Essence Of Aura - Northern Lights (Moving Shadow, 1994)
We've got to Day 8 of the DnB Advent Calendar and for the first time during this project it may not be clear why this track has been chosen. There were a few others that more obviously fit the bill but they weren't tunes I was overly keen on and I try to write about stuff I really like. 'Northern Lights' appeared on a a series of nine 12"s on Moving Shadow released over nine months called Two On One, each with a guest artist on one side and an in-house artist on the other. If you haven't guessed already, this was on Issue 8.
I've already covered the in-house side of Issue 8, 'Cuttin' Loose' by Moving Shadow regulars Foul Play, so this would make Essence Of Aura the guest artist but of course they did go on to have a few releases on the esteemed label, including their most well known tune 'So This Is Love'. The trio of Ian Scott, Tim Grantham and James Mitton-Wade were big in the Midlands scene and were highly regarded for their live PAs. They mainly released music on their own Outstanding Productions label from the early to mid-nineties before making their debut on Shadow with 'Northern Lights' in '94.
This tune showcases their transition from breakbeat hardcore to becoming trailblazers of the Ambient or "Intelligent" style of DnB/Jungle. Drums anchored by the Soul Pride break are joined by warm hits of bass, soothing pads and extended diva-ish "Oooooooohs" sampled from house anthem 'It's All Right' by Sterling Void & Paris Brightledge. As the track develops, rising arpeggios of keys reach for the heavens. The perfect tune to drift away to while looking up at a beautiful night sky and wondering what's out there.
Unfortunately Essence Of Aura split acrimoniously in '96, cutting short a brilliant career. While the other two retired from the music industry, James Mitton-Wade went on to form Guardians Of Dalliance who had an album and several singles on Moving Shadow from the mid to late nineties while also releasing material as Carlito, both solo and with DJ Addiction. He also compiled two Trans-Central Connection compilations for Moving Shadow that featured tracks from Midlands based artists, the first of which included the final Essence Of Aura tune, 'So This Is Love '96'.
A remix of 'Northern Lights' appeared on their first full Moving Shadow 12" and you can give that a listen below: