DJ-Kicks (DJ Mix)

DJ-Kicks (DJ Mix)

Despite a lengthy discography stretching back to the early ’90s, Kruder & Dorfmeister didn’t release their debut album until 2020. In the absence of a proper long-player, the Viennese duo’s 1998 remix collection, The K&D Sessions, served for years as a sort of proxy full-length debut. Two years before that, however, they put their name to the fourth installment of the DJ-Kicks series, where they sketched the outline of their trademark blend of downtempo, nu-jazz, and blunted soul. Despite drawing from more than a dozen different artists, the set flows as naturally as if it were all their own work. Highlighting artists like Ninja Tune staple The Herbaliser along with lesser-known producers like Small World and Tango, the opening stretch slips from laidback breakbeats into smooth, jazzy drum ’n’ bass; K&D ride that dual groove for a while, folding half-time head-nodders into double-speed rollers like Aquasky’s “Kauna.” The vibes reach a peak about halfway through, as Hardfloor’s acidic “Dadamnphreaknoizphunk? (Dubdope)” paves the way for Thievery Corporation’s now-classic “Shaolin Satellite,” which in turn sets the stage for Kruder & Dorfmeister’s “High Noon,” a Rhodes-kissed jam that sums up trip-hop at its most sensual. From there on out, it’s a captivating blend of soundtrack strings, dub delay, bossa nova guitars, and hip-hop scratching—which is to say, an all-encompassing snapshot of mid-’90s downtempo at its best.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada