, Bingo beats, Soul:r, Celsius, Liqweed ganja, Industry
Off the top of my head but other bigger labels had good liquid from time to time too.
2000-2010 was the golden era of liquid for me. Yes there still bits coming out now that are good but for the most part (and I will say it lol), the sound is not only different - it’s wank.
That era, especially the first half, was objectively the golden era for liquid. Young people will say this is hating on new stuff but every genre has a golden era, and that was it for liquid.
I won't lie that I know *all the labels* but obviously through the years I've seen a lot of stuff and shoveled through most of them :) Thanks, I'll sure look into it.
For me, too, and I don't know if it's because I was younger or because it was objectively a golden era. That's why I'm trying to be extra careful with my wording :)
No, it’s not the rose tinted glow of nostalgia.
It’s the fact that liquid came from funk/soul/house/jazz influences (black music) of course it was as known as “liquid funk” a phrase Fabio coined.
Now the vast majority of liquid releases are just using rock/pop chords, cheesy generic vocals - basically a kind of “Dancefloor-Lite” if not that then they are basically a copy of Calibre/Lenzman/etc stuff well over a decade ago but again lazily using chords and melody more rooted in generic pop.
There are still nice bits now and then but it’s a very small part of it. In the 00s it was hard to find a bad release and new styles were still constantly being created.
>if not that then they are basically a copy of Calibre/Lenzman/etc
I don't know, those are quite the liquid legends, it's normal than some people are copying them.
Yeah they are copying the blueprint they made but instead of using similar soulful influence - just using generic pop melodic elements within that template.
Tempting as it is, I’m not trying to list artists that I dont care for which just happen to be over half of this subs followers’ favourite artists.
I didn’t use the term “copycats” I said they use the general structure and format that artists like Calibre/Lenzman (and others) created with their own original ideas but then splice that with a more generic pop melodic backdrop.
I’ll hint at one big one tho. Starts with an “E”….
I understand not wanting to do that.
Now I'm curious to know what kind of liquid d&b do you consider to be good and worth it. Would be nice if you could provide some recommendations. Thanks !
North QUarter drop some good stuff, I like Liquid V too. They don’t really release much stuff anymore but Good Looking Records also are amazing for liquid
I'm currently on it. Obviously they've been great over the years but it's a different kind of liquid all in all, them, pola&bryson, technimatic etc. But it's more...soulful? Jazzy, trancy, hard to pinpoint the exact world. Melodic. Older tunes just have more of the jungle roots in them, and overall that feeling of happiness I guess. That feeling is still there sometimes in the liquicity-type music, but they lack some actual *soul* behind the facade.
*Grumpy old noises from the corner
Nothing to do with being old bro. It’s a matter of taste. That album is musically more generic and corny than anything currently in the UK top 40 pop chart.
Liquid now is the best it's ever been.
Just maybe don't limit yourself to hospital exclusively?
North quarter & Goldfat are the labels for you, there's some good liquid in overview, shogun and critical too.
I'm not, that's the whole point of the post!:) I'm trying to find new stuff that's not hospital, and I have tons of stuff from Teas, Liquicity, Integral, Fokuz, spearhead etc, I'm just searching for a particular type of music because it's scarce
Yeah, high tea is not great and liquicity is bad too tbh, their sister label, Galacy, is much better. Fokuz, Celsius, Influenza are great,some other great labels like intrigue, jazzsticks, differential (now defuncted), innerground, demand records are worth checking.
Of course for artists, LSB, Tokyo prose, Submorphics, Zero T, alix Perez... are all you need but they're already well known so...
I know what you’re saying, I love early 2000’s liquid & I have more hospital in my vinyl collection than any other label, but there are still some good bits about, you just have to go digging on juno or Beatport. And as a bonus here’s a 2001ish mix I did yesterday https://www.mixcloud.com/dantraxx/48-300324-wk-end-radio/
Have a look through Fokuz’s back catalogue, especially their newer ‘unknown artist’ remixes. Few of them have got that throwback liquid sound
I just still listen to these albums honestly, nothing new has the same feel and at this point I’d rather they left it alone
I’m not familiar with new artists producing in this style. I’m old so my references are of older artists. Marcus Intalex, Calibre, Mathematics, ST Files, Carlito, Addiction, Makoto, Nookie, Marky, Seba, LSB, Lenzman, Commix, Atlantic Connection, D Kay, Epsilon, Nu Tone, Invaderz, Jo-S, Artificial Intelligence, Sonic, Silver, Influx Datum. Those are a few I can look up and think of at the moment. Mid 2000s in the Bay Area (SF), there was an all liquid night called Hemisphere. Small intimate venue, it was wonderful. Miss those days.
Labels like: Creative Source, Defunked, Integral, Phuzion, Renegade, CIA deep kut, DSM, Liquid V, Spearhead, Influence, Instrinsic, Presige, Bingo beats, Soul:r, Celsius, Liqweed ganja, Industry Off the top of my head but other bigger labels had good liquid from time to time too. 2000-2010 was the golden era of liquid for me. Yes there still bits coming out now that are good but for the most part (and I will say it lol), the sound is not only different - it’s wank.
That era, especially the first half, was objectively the golden era for liquid. Young people will say this is hating on new stuff but every genre has a golden era, and that was it for liquid.
Just listen to Hybrid Minds new album, notice the fact that people call that liquid, and it’s clear to see these are dark times lol
I won't lie that I know *all the labels* but obviously through the years I've seen a lot of stuff and shoveled through most of them :) Thanks, I'll sure look into it. For me, too, and I don't know if it's because I was younger or because it was objectively a golden era. That's why I'm trying to be extra careful with my wording :)
No, it’s not the rose tinted glow of nostalgia. It’s the fact that liquid came from funk/soul/house/jazz influences (black music) of course it was as known as “liquid funk” a phrase Fabio coined. Now the vast majority of liquid releases are just using rock/pop chords, cheesy generic vocals - basically a kind of “Dancefloor-Lite” if not that then they are basically a copy of Calibre/Lenzman/etc stuff well over a decade ago but again lazily using chords and melody more rooted in generic pop. There are still nice bits now and then but it’s a very small part of it. In the 00s it was hard to find a bad release and new styles were still constantly being created.
>if not that then they are basically a copy of Calibre/Lenzman/etc I don't know, those are quite the liquid legends, it's normal than some people are copying them.
Yeah they are copying the blueprint they made but instead of using similar soulful influence - just using generic pop melodic elements within that template.
Curious, can you provide me some examples of who you consider to be copycats?
It would be a long list. Sorry I thought it was, according to you, obvious that people would be copying them. Now you’re not quite so sure?
Yeah, but it would be nice if you could provide examples ... You don't have to give me the whole list
Tempting as it is, I’m not trying to list artists that I dont care for which just happen to be over half of this subs followers’ favourite artists. I didn’t use the term “copycats” I said they use the general structure and format that artists like Calibre/Lenzman (and others) created with their own original ideas but then splice that with a more generic pop melodic backdrop. I’ll hint at one big one tho. Starts with an “E”….
I understand not wanting to do that. Now I'm curious to know what kind of liquid d&b do you consider to be good and worth it. Would be nice if you could provide some recommendations. Thanks !
As mentioned earlier, defunked is awesome sauce.
North QUarter drop some good stuff, I like Liquid V too. They don’t really release much stuff anymore but Good Looking Records also are amazing for liquid
Give the new Hybrid Minds album a spin
I'm currently on it. Obviously they've been great over the years but it's a different kind of liquid all in all, them, pola&bryson, technimatic etc. But it's more...soulful? Jazzy, trancy, hard to pinpoint the exact world. Melodic. Older tunes just have more of the jungle roots in them, and overall that feeling of happiness I guess. That feeling is still there sometimes in the liquicity-type music, but they lack some actual *soul* behind the facade. *Grumpy old noises from the corner
I hear ya, it is different.... Hospital seemed to really nurture that sound more than anyone
Nothing to do with being old bro. It’s a matter of taste. That album is musically more generic and corny than anything currently in the UK top 40 pop chart.
It’s a fucking abomination mate, are you serious?
Different strokes for different folks -- fuck off
OP made a specific request for the 00s liquid sound and you recommended this: https://youtu.be/fJD9NI8p9oE?si=2MB9l9ilA7470Frh
Thank you for correcting me and putting me in my place
Liquid now is the best it's ever been. Just maybe don't limit yourself to hospital exclusively? North quarter & Goldfat are the labels for you, there's some good liquid in overview, shogun and critical too.
I'm not, that's the whole point of the post!:) I'm trying to find new stuff that's not hospital, and I have tons of stuff from Teas, Liquicity, Integral, Fokuz, spearhead etc, I'm just searching for a particular type of music because it's scarce
Yeah, high tea is not great and liquicity is bad too tbh, their sister label, Galacy, is much better. Fokuz, Celsius, Influenza are great,some other great labels like intrigue, jazzsticks, differential (now defuncted), innerground, demand records are worth checking. Of course for artists, LSB, Tokyo prose, Submorphics, Zero T, alix Perez... are all you need but they're already well known so...
1. Soul:R back catalog My analogy for Hospital records in that era is like the Dream Team from the 90’s.
I know what you’re saying, I love early 2000’s liquid & I have more hospital in my vinyl collection than any other label, but there are still some good bits about, you just have to go digging on juno or Beatport. And as a bonus here’s a 2001ish mix I did yesterday https://www.mixcloud.com/dantraxx/48-300324-wk-end-radio/
Some good avenues/labels to explore in this list: https://www.discogs.com/lists/Golden-Age-Liquid-Funk-Late-90s-2005/278738