Don't Call It Trip Hop: The UK Downtempo Story

We're celebrating three decades of the pioneering sound at the heart of contemporary UK music culture, journeying through the evolution of downtempo from the hazy Bristol days to the international stage.



"Chill-out", "downtempo", "lounge", "nu jazz" or "trip hop" - it doesn't matter what you call it. or maybe it does.



30 years ago, a new sound was emerging out of the smokey residences of the Bristol underground with the likes of Massive Attack, Tricky and Portishead at the forefront of this new movement - weaving together influences from reggae and hip hop to jazz and psychedelia.



With their early contributions leading MixMag to first coin the term trip hop as the catch-all label for this new sound, many of those behind it were also the most vocal in opposing such pigeon-holing.



Regardless of the name, the initial breakthrough sound went on to become an international phenomenon with continued sonic influence to this day as a new generation of British artists look backwards to move forwards.



Expect tracks from Portishead, Massive Attack, FC Kahuna and more.