If we consider hip-hop terminology, Downtempo is a relaxing, rather slow rhythmic pattern with a soft, warm bass. Downtempo music (low tempo), in principle, is not meant for clubs. More precisely, it does not sound on the dance floor, it is not dancing in clubs. This slow, relaxing music.

If this music is played in a club, it’s more like in the chill-out. The chill-out is, as you know, the club’s “break room.” If you’re tired in the morning from the deafeningly loud music, and the buses or streetcars do not go – it’s time to go to the chill out. Usually this special room is decorated in a special way. Dim lighting, the smell of Indian incense and psychedelic fluorescent paintings on the wall – these are the typical attributes of a chill-out. And, of course, special music. In principle it’s not very correct to call Downtempo music “dance music”, but there’s no more convenient word – not everything fits under the definition of “electronic music”, and it certainly can’t be called “techno music”.

The term Downtempo includes both a certain style of music and serves as a general term for trends in electronic music, characterized by an unhurried break beat and long bass groove. The rest of the content of Downtempo music can be arbitrary. It can be filled with ambient atmosphere and inclusions of some live instrumental parts (Pork Rec.). The concept of Downtempo is close to Trip-Hop.

The term Downtempo is mentioned because the Trip-Hop style has its own clear framework. Trip-Hop is based on the break parts similar to the parts used in the style of Hip-Hop, on the bass borrowed from Dub (Reggy) and depressed vocals. Birthplace of Trip-Hop is Bristol (UK). The most clear framework of Trip-Hop is found among founders of this style Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead. Music that is close to Trip-Hop is often called Experimental Trip-Hop, but the concept of Downtempo is more complete. And it is worth bearing in mind that creative, innovative electronic music is born at the junction of directions and it is difficult to clearly attribute it to a particular style.