Halftime
Drum and bass played at half the speed of the drums, leaving a slow, heavy groove.
History
Halftime appeared around 2013 as producers slowed the drum pattern of drum and bass s1. The tempo stays near 170 BPM, but the main drum hits fall at half that speed, so the track feels slower and heavier s1. The style leaves more space for deep bass and strange sound design s1. The London group Ivy Lab became one of its widely known acts s2. Their track 'Twenty Questions' (2014) is often named as a defining halftime record s2. Alix Perez's 'Recall & Reflect' (2013) and Ivy Lab's 'Sunday Crunk' (2014) are also widely played s1. Halftime is popular with DJs who want to slow a set down without losing the drum and bass feel s2. It mixes easily with other bass styles such as dubstep and trap s1. The style is often played by DJs who mix it with dubstep and trap. It has its own club nights in London and other cities s1.
Sound
- Drums that fall at half the usual speed
- Very deep, heavy bass
- Lots of empty space in the rhythm
- Strange, detailed sound design
- A slow but heavy mood
Key figures
- Ivy Lab — London trio at the centre of the sound
- Alix Perez — Belgian-British producer behind 'Recall & Reflect'
- Halogenix — Producer and member of Ivy Lab
- Stray — Producer and member of Ivy Lab
Labels
- Critical Music — London , 2002
- Exit Records — London , 2003
- 20/20 LDN — London , 2015
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: Drum and Bass , Minimal Drum and Bass , Dub
Sources
- Ivy Lab — Wikipedia
- Midnight in a perfect world: Ivy Lab — KEXP (2023)