Downtempo emerged in the ‘90s as the relaxed yin to house music’s hyper yang, and its moody, mellow electronic sound went on to rule the chillout room and help clubbers transition back to normality with a touch of class. Its origins can be traced to the Balearic Islands in the mid-’80s, when the postcard-perfect sunrises on Ibiza’s beautiful beaches provided an idyllic setting to unwind away from the chaos. And as the Balearic style evolved, downtempo’s laidback attitude was spread far and wide by acts from around the globe, all of whom bring something a little different to the table. Those who can consider themselves part of the family include Portishead and Massive Attack, the mainstays of Bristolian trip-hop cool; Air and St Germain, who offer Gallic sophistication from the peripheries of French Touch; and New York’s Moby and Norway’s Röyksopp, who are both masters of ambient mood music.