Downtempo music (or DownTempo or down tempo or downbeat) is an umbrella term for a laid-back electronic music style slower than house music (less than 118 beats per minute, possibly beatless) but separate from ambient music. This can encompass specific genres such as lounge music, chill out, trip-hop, or acid jazz. It is usually intended more for relaxing and socializing than dancing, though some releases are produced for the dance floor.
The downtempo genre draws heavily on dub, hip hop, jazz, funk, soul, drum 'n' bass, ambient music, and pop and is often confused and/or mated with closely-related styles like IDM, trip hop, and acid jazz. Kruder & Dorfmeister from Austria and Thievery Corporation from the United States are amongst the most well-known bands of the genre. Both founded their own influential labels: G-stone and Eighteenth Street Lounge. Other important labels/producers promoting downtempo music are Boards of Canada (Scotland), Stereo Deluxe (Germany), Grand Central (UK), Tru Thoughts (UK), Switchstance Recordings (Germany), and Couch Records (Austria).
Other significant acts include Fila Brazillia, Funki Porcini, Amon Tobin, Glideascope, 9 Lazy 9, Peace Orchestra, Dreamlin and Cities Of Foam.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtempo
