Brand new Calibre. No words needed, which we think is the reason why the press release simply repeats the words 'Iron Balls' 38 times. The creativity is solely reserved for the music itself. Don't sleep!
The multi-faceted producer and DJ, and one of electronic music's most respected, Calibre releases his brand new record 'Planet Hearth' on November 29th. An album featuring exclusively new material, and dedicated to a very close friend who passed away last year, this is by far the most personal and poignant record he has ever made. First coined in 2015, the album has taken four years to complete and in his own words 'part of a slow metamorphosis that I have wanted to do for a long time'. Escaping to Valentia on the West Coast of Ireland, he sought solace away from the grind of modern living to write music and draw inspiration from his surroundings. It was during this time that he experienced great personal loss, which can be felt throughout the record, forming an emotional narrative that will make even the hardest of hearts shed a tear upon listening. The title track 'Planet Hearth' was made in Belfast a few weeks before losing his close friend, and in his own words: "I remember this one feeling very automatic and emotionally engaging, the timing for me has great meaning". Whilst the track 'Five Minute Flame' was written in five minutes one morning in Valentia with the sun streaming in and the coffee being made, showing just how he can draw inspirations at any moment of the day, "I love the immediacy of writing music very much" he states. Largely ambient, there is a nod to his drum and bass roots with 'Walking in Circles', a track that can, and has been played in one of his dnb set. Whilst the album has been playing throughout the year in different club settings, opening the night with the sound that he so loves, the record wasn't made for the club as such, 'originally the idea was to put music together that didn't need to be played in a club, that it could be whatever I wanted.' This is an honest and pure record that steps away from Calibre's drum and bass persona that he's so synonymous with. A somewhat melancholic and atmospheric piece of work, it still has that signature Calibre sound, attesting to incredible diversity of the man. A true master of his craft, his ability to constantly create and consistently deliver with such honest expression is staggering. A chameleonic creator in the purest form - as a painter, fine artist, multi-instrumentalist, writer and producer - he has a career stretching over two decades with over fifteen albums of varying genres. To coincide with the release of the album on November 29th, it's perhaps fitting that he makes his return to XOYO - the London venue he resided in for 10 weeks from July through to September - as he plays on the Dekmantel Soundsystem residency, who he passed the baton onto for the Autumn Winter season. This is Calibre in his rawest, purest and exposed form, delivering a body of work that he cares about the most.
Calibre's mighty wind has blown through the drum 'n' bass scene ever since his first tentative forays into production in 1998. As a trained musician and student of the genre, he quickly developed a unique sound that was warm, orchestral and hypnotic. Attracting the attention of tastemakers like Fabio, the Belfast-born producer and DJ was encouraged to work harder and faster on this liquid funk, resulting in what would become his signature sound. By the time his sophomore album, "Second Sun", came into orbit, Calibre was recognised as a shining star of the scene.
One of the few who had realised the potential of the album format, he crafted dubbed out house grooves, jazzier downtempo numbers, and introspective vocal-led tracks amongst the more trad tempos the largely dancefloor single-based genre was known for.
The album is awash with high points, from the anthemic "Drop It Down", to the more reflective MC tracks like "Timeout" and "Blink Of An Eye". Most producers would labour over such delicately balanced arrangements for weeks, but the fact that Calibre can knock such masterworks out in a matter of hours tells you how effortlessly and naturally his music comes to him.
"Working quickly gives me a unique and personal sound," says Calibre. "It also helps that I like to sample my own playing. Any type of instrument I could get my hands on, I'd record it live. Maybe quite badly, but I still did it. It helped create my own sound. If you can play an instrument, and you can play it with a little bit of passion and a little bit of love, it'll give you something back."
In the fourteen years that have passed (Second Sun dropped in October, 2005) Calibre has written more material than quite possibly anyone else in the scene, and this year shows no sign of him slowing up. Besides the usual wealth of remixes in the pipeline, and a forthcoming techno album on Craig Richards' label, a sixth Shelflife compilation of unreleased Calibre material will be dropping on his own Signature Records label. But for now, let's rewind the story, as the man himself takes us, track by track, through Second Sun.
Calibre has gone through his hard drives, DAT tapes and even mini discs to find more gems for ‘Shelflife 3’. Thirteen of his most requested unreleased productions from 1997 to 2013 are now released on Vinyl, CD and Digital formats.
Please note the vinyl format is pressed on 3X12” vinyl with the 13 track download card.
01 The Wash 02 Miraculous 03 Honey Dew 04 Fear of Letting Go (feat. DRS) 05 Makes Me Feel Alright 06 Bellamee 07 Instant 08 Off Key 09 Sagan 10 Eschaton (feat. DRS) 11 To and Fro 12 Rooftops 13 Erode
Released 26th February 2016 - Pre-order item - 4 x 12" Edition.
Signature label boss and Drum & Bass stalwart Calibre is continuing his shelflife series with a new compilation consisting of 11 tracks that as the title would suggest were shelved before. A coherent mix of exotic rollers, atmospheric cuts and euphoric dancefloor anthems is the result. With appearances by DJ Marky and Cleveland Watkins this addition to the shelflife series proves to be a relevant showcase of Calibre's diversity and of course a celebration of contemporary Drum & Bass. Full colour sleeve - Full download card included - 4x12" Vinyl
Released 26th February 2016 (Pre-order item) - CD Edition.
Signature label boss and Drum & Bass stalwart Calibre is continuing his Shelflife series with a new compilation consisting of 11 tracks that as the title would suggest were shelved before. A coherent mix of exotic rollers, atmospheric cuts and euphoric dancefloor anthems is the result. With appearences by DJ Marky and Cleveland Watkiss this addition to the Shelflife series proves to be a relevant showcase of Calibre's diversity and of course a celebration of contemporary Drum & Bass.
The next installment in Calibre's archival series: Shelflife Six - brings together thirteen of his most sought after Drum and Bass productions. Spanning 20 years and all of them have only ever seen the light in his own DJ sets.
1-01 Venus & Mars 1-02 South Self 1-03 Stay High 1-04 Less Los Ablos 1-05 Jibaro 1-06 STCal Roller 1-07 Shades 1-08 Klute - Part Of Me ( remix Calibre ) 1-09 Easy On My Mind 1-10 Re-Entry 2-01 Untitled 2-02 Acrobat 2-03 Makes Me Wonder 2-04 Cold Babe 2-05 Ill Stay 2-06 Free 2-07 Turn Around 2-08 Beat 97 2-09 feat. Lariman - Peace Of Mind 2-10 Idris 2-11 Time And Space (Hidden Track)
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