Howie B
Slinky, smoke-filled electronic grooves that sit between a jazz club and a laboratory. Masterful downtempo with a heavy cinematic lean.
Slinky, smoke-filled electronic grooves that sit between a jazz club and a laboratory. Masterful downtempo with a heavy cinematic lean.
Howie B (Howard Bernstein) is a pivotal figure in the evolution of UK electronic music, specifically within the trip-hop and downtempo movements of the 1990s. Emerging from the Glasgow scene and finding his footing in London's Soul II Soul collective, he developed a signature 'pussyfoot' sound characterized by heavy dub influences, jazz-inflected sampling, and a cinematic sense of space.
His career is defined by a dual track: a prolific solo artist on labels like Mo' Wax and Polydor, and a high-profile producer for global icons. His work on U2's 'Pop' and Björk's 'Post' cemented his reputation as a bridge between underground club culture and avant-garde pop. Critically, he is viewed as a 'sonic polymath' who prioritizes texture and 'vibe' over traditional song structure. His influence extends into film scoring, where his ability to create moody, atmospheric soundscapes has led to collaborations with directors like Wim Wenders. He remains a key architect of the 'Bristol-adjacent' sound, though his Scottish roots and eclectic influences (from John McLaughlin to Gong) give his work a more experimental, psychedelic edge than many of his contemporaries.
Shares trip-hop, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); sample_based, analog_warmth, layered_dense (production style)
Shares trip-hop, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); mysterious, playful, wistful (moods)
Shares trip-hop, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); mysterious, contemplative, wistful (moods)
Shares trip-hop, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); sample_based, analog_warmth, layered_dense (production style)
Shares trip-hop, downtempo, abstract hip-hop (subgenres); sample_based, lo_fi, analog_warmth (production style)
Shares trip-hop, downtempo, nu jazz (subgenres); sample_based, analog_warmth, layered_dense (production style)
Shares trip-hop, downtempo, ambient techno (subgenres); mysterious, contemplative, wistful (moods)
Shares trip-hop, downtempo, abstract hip-hop (subgenres); mysterious, contemplative, wistful (moods)
Shares downtempo, trip-hop, ambient techno (subgenres); sample_based, analog_warmth, layered_dense (production style)
Shares downtempo, trip-hop, nu jazz (subgenres); mysterious, contemplative, wistful (moods)
Shares trip-hop, submerged bass frequencies, murky, sample_based (signature)
Shares submerged bass frequencies, murky, sample_based, trip-hop (detail)
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