Convince Me! Journey Inwards by LTJ Bukem

 

In this "Convince Me" sidetrax episode, Carl challenges Dan with Journey Inwards, the immersive double album from UK drum & bass pioneer LTJ Bukem. Known for his lush atmospheres, jazz-inflected harmonies, and meticulous production, Bukem's 2000 release is both a vibe and a craft lesson.

Dan—unfamiliar with the genre—dives into the world of liquid drum & bass, navigating breakbeats, live instrumentation, sampling, and surprising emotional depth. What begins as a daunting 88-minute listen becomes an exploration of sonic therapy, underground electronica, and personal nostalgia. It's ambient, it’s jazzy, it’s jungle—and it sparks an unexpectedly rich conversation about music’s place in running, healing, and the evolution of DJ culture.

Key Points

• LTJ Bukem’s Style: Bukem blends drum & bass, ambient, jazz, and soulful house, creating smooth, spacious tracks with live instrumentation (double bass, flute, Rhodes, cello) and tight programmed drums.
• A Primer for Electronic Music: Carl pitches this as a "gateway" album into EDM-adjacent sounds—calming, meditative, and sonically pristine.
• Production & Sampling: Bukem’s meticulous layering includes both digital samples and live players. Dan highlights how his approach resembles treating samples as real instruments.
• Genre Fluidity: From the Miles Davis-inspired bassline on "Journey Inwards" to the Twin Peaks-esque mixing of "Real Indication", the album floats between jazz, film score ambiance, and club minimalism.
• Favorite Tracks:
  • "Watercolours" – Standout hit with lush saxophone and chromatic dissonance.
  • "Sunrain" – Dan’s favorite; evokes Sade with vocals and deep groove.
  • "Inner Guidance" – Listener favorite, likened to Crystal Blue Persuasion.
  • "Feel What You Feel" – Dan notes a Pat Metheny with a house groove vibe.
• Comedic Tangents & Chemistry: As always, the hosts’ banter adds charm—Goldfinger references, vibraphone jokes, Mario Kart comparisons ("Rainbow Road", anyone?), and Carl’s David Ruffin fandom.

Music Referenced

• Billion Dollar Babies by Alice Cooper
• RJD2
• DJ Qbert
• I Saw You When I Met Her by David Ruffin
• A Love Supreme by John Coltrane
• So What by Miles Davis
• Real Indication by Angelo Badalamenti
• Jojo Mayer
• Johnny Rabb
• Chick Corea
• Sade
• Pat Metheny
• Dieselboy
• Aphrodite

Join us next week for an episode of Carl's Cover? Not sure what that is? Stay tuned.