Tipper
 

There's been a bit of talk here and there about Dave Tipper's music, so I figure I'll start a thread. He's a British electronic producer and DJ mainly known for his breakbeat production. However he likes to try different things and you'll find electro, trip-hop, downtempo, and IDM depending on the album. I first learned of him in my nu-skool breaks phase in the early 00s, with a DJ Mix CD called Tipper Presents Sound Off. I didn't realize he had actual albums until earlier this year, and I've now gotten through about half of them, each being quite different. So even if the style of one album doesn't appeal to you, it's possible you'll love another.

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I just finished listening to Wobble Factor for the first time. I really like the style but also feel that many of the same sounds are used throughout the album, making it sound a little samey. Though to be fair, I think that's probably true of most electronic albums in general, it's just that the wobbly bass on this album tends to sound a bit gimmicky after a while. Like a lot of dubstep with its distinct style of bass. However, on some tracks you can definitely tell that he's very eclectic, and I think with further listens I'll be able to pull the tracks apart a bit more. Luckily, the album doesn't drag, and doesn't overstay its welcome.

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Surrounded

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A much more chill vibe than any other Tipper album I've listened to so far, Surrounded kind of reminding me of Plaid and Aphex Twin's mellow tracks. Really solid, beautiful & melodic electronic/IDM, with live instrumentation on some tracks. I've played this one a few times already and it may be my favorite so far.

Full tracks are available for the whole album on last.fm. Here's a few random ones from the album:







I really like the last one, which has less of an IDM feel and more of a, uh I don't know, Tortoise-style post-rock feel due to the live instruments.

Surrounded is also my favorite, but I've only heard that one and Wobble Factor. I think I may find that discography torrent of his again and just grab it all and pick my way at it at my leisure. Very cool artist though, some great sounds and great for reading.

I got Wobble Factor kinda randomly quite a while ago, knowing nothing about it really. I remember digging it kinda, but also kinda had the same reaction as the part of your quote I bolded...just wasn't enough variety for it to REALLY stand out if I remember right.

Surrounded sounds interesting though, and I like those links...gonna go check that one out. :)

Holding Pattern

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This one's from 2001, his second album, and the oldest one I've listened to. My second time through at the moment. Definitely more straight up breakbeat, perhaps nu-skool breaks, or both. Though it doesn't have that trancey/progressive feel that a lot of nu-skool breaks has, so I guess it's just breakbeat. I think a few of the songs on here are on his Tip Hop album, which I believe is essentially a DJ mix of his own material (a great one to check out for those new to Tipper). Some of the tracks are great, some feel a little bit like transition tracks, what may feel like filler tracks on a DJ mix or in a club set. Nothing bad though of course. But with this particular style, I think the tracks (the really strong ones) are best suited on DJ mixes of various artists. This is perhaps why - when I first got into breaks in the early part of the decade - artist albums didn't interest me as much as a DJ mix. I think the same could be said about Wobble Factor - the tracks are great, but they'd perhaps work better on a multi-artist DJ mix in which they would stand out as some of the best tracks on the mix.



The only other track from this album I can find on YouTube is the closing track, a mellow one that isn't representative of the album so I won't post it.

I'm digging this. I like how juicy some of the tracks sound.

I just got Wobble Factor last week and am really enjoying it! I'd say "Flat Ripple" is probably my favorite track on the album.

Hey FYI Tipper put out a new album this month, and from the samples I've heard it's more chilled out like Surrounded and The Seamless Unspeakable Something, which are my favorite. But I've yet to acquire it. Initial CD release through Addictech comes with poster and downloads.

Tipper - Broken Soul Jamboree

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^ Nice! I gotta check on that.
My fave is The Seamless Unspeakable Something, so this album should do well with me.