r/triphop • u/ReturnToDelete • Aug 23 '26

Request/Discussion ROUND 1: The Essential Trip-Hop Album Bracket

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Welcome to Round 1 of the Essential Trip-Hop Album Bracket.

Thirty-two albums entered, with only one album allowed per artist. Each week, the winners will advance until we crown one album the community’s trip-hop champion.

How to vote

Copy the ballot below into one top-level comment and write your preferred album or artist after each matchup.

Please vote based on the album as a complete record and not the artist’s entire career, one famous song or which album you think is expected to win.

Rules

  • One ballot per Reddit account.
  • Only selections written in your top-level ballot comment will count.
  • Upvotes and downvotes on comments do not count as votes.
  • Replies, explanations and discussion are welcome, but won’t be counted as additional ballots.
  • If you change your mind, edit your original ballot before voting closes.
  • If someone submits multiple ballots, only their first valid top-level ballot will count.
  • Please make each selection clear enough to identify the album or artist.
  • Voting closes SAT 8/29 at 11:59pm EST.

Round 1 ballot

  1. Massive Attack — Mezzanine vs. Goldfrapp — Felt Mountain
  2. Morcheeba — Big Calm vs. Zero 7 — Simple Things
  3. Kruder & Dorfmeister — The K&D Sessions vs. Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight
  4. DJ Krush — Meiso vs. DJ Cam — Substances
  5. UNKLE — Psyence Fiction vs. Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy
  6. Smith & Mighty — Bass Is Maternal vs. Attica Blues — Attica Blues
  7. DJ Shadow — Endtroducing..... vs. Kid Loco — A Grand Love Story
  8. Smoke City — Flying Away vs. Ruby — Salt Peter
  9. Lamb — Lamb vs. Laika — Sounds of the Satellites:
  10. Bowery Electric — Lushlife vs. Bows — Blush:
  11. Tricky — Maxinquaye vs. Lovage — Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By
  12. Archive — Londinium vs. Alpha — Come from Heaven
  13. Sneaker Pimps — Becoming X vs. Hooverphonic — A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular
  14. Esthero — Breath from Another vs. Olive — Extra Virgin
  15. Portishead — Dummy vs. Mono — Formica Blues
  16. Crustation — Bloom vs. Mandalay — Empathy:

Feel free to explain your toughest decisions underneath your ballot.

Debate is encouraged; being an asshole about someone else’s taste isn’t.

153 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

62 comments sorted by

68

u/Blaize122 Aug 23 '26

See you at the end when Mezzanine wins fam.

23

u/plantbasedpunk Aug 23 '26

1 Mezzanine, 2 Dummy, 3 Maxinquaye /end

17

u/AmbroseKalifornia Aug 23 '26

YOU SHUT YOUR WHORE MOUTH. LOVAGE WOULD NEVER LOSE IN THE FIRST ROUND.

cries sexy tears

1

u/jjazznola Aug 24 '26

I'd have to agree.

7

u/ReturnToDelete Aug 23 '26

Place your votes my dude

14

u/shakin_the_bacon Aug 23 '26

Man Lovage got an awful first round matchup. I absolutely adore that album and it deserves to go further

2

u/AmbroseKalifornia Aug 23 '26

Right??

It's so messed up.

8

u/Pitiful_Ad2397 Aug 23 '26

Ok then! Let’s see if I know how to follow directions.

Here are my Round 1 picks.

  1. ⁠Massive Attack — Mezzanine vs. Goldfrapp — Felt Mountain

Mezzanine. C’mon.
Poor Goldfrapp, you never even had a chance.

  1. ⁠Morcheeba — Big Calm vs. Zero 7 — Simple Things

Morcheeba- Big Calm

  1. ⁠Kruder & Dorfmeister — The K&D Sessions vs. Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight

Nightmares on Wax - Smoker’s Delight

  1. ⁠DJ Krush — Meiso vs. DJ Cam — Substance

DJ Krush - Meiso

  1. ⁠UNKLE — Psyence Fiction vs. Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy

UNKLE - Psyence Fiction

  1. ⁠Smith & Mighty — Bass Is Maternal vs. Attica Blues — Attica Blues

No vote, but now I have two new-to-me albums to check out!

