A nice dash of jazz at a finely restrained tempo, a bit of dub, and lots of pretty elements that save these tracks from ending up with the hip hoppers in the back street, but straight into the classiest bars in town.

Almost 30 years ago acts like Massive Attack or Portishead released albums that defined trip hop. While originating in Bristol, the fusion of hip hop, electronica and soul accompanied with slower tempos and psychedelic sounds, quickly spread out far beyond England. In fact, there are many acts that deserves more recognition. Such as Kruder and Dorfmeister.

The Austrian duo released their debut EP G-Stoned in 1993. All the instruments, writing and production were made by Peter Kruder and Richard Dorfmeister. This four-track EP is actually the only work by the two that comes reasonably close to an album. Sure, there’s more, but they’re all individual pieces produced for various compilations.

I heard K&D for the first time in a record shop somewhere in London, and I knew they were something special. Like the first track Definition has a beat that is too deep in jazz to live in the suburbs, the piano too loungy for the streets. If you haven’t already, that flute wants you to spark your cannabis inducted cigarette for sure. Deep Shit, Pt. 1 & 2 is the most famous track on this mini-album, and the piano theme at the beginning alone is enough to justify that. Everything added afterward fits perfectly – the extremely relaxed drum beat, the African vocals, the finely used flute, the bass synth lines that support the groove – it’s a completely coherent arrangement. All that applies also to High Noon. The usual first-class drum loops and a fine guitar lick is celebrated here, sharing the work with a vocal sample, interrupted by a harmonica solo. Yes, they even make a harmonica sound fresh and cool.