The sounds and styles associated with downtempo have gone through plenty of evolution since the arrival of Massive Attack and Portishead in the late 1980s and early ‘90s. Those trailblazers forged an indelible connection between Bristol and downtempo sounds, and they remain massively influential to this day. The fresh perspective of combining a slower tempo with a variety of signature sounds created chill-out rooms in clubs across the globe, and provided a welcome decompression to the frenzied pace of rave culture.
Downtempo’s laid-back yet sophisticated aesthetic quickly morphed into an overarching category that embraced trip-hop, broken beat, lo-fi and a new blend of dub, pioneered in the early days by Nightmares on Wax. Duos such as Washington D.C.’s Thievery Corporation, Edinburgh’s Boards of Canada and Austria’s Kruder & Dorfmeister made landmark records, each of which propelled their respective subgenres to wider audiences. In 1998, James Lavelle and DJ Shadow united for an early iteration of the U.N.K.L.E. moniker, pulling in guest vocals from Lyrics Born, Richard Ashcroft and Thom Yorke on their legendary ‘Psyence Fiction’ album, which featured a jarring video directed by Jonathan Glazer for “Rabbit in Your Headlights.” Those visuals paired with Yorke’s haunting vocals brought the genre to Radiohead fans at the height of their powers.
Today, genre leaders include Bonobo, who began dropping downtempo gems early in his career and often shares festival billing with the likes of Underworld and Orbital, who have made significant contributions in the downtempo space. Change is a constant in electronic music, and we still see creative takes across the downtempo spectrum. We’ve put together a collection of recent tracks ranging from Tourist and Gold Panda’s collaboration, shoegaze producer RIP Swirl’s moody new jam, the new solo gem by Thievery’s Eric Hilton and Actress’s stellar, soulfully haunting downtempo groove to the pulsating experimental lo-fi of Khotin and DJ Shadow’s recent sparsely infectious “Forever Changed.”
LISTEN TO THE DOWNTEMPO PLAYLIST ON SOUNDCLOUD NOW.
Vegyn, “Mystery or Misery?”
The London producer and Frank Ocean collaborator drops another sparkling gem for his PLZ Make It Ruins label.
Fergus Jones, “Heima” (feat. Huerco S. & James K)
Rising Scottish producer works with ambient figurehead Huerco S. and vocalist James K for this gentle trip on Glasgow label Numbers.
Tourist, Gold Panda, “Acrylic”
The British solo artists, known for their pop-infused ambient beats, pair up for this melancholic treat.
Th Blisks, “Enchancity”
An Australian trio blending melodic dub, trip-hop and post-punk; more can be found on their 2024 album ‘Elixa,’ for the Efficient Space label.
Arms And Sleepers, “Dark Habits”
Berlin-based Bosnian producer Mirza Ramic creates eerie trip-hop on this track, taken from his 2024 ‘Misery’ EP.
Liela Moss, “Dark Kitchens”
The British artist and former Alexander McQueen muse goes deep into trip-hop darkness on her latest album, ‘Transparent Eyeball,’ on Mother Figure Records.
Theis Thaws, Tricky, Mike Theis, “Where Are You Lately”
Bristol vocalist Tricky collaborates with Parisian producer Theis Thaws. The track features on their 2024 album, ‘Fifteen Days,’ for Tricky’s False Idols label.
Downstairs People, “Show You”
The Berlin duo blend R&B, drum ‘n bass and fuzzy dub into this earworm for Glasgow label INDEX:Records.
RIP Swirl, “Late Night Special”
Berlin-based producer develops his moody shoegaze style on this track, taken from his 2024 album ‘Perfectly Blue,’ for Public Possession.
Blockhead, “Earth’s Farewell Tour”
NYC producer crafts an ominous beat, blending hip-hop drums, strings and woodwind, for his 2024 album ‘Mortality Is Lit!’.
Moby, Brie O'Bianon, “we’re going wrong”
Inspired by Moby’s passion for animal rights and veganism, this rework of the Cream classic of the same name, led by downtempo legends Moby and vocalist Brie O’Banion, is as moving as it is gentle.
Actress, “It’s me ( g 8 )”
The prolific Darren Cunningham’s ‘LXXXVIII’ is his latest album for the legendary Ninja Tune label.
Blockhead, “Give Thanks” (feat. Armand Hammer)
The NYC producer is also known for his work with Aesop Rock.
Vanishing Twin, “Marbles”
This hypnotic, cosmopolitan group is based in London, with members from Italy and Japan
The Breathing Effect, “Carbon Capture"
This experimental duo’s latest is expansive and cinematic, fittingly – they’re from LA
Xori, “Besides”
German electronica beatmaker offers their own version of “little fluffy clouds” with this daydream-y track
DJ Shadow “Forever Changed”
On his latest album, the groundbreaking hip-hop instrumentalist just wanted to go back to making music “for himself”
Khotin, “Lovely”
The Edmonton-based electronic artist describes his sound as “the mood of stillness, the melancholy after the club”
LESKY, Waywell & MAS, "Azul”
Teaming with the Norwegian producer MAS, Germany’s LESKY and the UK’s Waywell are doing some group meditation here
DJ Grumble, “Percentage”
The DJ says he was an alt-rock fan as a kid who first learned about turntablism from some scratching on a Linkin Park record
Prtnd, “hearth (tape_)”
The strings on this track bring to mind a bygone era of EZ listening, with beats
Nostalgia, “Campfire Stories”
If you’re looking for that tingly feeling, look no further than this aptly named track, set to campfire crackle
Avalon Emerson “Sandrail Silhouette”
Raised in Arizona, now based in Berlin, the DJ has remixed Slowdive, Robyn, and many more
Bonobo, “Elysian”
The veteran producer came up in trip-hop but has since explored dance, jazz, and world music
Softy, “Raininterlude”
The latest from this mood-enhancing artist features old-school lo-fi beats “warm as a blanket of snow”
Parra for Cuva, “Your Inner Workings”
Born Nicolas Demuth, the German DJ found his first musical love in the music of the French composer Debussy
Biome, “Faces”
Ambient project of the multi-talented Gregory Kyryluk, who named it after the life forms that share a common environment
Eric Hilton, “Midnight Milan”
Thievery Corporation’s co-founder went back to basics on his latest album – “a classic, experimental trip-hop record”
Nightmares on Wax, “3D Warrior” (Hirshy Remix)
Based in Ibiza, George Evelyn of the long-running group features a prominent acoustic bass line on this atmospheric cut
ODESZA, “How Did I Get Here”
The first official release from the decade-long partnership of Pacific Northwest natives Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight
Marta and Tricky, “Think Of You”
2023 saw the debut release of this jazz-trained Polish native, who met the trip-hop legend Tricky when he needed a singer for a live gig
Everything But The Girl, “Karaoke”
“Fuse,” the 11th album from this legendary duo, was their first in 24 years
Lusine, “Cut and Cover”
From the ninth album by the 20-year Seattle veteran Jeff McIlwain
Dina Ögon, “Mellan Slagen”
“We hear music from all eras and countries,” says one member of this dreamy soul group from Sweden
John Carroll Kirby, “Sun Go Down”
Flute groove from LA keyboardist/producer who has worked with Solange, Frank Ocean and many more
Kiefer, “Glowing” (feat. Pera Krstajic)
From Stones Throw Records, a return to downtempo from the Grammy-winning pianist
Bibio, “Sorry (Won’t Cut It)”
The multi-instrumentalist features jazzy guitar on this cut from his 2023 EP “Sunbursting”
Rare Silk, “Storm”
A true classic from a 1980s vocal jazz group with a cult following, reissued in 2019
Mark Barrott, “Kyoto” (京都)
“The master of sunset music,” Pitchfork has called the veteran English producer
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