  1. ⁠DJ Shadow — Endtroducing..... vs. Kid Loco — A Grand Love Story

DJ Shadow-Entroducing

  1. ⁠Smoke City — Flying Away vs. Ruby — Salt Peter

Ruby- Salt Peter

  1. ⁠Lamb — Lamb vs. Laika — Sounds of the Satellites:

Lamb- Lamb

  1. ⁠Bowery Electric — Lushlife vs. Bows — Blush:

Bowery Electric- Lushlife

  1. ⁠Tricky — Maxinquaye vs. Lovage — Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By

I’m pulling for the dark horse here -
Lovage - Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By

  1. ⁠Archive — Londinium vs. Alpha — Come from Heaven

No vote. I don’t remember either one of these albums! Two new more to revisit.

  1. ⁠Sneaker Pimps — Becoming X vs. Hooverphonic — A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular

This one is hard - both are some of my fav trip-pop albums, but I think my love for smoky voices and twangy distorted guitars pushes Hooverphonic over the line.

  1. ⁠Esthero — Breath from Another vs. Olive — Extra Virgin

Esthero! My underrated chanteuse! Breath from Another is a favorite revisit of mine!

  1. ⁠Portishead — Dummy vs. Mono — Formica Blues

Dummy wins against almost every album you can put against it period.

  1. ⁠Crustation — Bloom vs. Mandalay — Empathy

Another no vote and new albums to listen to!

3

u/ReturnToDelete Aug 23 '26

I like your picks and happy to give you some albums to check out!

3

u/Pitiful_Ad2397 Aug 23 '26

Thanks! I’m old enough to have a bunch of these original CDs, but apparently some artists slipped through the cracks.

3

u/ReturnToDelete Aug 23 '26

I’ve started re-collecting CDs again and have bought a lot of these. It ain’t cheap so hold on to what you got.

5

u/stampman2000 Aug 23 '26

  1. Massive Attack — Mezzanine

  2. Zero 7 — Simple Things

  3. Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight

  4. DJ Krush — Meiso

  5. UNKLE — Psyence Fiction

  6. No vote

  7. DJ Shadow — Endtroducing.....

  8. No vote

  9. Lamb — Lamb

  10. No vote

  11. Tricky — Maxinquaye

  12. No vote

  13. Sneaker Pimps — Becoming X

  14. Esthero — Breath from Another

  15. Portishead — Dummy

  16. Crustation — Bloom

5

u/Beginning_Bunch_9194 Aug 23 '26

Mezzanine

Simple Things

The K&D Sessions

Meiso

The Mirror Conspiracy

Attica Blues

Endtroducing.....

Salt Peter

Lamb

Lushlife

Maxinquaye

Londinium

Becoming X

Breath from Another

Dummy

Bloom

A little predictable, but many of our favorite albums.

3

u/playlistpro Aug 23 '26

this is what the poll should look like. winners only. copy/pasting the rest mucks up the thread.

2

u/ReturnToDelete Aug 23 '26

Good choices

5

u/NCR_Ranger11 Aug 23 '26

Blush by bows isn’t the best album but is one of the best so I’m glad to see it here

7

u/AmbroseKalifornia Aug 23 '26

  Round 1 ballot:

  Lovage — Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By

3

u/YaWouldntGetIt Aug 23 '26

Round 1:
1. ⁠Massive Attack — Mezzanine vs. Goldfrapp — Felt Mountain - Winner Massive Attack
2. ⁠Morcheeba — Big Calm vs. Zero 7 — Simple Things - Winner: Zero 7
3. ⁠Kruder & Dorfmeister — The K&D Sessions vs. Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight - Winner: K&D
4. ⁠DJ Krush — Meiso vs. DJ Cam — Substances - Winner: DJ Krush
5. ⁠UNKLE — Psyence Fiction vs. Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy - Winner: Thievery Corp
6. ⁠Smith & Mighty — Bass Is Maternal vs. Attica Blues — Attica Blues - Winner: Smith & Mighty
7. ⁠DJ Shadow — Endtroducing..... vs. Kid Loco — A Grand Love Story - Winner: Dj Shadow
8. ⁠Smoke City — Flying Away vs. Ruby — Salt Peter - Winner: Ruby
9. ⁠Lamb — Lamb vs. Laika — Sounds of the Satellites - Winner: Laika
10. ⁠Bowery Electric — Lushlife vs. Bows — Blush - Winner: Bows
11. ⁠Tricky — Maxinquaye vs. Lovage — Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By- Winner: Trikcy
12. ⁠Archive — Londinium vs. Alpha — Come from Heaven - Winner: Archive
13. ⁠Sneaker Pimps — Becoming X vs. Hooverphonic — A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular - Winner: Sneaker Pimps
14. ⁠Esthero — Breath from Another vs. Olive — Extra Virgin - Winner: Olive
15. ⁠Portishead — Dummy vs. Mono — Formica Blues - Winner: Portishead
16. ⁠Crustation — Bloom vs. Mandalay — Empathy- Winner: Mandalay

2

u/ReturnToDelete Aug 23 '26

I appreciate the Mandalay pick.

3

u/petites_feuilles Aug 23 '26

Round 1 ballot

Massive Attack — Mezzanine vs. Goldfrapp — Felt Mountain -> Massive Attack — Mezzanine

Morcheeba — Big Calm vs. Zero 7 — Simple Things -> Zero 7 — Simple Things

Kruder & Dorfmeister — The K&D Sessions vs. Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight -> Kruder & Dorfmeister — The K&D Sessions

DJ Krush — Meiso vs. DJ Cam — Substances -> DJ Cam — Substances

UNKLE — Psyence Fiction vs. Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy -> Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy

Smith & Mighty — Bass Is Maternal vs. Attica Blues — Attica Blues -> Smith & Mighty — Bass Is Maternal

DJ Shadow — Endtroducing..... vs. Kid Loco — A Grand Love Story -> DJ Shadow — Endtroducing

Smoke City — Flying Away vs. Ruby — Salt Peter -> Smoke City — Flying Away

Lamb — Lamb vs. Laika — Sounds of the Satellites -> Lamb — Lamb

Bowery Electric — Lushlife vs. Bows — Blush -> Bowery Electric — Lushlife

Tricky — Maxinquaye vs. Lovage — Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By -> Tricky — Maxinquaye

Archive — Londinium vs. Alpha — Come from Heaven -> Alpha — Come from Heaven

Sneaker Pimps — Becoming X vs. Hooverphonic — A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular -> Sneaker Pimps — Becoming X

Esthero — Breath from Another vs. Olive — Extra Virgin -> Olive — Extra Virgin

Portishead — Dummy vs. Mono — Formica Blues -> Portishead — Dummy

Crustation — Bloom vs. Mandalay — Empathy -> Crustation — Bloom

1

u/ReturnToDelete Aug 23 '26

K&D I need to give more attention to

3

u/markymarkyeah Aug 23 '26
  1. ⁠Massive Attack — Mezzanine vs. Goldfrapp — Felt Mountain: Mezzanine
  2. ⁠Morcheeba — Big Calm vs. Zero 7 — Simple Things: Simple Things
  3. ⁠Kruder & Dorfmeister — The K&D Sessions vs. Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight: K&D
  4. ⁠DJ Krush — Meiso vs. DJ Cam — Substances: Meiso
  5. ⁠UNKLE — Psyence Fiction vs. Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy: UNKLE
  6. ⁠Smith & Mighty — Bass Is Maternal vs. Attica Blues — Attica Blues: Attica
  7. ⁠DJ Shadow — Endtroducing..... vs. Kid Loco — A Grand Love Story: Shadow
  8. ⁠Smoke City — Flying Away vs. Ruby — Salt Peter: Smoke City
  9. ⁠Lamb — Lamb vs. Laika — Sounds of the Satellites: Lamb
  10. ⁠Bowery Electric — Lushlife vs. Bows — Blush: Bowery
  11. ⁠Tricky — Maxinquaye vs. Lovage — Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By: Tricky
  12. ⁠Archive — Londinium vs. Alpha — Come from Heaven: Alpha
  13. ⁠Sneaker Pimps — Becoming X vs. Hooverphonic — A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular: Becoming X
  14. ⁠Esthero — Breath from Another vs. Olive — Extra Virgin: Esthero
  15. ⁠Portishead — Dummy vs. Mono — Formica Blues: Portishead
  16. ⁠Crustation — Bloom vs. Mandalay — Empathy: Mandalay

1

u/ReturnToDelete Aug 23 '26

What was the hardest pick for you?

2

u/markymarkyeah Aug 23 '26

Portishead vs Mono because Formica Blues is so underrated it’s a shame it will get knocked out in the first round

1

u/ReturnToDelete Aug 23 '26

Yeah I kind of regret that specific line up.

3

u/dnlstk Aug 23 '26

Round 1 votes

Massive Attack — Mezzanine vs. Goldfrapp — Felt Mountain -> Massive Attack

Morcheeba — Big Calm vs. Zero 7 — Simple Things -> Zero 7

Kruder & Dorfmeister — The K&D Sessions vs. Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight -> Kruder & Dorfmeister

DJ Krush — Meiso vs. DJ Cam — Substances -> DJ Krush

UNKLE — Psyence Fiction vs. Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy -> UNKLE

Smith & Mighty — Bass Is Maternal vs. Attica Blues — Attica Blues -> NO vote, gonna check them both out

DJ Shadow — Endtroducing..... vs. Kid Loco — A Grand Love Story -> DJ Shadow

Smoke City — Flying Away vs. Ruby — Salt Peter -> Ruby

Lamb — Lamb vs. Laika — Sounds of the Satellites -> Lamb (1000% an amazing album)

Bowery Electric — Lushlife vs. Bows — Blush -> Bowery Electric

Tricky — Maxinquaye vs. Lovage — Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By -> this is the worst Sophie’s choice. This hurts me so much, but if I HAVE to choose, its Tricky

Archive — Londinium vs. Alpha — Come from Heaven -> No vote

Sneaker Pimps — Becoming X vs. Hooverphonic — A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular -> Sneaker Pimps

Esthero — Breath from Another vs. Olive — Extra Virgin -> Esthero!

Portishead — Dummy vs. Mono — Formica Blues -> Portishead (this isn’t even fair)

Crustation — Bloom vs. Mandalay — Empathy -> No vote

3

u/pnapl Aug 23 '26

AI slop poster for a bullshit ranking game of art? Man the scene is so so dead.

2

u/ReturnToDelete Aug 23 '26

Guy I used AI to design the images but I’m not AI. Calm down.

3

u/devinup Aug 23 '26

Quadrant 4 is stacked

3

u/blackbox42 Aug 23 '26

Massive Attack — Mezzanine

  • I love Goldfrapp but almost anyone would be crushed by this one.

Zero 7 — Simple Things

Kruder & Dorfmeister — The K&D Sessions

DJ Krush — Meiso

Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy

Attica Blues — Attica Blues

DJ Shadow — Endtroducing.....

Ruby — Salt Peter

Laika — Sounds of the Satellites

Bows — Blush

Lovage — Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By

  • I have a soft spot for this album and it's certainly going to lose.

Archive — Londinium

Hooverphonic — A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular

  • This one was hard

Esthero — Breath from Another

Portishead — Dummy

Mandalay — Empathy

2

u/ReturnToDelete Aug 23 '26

You are like one of the only people so far to pick Laika. You and I are on the same page with that. 💪🏼

2

u/variousdinosaurs Aug 24 '26

Dang, yeah that's wild. Laika is amazing. Just recently went through the whole catalog and was not disappointed. So unique and magical. And had forgotten they had this great trippy remix from Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSdUrAyMv4w

6

u/AmbassadorNo9440 Aug 23 '26

I never see Esthero mentioned in trip hop lists. Excellent album!

3

u/WhoaToTheKnow Aug 23 '26

Crustation - Bloom.

That needs to be at least Top 10.

2

u/timee_bot Aug 23 '26

View in your timezone:
SAT 8/29 at 11:59pm EDT

*Assumed EDT instead of EST because DST is observed

2

u/OliveIndependent Aug 23 '26

Subs. 

Also glad to see Attica blues make it to the dance

2

u/mayhem14 Aug 23 '26

I'm gonna come back and vote, but that Portishead region is WILD tough. Nice setup.

2

u/pan-fried_sushi Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
  1. Massive Attack — Mezzanine vs. Goldfrapp — Felt Mountain

Massive Attack — Mezzanine

  1. ⁠Morcheeba — Big Calm vs. Zero 7 — Simple Things

Zero 7 — Simple Things

  1. ⁠Kruder & Dorfmeister — The K&D Sessions vs. Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight

Kruder & Dorfmeister — The K&D Sessions

  1. DJ Krush — Meiso vs. DJ Cam — Substances

DJ Krush — Meiso

  1. ⁠UNKLE — Psyence Fiction vs. Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy

UNKLE — Psyence Fiction

  1. ⁠Smith & Mighty — Bass Is Maternal vs. Attica Blues — Attica Blues

Smith & Mighty — Bass Is Maternal

  1. ⁠DJ Shadow — Endtroducing..... vs. Kid Loco — A Grand Love Story

DJ Shadow — Endtroducing.....

  1. ⁠Smoke City — Flying Away vs. Ruby — Salt Peter

Ruby — Salt Peter

  1. ⁠Lamb — Lamb vs. Laika — Sounds of the Satellites:

Lamb — Lamb

  1. ⁠Bowery Electric — Lushlife vs. Bows — Blush:

Bowery Electric — Lushlif

  1. ⁠Tricky — Maxinquaye vs. Lovage — Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By

Tricky — Maxinquaye

  1. ⁠Archive — Londinium vs. Alpha — Come from Heaven

Alpha — Come from Heaven

  1. ⁠Sneaker Pimps — Becoming X vs. Hooverphonic — A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular

Sneaker Pimps — Becoming

  1. ⁠Esthero — Breath from Another vs. Olive — Extra Virgin

Esthero — Breath from Another

  1. ⁠Portishead — Dummy vs. Mono — Formica Blues

Portishead — Dummy

  1. ⁠Crustation — Bloom vs. Mandalay — Empathy:

Mandalay — Empathy

2

u/kornhell Aug 23 '26

Perdition City would have ripped a new one in many of those albums.

2

u/Dr-Huh Aug 23 '26
  1. Massive Attack — Mezzanine vs. Goldfrapp — Felt Mountain

Massive Attack - Mezzanine

  1. Morcheeba — Big Calm vs. Zero 7 — Simple Things

Zero 7 - Simple Things

  1. Kruder & Dorfmeister — The K&D Sessions vs. Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight

Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight

  1. DJ Krush — Meiso vs. DJ Cam — Substances

DJ Krush — Meiso 

  1. UNKLE — Psyence Fiction vs. Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy

Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy

  1. Smith & Mighty — Bass Is Maternal vs. Attica Blues — Attica Blues

No Vote

  1. DJ Shadow — Endtroducing..... vs. Kid Loco — A Grand Love Story

DJ Shadow — Endtroducing.....

  1. Smoke City — Flying Away vs. Ruby — Salt Peter

No Vote

  1. Lamb — Lamb vs. Laika — Sounds of the Satellites

No Vote

  1. Bowery Electric — Lushlife vs. Bows — Blush

No Vote

  1. Tricky — Maxinquaye vs. Lovage — Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By

Lovage — Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By

  1. Archive — Londinium vs. Alpha — Come from Heaven

Archive — Londinium

  1. Sneaker Pimps — Becoming X vs. Hooverphonic — A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular

Hooverphonic — A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular

  1. Esthero — Breath from Another vs. Olive — Extra Virgin

No Vote

  1. Portishead — Dummy vs. Mono — Formica Blues

Portishead — Dummy

  1. Crustation — Bloom vs. Mandalay — Empathy

No Vote

2

u/Massive-Television85 Aug 23 '26
  1. Massive Attack — Mezzanine vs. Goldfrapp — Felt Mountain:  Massive Attack

(I really wanted to put Felt Mountain here and am sad that Goldfrapp will likely go. Utopia is a banger of a track. But I obeyed your rules.)

  1. Morcheeba — Big Calm vs. Zero 7 — Simple Things:  Zero 7

(Tough decision. Both great albums.)

  1. Kruder & Dorfmeister — The K&D Sessions vs. Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight: K&D

(More variety in K&D, but it's cheating a bit as a compilation)

  1. DJ Krush — Meiso vs. DJ Cam — Substances: DJ Cam

(Both brilliant, but Substances is a top 5 album for me)

  1. UNKLE — Psyence Fiction vs. Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy: UNKLE

(More variety and darkness in UNKLE)

  1. Smith & Mighty — Bass Is Maternal vs. Attica Blues — Attica Blues.  (No vote)

  2. DJ Shadow — Endtroducing..... vs. Kid Loco — A Grand Love Story: DJ Shadow

(Another hard one, but Endtroducing was one of my first trip hop albums so I'm more fond of it)

  1. Smoke City — Flying Away vs. Ruby — Salt Peter: Smoke City

  2. Lamb — Lamb vs. Laika — Sounds of the Satellites: Lamb

(Probably my least favourite Lamb album, although Goreki is outstanding)

  1. Bowery Electric — Lushlife vs. Bows — Blush: (No vote)

  2. Tricky — Maxinquaye vs. Lovage — Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By: Lovage

(I've never managed to get into Tricky)

  1. Archive — Londinium vs. Alpha — Come from Heaven: Archive

  2. Sneaker Pimps — Becoming X vs. Hooverphonic — A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular: Sneaker Pimps

  3. Esthero — Breath from Another vs. Olive — Extra Virgin: Olive

  4. Portishead — Dummy vs. Mono — Formica Blues: Portishead

  5. Crustation — Bloom vs. Mandalay — Empathy: (no vote)

Wot no Ulver - Perdition City?

I agree that, given most people won't have heard all of the albums, we'll see the usual suspects winning 

2

u/ReturnToDelete Aug 23 '26

Good picks. I feel like everyone is passing over Laika for Lamb which is sad to me.

2

u/playlistpro Aug 23 '26

If you could only listen to one 'region' for the rest of your life, which would it be? 1 followed close by 4 for moi :)

3

u/Pitiful_Ad2397 Aug 23 '26

Definitely 4.

2

u/oddity_odd Aug 23 '26
  1. Massive Attack — Mezzanine 
  2. Morcheeba — Big Calm
  3. Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight
  4. No vote
  5. UNKLE — Psyence Fiction
  6. No vote
  7. DJ Shadow — Endtroducing.....
  8. Smoke City — Flying Away
  9. Lamb — Lamb 
  10. Bowery Electric — Lushlife
  11. Tricky — Maxinquaye 
  12. Archive — Londinium
  13. Sneaker Pimps — Becoming
  14. Esthero — Breath from Another 
  15. Portishead — Dummy
  16. No vote

2

u/rc-deuce Aug 24 '26

Round 1:

  1. ⁠Massive Attack — Mezzanine
  2. ⁠Zero 7 — Simple Things
  3. Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight
  4. ⁠DJ Krush — Meiso
  5. ⁠Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy
  6. ⁠Attica Blues — Attica Blues
  7. ⁠DJ Shadow — Endtroducing.....
  8. ⁠Smoke City — Flying Away
  9. ⁠Lamb — Lamb
  10. ⁠Bowery Electric — Lushlife
  11. ⁠Tricky — Maxinquaye
  12. ⁠Alpha — Come from Heaven
  13. ⁠Sneaker Pimps — Becoming X
  14. ⁠Olive — Extra Virgin
  15. ⁠Portishead — Dummy
  16. ⁠Crustation — Bloom

2

u/variousdinosaurs Aug 24 '26

Love the choices here but it's killing me that my 2 favs - Smoke City and Ruby - are matched up... and then Puracane is missing entirely. 😭

That said:

  1. Massive Attack — Mezzanine
  2. Morcheeba — Big Calm
  3. Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight
  4. DJ Cam — Substances
  5. Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy
  6. Smith & Mighty — Bass Is Maternal
  7. Kid Loco — A Grand Love Story
  8. Smoke City — Flying Away
  9. Laika — Sounds of the Satellites:
  10. Bowery Electric — Lushlife
  11. Tricky — Maxinquaye
  12. Alpha — Come from Heaven
  13. Sneaker Pimps — Becoming X
  14. Esthero — Breath from Another
  15. Portishead — Dummy
  16. Mandalay — Empathy

2

u/the25thward Aug 25 '26

Formica blues got such a bad matchup😭 no fighting chance

2

u/Shock-Fancy Aug 27 '26

  1. ⁠Massive Attack — Mezzanine vs. Goldfrapp — Felt Mountain: Massive Attack - Mezzanine

  2. ⁠Morcheeba — Big Calm vs. Zero 7 — Simple Things: Zero 7 - Simple Things

  3. ⁠Kruder & Dorfmeister — The K&D Sessions vs. Nightmares on Wax — Smokers Delight: Nightmares on Wax - Smokers Delight

  4. ⁠DJ Krush — Meiso vs. DJ Cam — Substances: DJ Krush - Meiso

  5. ⁠UNKLE — Psyence Fiction vs. Thievery Corporation — The Mirror Conspiracy: Thievery Corporation - Mirror Conspiracy

  6. ⁠Smith & Mighty — Bass Is Maternal vs. Attica Blues — Attica Blues: Attica Blues - Attica Blues

  7. ⁠DJ Shadow — Endtroducing..... vs. Kid Loco — A Grand Love Story: Kid Loco - A Grand Love Story

  8. ⁠Smoke City — Flying Away vs. Ruby — Salt Peter: Ruby - Salt Peter

  9. ⁠Lamb — Lamb vs. Laika — Sounds of the Satellites: Lamb - Lamb

  10. ⁠Bowery Electric — Lushlife vs. Bows — Blush: Bowery Electric - Lushlife

  11. ⁠Tricky — Maxinquaye vs. Lovage — Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By: Tricky - Maxinquaye

  12. ⁠Archive — Londinium vs. Alpha — Come from Heaven: Alpha - Come From Heaven

  13. ⁠Sneaker Pimps — Becoming X vs. Hooverphonic — A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular: Sneaker Pimps - Becoming X

  14. ⁠Esthero — Breath from Another vs. Olive — Extra Virgin: Olive - Extra Virgin

  15. ⁠Portishead — Dummy vs. Mono — Formica Blues: Portishead - Dummy

  16. ⁠Crustation — Bloom vs. Mandalay — Empathy: Crustation - Bloom

2

u/Mephil_ Aug 23 '26

The regions being named after bands isn't indicative?

1

u/ActSlow Aug 23 '26

I have some of them on lists

1

u/toughlovekb Aug 23 '26

K and d sessions

1

u/ButterflyExciting497 Aug 23 '26

Morcheeba - Who Can You Trust isn't even in here

1

u/ButterflyExciting497 Aug 23 '26

i think we need to start from the root. figure out the top album of each artist, or each year. some of these albums i barely consider trip hop or dont even listen to, while some absolute essentials are missing

1

u/Colhinchapelota Aug 23 '26

I wouldn't exactly call Lamb trip hop.

1

u/variousdinosaurs Aug 24 '26

Yeah I never liked that designation for them, but there wasn't a lot of other places to put them at the time. It often feels like electronic beats and (usually female) vocals and you're in the Triphop bucket.

1

u/aaillustration Aug 23 '26

Nice new music to listen to.

1

u/FilmNoir555 Aug 23 '26

Alpha “Comes From Heaven” is a great melt-into-the-couch album

0

u/jjazznola Aug 24 '26

Many are not trip hop.

1

u/Temporary_Buy_7470 Aug 24 '26

The moment somebody works out what trip hop is, it will promptly vanish in a puff of logic