Breaks | Breakbeat 204 Items

Bakey has been smashing out hit after hit this year, sharing beats cooked up with his brother, Breaka and collabing with Bristol head Sam Binga. The young producer comes back to Time Is Now, following up the best-seller Take It Further EP from last year with a tasty five tracker of UKG experimentation.

Title track, "Bring It Back", uses a playful sound palette of 00s grime that swirls into a hardcore onslaught of breaks, bassline and screeching ruffage, kicking of the record with a statement. Manchester vocalist Slay joins the party on "Vibing Season", building up in long atmospheric chords before Slay's bars spiral into play, pacey, dirty and clever over explosive glitches and ear candy pops. Bringing it right back down to minimalism with sparing two-step, "No Name Groove" features Kasia's soulful piano echoing throughout with call-and-response sampling, a classy take on early garage tracks.

On "Reduced Vision", otherworldly sub bass chases down vocal stabs, rumbling underneath this expansive heads down number. "Poison Dart" rounds off the instant hit EP with sirens, dnb tension and ragga mc lines.

Most artists cringe when they think about their earliest productions, but as Modeselektor’s Sebastian Szary digs deeper and deeper into his archives, the clearer it becomes that even as a teenager, the man was talented beyond his years. As with his previous Fundamental Knowledge releases, “1994-3” and “1994-20” were written back when Szary was living with his parents in Berlin and making music in his bedroom, but they still sound fresh, even after sitting on a hard drive for the better part of two decades. “1994-20” is a twitchy cut that brings to mind the percolating rhythms of classic Chicago house, a sensation that’s only amplified by the track’s fiercely dueling acid lines. Szary himself admits that they “don’t want to talk to each other,” and that tension feeds into the song’s gritty bounce. Those acid lines are also what caught the attention of fellow Berlin bass champion Sarah Farina, who’s reworked the squelchy undulations of the original “1994-20” into a rousing breakbeat banger. On the flip, “1994-3” is a more experimental offering, a sort of proto-IDM track that layers warped jungle fragments atop a loping bass loop. In the hands of Substance (a.k.a. Hard Wax lifer DJ Pete, a foundation of Berlin’s electronic music scene and one of Modeselektor’s original mentors), however, the song has been transformed into a bounding house tune, its sturdy kick offset by a sashaying bassline and a barely tamed array of unruly percussive outbursts.

London producer Yosh continues his hot streak of putting out a twelve inch a month with typically breaksy, UK focused EP on Distant Horizons that further earmarks the emerging artist as one of the producers to watch in 2021.

Following releases on Time Is Now and an announcement on Desert Sound Colony’s Holding Hands sub-label, Yosh serves up four steppers that navigate us from the doors of the club to front left of the speaker. ‘Don’t Say’ is a fast cut of subby breakbeat-garage; the producer’s knack for emotionally stimulating vocal samples and peak-time basslines moving into the frame.

‘All That Acid’ gives squirming acid lines and stripped-back percussion, mutating the breaksy, UK energy into something more electro focused, and in doing so provides what could be the score for an old racing video game, before ‘Choose One’ takes us back into familiar Yosh territory with a cut of dreamy garage, with the odd dubby wobble for good measure.

We finish on a personal note with ‘Home’, a cut that epitomises that good feeling that can only come with returning to a place of comfort; relaxed atmospherics and 2-step rhythms providing the perfect warm up number.

The core tenets of Morgan Wright’s music have long tested club music’s context; the rituals and customs that define it, and how each of those genres change once removed from their traditional settings. It’s a space Morgan Wright feels at home in; one where he’s constantly asking questions of the structure club music resides within, and what it means to create a new space for familiar sounds. And over the course of his debut album, Class Tourist, Morgan has found new ways to elevate those same questions - whether by way of intention, or a pandemic-induced coping mechanism. In Class Tourist, Morgan again borrows from familiar strains of the subgenres which have come to form his musical identity. This time, he fuses sounds of post-punk, IDM and breakbeat, hopeful they converge to form a bastardised rendition of the latter, with “Australiana” at its core. It’s a sound that was made possible by a change to his songwriting approach, after pivoting from a loop-based production style - one which he has applied to a slew of other projects, for the better part of five years - to one which lends itself to a more standardised, contemporary format. Moving through the record, Morgan toys with musical tropes of contrast with a calculated refinement unheard throughout his previous work. The coalescence of melodic optimism and bleak, mournful soundscapes feature on Class Tourist again, as you would expect. But this time, contemporary structure - with the exception of a few songs - along with the features of label-mate, Purient, and frequent collaborator, Endl355, breathe new life, and even a new genre, into Morgan’s work

Back on Lüüd Discs for his first EP, Bwi-Bwi signs four tracks with rich and varied influences that plunge us into the atmosphere of his universe. Canto Soulèu.

Brazilian-born, USA-based record label Concreta Sala arrives to the scene in 2021 with a celebration of Brazilian Bass and the culmination of 25 years of research and digging through their EP compilation series Proibidœ. This inaugural volume showcases an original and remastered 20-year-old techno track by the intentionally elusive multi-instrumentalist El Presidente Hi-Fi. Initially released in the year 2000, the aggressive but precise rhythms of “Drop Your Guns” are reworked by three emerging Brazilian artists: Sisto, Mau Maioli, and Hugo Frasa. With the original press limited to 150 copies and instrumental stems lost to the wind back in 2002, Concreta Sala is incredibly proud to bring this release to a new generation of dance floors and headphones via three unique remixes. The original track is transformed into a certified weapon, remastered and repressed in a limited run of only 300 vinyl copies with the highest audio quality. From a listener’s perspective, both sides of Proibidœ VOL. I are loaded with ammunition for any given moment.

Back in the dayz, for the first EP of the Dutch series, Orlando Voorn delivers a tripping 3-tracker.

A message from the unknown.

A message from the unknown.

A message from the unknown.

The first single from the Mathlovsky album Yassssin, “​ The Heat”​ i​ s Exactly what is said on the label: Pure Fire! Featuring the talents of album collaborator and live drummer Gregory Simons, and vocalist duo Jason and Rhonda, this single is the maximum hype pressure coming off the LP. Label boss and global octopus extraordinaire Submerged does the B Side honors with a tasty drum n bass tempo acceleration version. It’s important to rewind and understand how we got here in the first place… Belgian electronic music giant Mathlovsky has continued his constant evolution, with new live performance with a live drummer. Celebrating and promoting this new partnership, the album Yassssin​ (​4 S’s if you want to make it easy on yourself)​ ​is being released on double vinyl by Ohm Resistance this Spring. With 3 video singles, we decided to make a special one-off, limited Fire Red 7” to go along with the first single. Since 2019, Mathlovsky has invited drummer Gregory Simons to perform at his live shows, to add another layer of punk & funk fueled acoustic drums. Not replacing the electronic heavy hitting beats but by looking at his drumset as another instrument, Mathlovsky’s music has entered another realm. As such, a new era has begun. Yassssin, the first album with Simons’ acoustic drums as an added weapon of dancefloor destruction, is the perfect representation of what Mathlovsky live is all about. After ten years of dwelling in the rave scene and band scene alike, Mathlovsky has fused all his influences and tastes into one cohesive album. Inviting his talented Belgian music friends to contribute a voice, an instrument and overall energy, this album is a ride to never forget. For both ravers and moshers, Mathlovsky has crossed boundaries between worlds and begins this decade with a massive bang.

Producer Ma.to signs the 12th release of YoY. Two burning tracks to make you dance. Illustration by Francis & Marcel. The upcoming releases on Yoyaku’s main sub-labels start a dialogue between its own label and the gallery Chapelle XIV for limited editions. They are based on collaborations between French producers and illustrators. This Yoy release is part of the serie.

Parisian artists Poggio and Gabriel Belabbas proudly present Positive Future, their new electronic music label strictly focused on good vibes and positive energy. This first release "About People EP" is a 4 track various record produced by Berlin-based French artists 95 Steps, Elliot and ENE (aka Ethel & Elliot) and will be released in spring 2021.

Flatliners is a series of hardcore releases by extended Straight Up Breakbeat family.

UK based producer Hugo Massien has been slowly but surely making a name for himself over the past few years. Metamorphosis marks Hugo’s debut LP on the E-Beamz Record label.

It feels like it’s time to thank the people who continuously give me energy. No matter in which form. Whether as the music they produce, hugs, compliments, mistakes I’ve learned from, encouragements, critical feedback or just listening. This release goes out to all the people who have supported me on my path of life so far. I am tremendously grateful for the life I am allowed to live. The number 7. It represents my numerology and there are seven chakras in the body.

A mainstay on the label, Dresden-born / Berlin-based B-boy Worf is up there with Kiat as the most consistent and prolific artist in the collective since his ‘City Of Meth’ EPs in back in 2018. Following various appearances and cameos on the imprint since, his emotional, hip-hop influenced designs are back in the form of his most accomplished release so far.

SNC Recs are no strangers to suprises. With the label's fourth release Chronic Durations EP you’ll want to fasten your seatbelts. Nicolas Epe aka The Duty freedom, a Cologne based musician and artist, is ready to step into the spotlight, with the debut of his latest Alter Ego.

On Chronic Durations he takes the audience on a dramatic, emotional journey into the world of Intelligent Drum and Bass music. The sound is familiar, yet new and timeless, it’s stuck in the 90s while showcasing the future. Slow melodies carry you through the tracks and are broken by fast kicks and glitchy sounds. The EP can be understood as a hybrid of sound and video art. To further lose yourself in the work, The Duty Freedom has created a series of dreamlike glitch video pieces that can be enjoyed alongside the sounds and help to unterstand the artist's full intentions. Chronic Durations works both as a first-class listening record and in a (hopefully soon to be available) club context at emotional and well-chosen moments. (Words: Saskia Braun)

Coming from the end of time and moving towards the future. A '93 original gets dusted down from the Cassette Library shelves, backed with remixes from the leading lights of the UK underground - Skin Teeth, Mani Festo and Denham Audio

10 year anniversary release from the 2010 released CD by Classless Kulla & Istari Lasterfahrer. Comes in fold out sleeve with lyrics and picture and a download code for the whole album.

DJ Crisps serves up four killer UKG cuts for Bristol label Time Is Now’s tenth vinyl outing. Rotterdam based producer DJ Crisps has been bubbling over the past 12 months with a string of killer twelves, including a massive record for Riz La Teef’s label South London Pressing. His latest outing ‘Diamonds’ EP is some of the rising artists strongest work to date, weighty basslines meet 2-step laden grooves on this killer cut.

MoreNight serves up five playful UKG cuts on his first full vinyl release via rising label Time Is Now. UK based producer MoreNight has been making waves over the past 12 months with killer collaborations with legendary grime vocalists Footsie & Manga, as well featuring on a weighty compilation for Conducta’s imprint Kiwi Records. His debut full length vinyl EP ‘Silvia’ is the exciting young producers finest work to date & paves the way for what is set to be a big future for this talented artist.

Killer debut LP by Lol K starring vocals by Coby Sey and LA Timpa, following the Londoners’ EP for Mica Levi and co’s Curl Recordings with a crafty set of queer, sensuous pop, configured in brilliant, surprising ways for Rabit’s Halcyon Veil. The six songs and corresponding instrumentals of ‘The Breeze’ explore ideas of escapism, belonging and inner city isolation in an up-to-date vernacular firmly blunted by sparing, crisply defined but shapeshifting production. The album clearly marks a concerted development of Lol K’s sound - especially compared to their oblique appearances on the ‘Born Under a Bad One’ (Curl, 2018) EP - with the duo’s CJ Calderwood and Junior XL more confidently venturing their vocals into the mix this time, switching between melodic hooks and blunted hush, to a rave-punkish prang out and puckered chamber composition with lowkey rude and innovative production to match.

JIN’s 2nd EP storms out the gate with Hong Kong’s finest Mr. Ho. The Klasse Wreck’s head honcho boss drops three originals. A1 “Holy Smokes” is a slow-motion, acid-flavored chugger, making one feel like snake-rolling through Hong Kong’s urban jungle. B1 “Not Good with Others,” a no BS bassy and bossy track, swings with a filthy kick from the get-go. The EP finishes with B3 “Emo Springs”, which blends futuristic jungle, tribal, house, and juicy basslines into a must-get dance floor heater. Added are two sonic-weapon-remixes: On A2 UK OG duo Dawl & Sween hits all the cylinders with mean breakbeat banger remix of “Holy Smokes.” On B2 Hong Kong’s 宀 Club’s music curator Sunsiaré runs “Emo Spring” through an electrifying old school jungle reshape, leaving all buzzed by his sonic assault.

Aver created the first draft of the album between finding out about Joey's passing and attending his funeral. He arranged musical collages out of voice messages and breaks he and Joey had sent one another alongside previously unreleased material he made during lockdown with Doron Segal. The process initially served as a form of musical therapy, but after completing it and sharing it with a few friends, Aver realised that it might also bring joy to other people that knew Joey, as well as introducing those that didn't to the lovely ginger fellow behind Village Live.

The finished album features cuts by Jazz T, Evil Ed and Omas, as well as additional voice messages donated by Kuartz and Matt Smith. Mr. Krum has done all the design work for the the booklet and the gatefold cover, which features a photo-collage by Aver of the Aroe piece outside Rarekind Records, as well as the huge blockbuster at Black Rock, Brighton.

RIP Joey Deez

Since breaking through with the colossal 'Anybody From London' on Hotline Recordings five years ago, Boris English AKA Borai has proved to be one of British dance music's more cultured hardcore and jungle revivalists. He's at it again here, too, filling his Vivid label debut with a quartet of sub-heavy, breakbeat-driven bangers dripping in saucer-eyed, rave-style samples. He begins with the sharp riffs, pitched down Amen breaks and booming bass of 'In My Life', before upping the tempo on bustling breaks roller 'Dead Drop'. English doffs his cap to spacey early drum & bass on loose-limbed flipside opener 'Keep Steppin', while closing cut 'C'Mon' is an insanely weighty, pitched-down hardcore bomb.

Nick Beringer & Sota on the case for the next Ncss record, the sub-label of Sukhumvit in collaboration with the boys. They are delivering a true dancefloor beast with Deikh, this is going to stuck in your ears forever! Aerosol, for the heart, for the mind - on the B side. This is a limited release. Happy to have you onboard brothers!

44 Tours unites it's local artists to fulfill the prophecy a drunk shaolin-cyborg once told them. The four robotic monks stepping up for this EP (Alder, Same O, Marino & Berg Jaär) have each developed their own secret breaksy adventure tactics to combat a future led by brotherhoods of wealthy capitalistic humanoids. Alder opens up the fight in pure detroit-electro style. Nested pads nestled in a huge palette of colors and tones which takes us to a galaxy far, far away. Next is Same O, despite being the youngest padawan is still showing some ghetto and ballsy moves. Wavy and snaky synthwork over a fast think-break pattern and a ravy bassline, no less of a banger here. Breaking through to the other side: the most loyal soldier on the team, Marino aka the cat yelling at man. He delivers a 303-driven weapon that will break any cyborg neck for sure. The end is surely near, to finish up Berg-jaär drops a bassy polyrhythmic manoeuvre, the attention is focused on the complexity of drums and a minimalistic and grooving approach throughout the track. Fight is over, humanoids. The future is saved from the capitalist robots, their world of Confrérie, Pactole & Dividendes is over. Or is it?

Naissance Musik returns with their fourth release Nm-04, a remix package of the released Hear & San Proper ´- Elephantoms EP . The label welcomes an array of talented producers who are acclaimed DJ's featuring interpretations from Andrea Ferlin, Julie Marghilano, Ohm Hourani & Hear, 3lias & Raphael Merheb. We aim to bring a more dancefloor oriented feel to the package in contrast to the more abstract, ethereal feel of the original release.

Datafive is hailing from the underground with his ep titled ‘The Journey’. The Italian producer’s debut output delivers a post-genre ep, ranging from introspective mid-tempo landscapes to epic dub-tech drum’n’reese and post dubstep club oriented hypnotic grooves. He’s combining dubby digital synths and accurate sound design with solid uk scenario beats, time-stretched whatever, wobbling squelchy bass and much much more, all wrapped in an absolutely mind-blowing sleeve design from Geso. 300 limited copies mastered by Daniele Antezza at Dadub Mastering Studio, Berlin Lab music 2019 all rights reserved

Meda Fury are buzzing to welcome Silvestre to the fold for a 6 track EP of low-slung party starters. This Lisbon native and London resident has been on several tastemakers lips for the last year now, serving up no-nonsense but seriously fun dance music, comparable to the spirit of mighty Portuguese scene labels Principe and Naive. Joao’s tracks are mind bending hybrids of breakbeat, reggaeton, R&B, rave and house. His recent artilary coming via Seceretsundaze, Diskotopia and his own Padre Himalaya, he now adds the Yeah EP to his weaponry.

Hamburg’s long time standing Goth (Not Goth) / Rock (Not Rock) band outfit The Crystal Apes get a full on electronic remix treatment which has been dubplate tested and dancefloor proved by Intrauterin Recordings mastermind baze.djunkiii as a secret weapon on countless occasions over the past years, slowly and carefully building up towards a full vinyl release.

Upsurge is the 5th LP on Ilian Tape and the musical journey of a sensitive soul. Over the last 8 years Stenny has become one of the core artists on the label, continuously evolving his own style and exploring new territories. His debut album flows through ups and downs and reflects the highs and lows we all go through.

Fabio & Grooverider have been at the forefront of UK dance music for over 3 decades. This is the roots of their story told through music. The 2 London DJ's are part of the DNA of the global Jungle / D&B movement and they have remained relevant, cutting edge, authoritative and essential to this truly underground art-form since it's inception. RAGE could arguably be the ground zero of Jungle. The party was started at London's cavernous Heaven club by Fabio & Grooverider in 1988, at the height of Acid House fever that was making it's way up and down the motorways, slip-roads, fields and warehouses of the M25 and further beyond every weekend, troubling the nation, the police, your parents and the press as it went. RAGE was a different beast, it certainly channelled some of that Acid energy but pitted it against the new and exciting sounds emanating from Belgium, Amsterdam, Detroit, Sheffield, Essex and Hackney and in turn created a new style, a new sonic attitude and energy in the process. Rumbling bass-lines, narcotic synth rushes and roughly chopped and sped-up breakbeats all merged into a style that we now know as Jungle. Nothing like this had been heard before, this was a brand new style and it was coming out of London's West End and Fabio & Grooverider were the people firmly behind it.

Digitally remastered tracks from 1993 by TCM. 'The Gospel According to a Soundbwoy' was only released on a Llabello record compilation. Proper 1993 hardcore breakbeat classics essential to your collection.

Pleased to announce that Nicola Kazimir will complete the second opus of the series. The Swiss signs with Sabateans an Ep of four tracks from Techno to EBM and Industrial. And as a bonus, a collaboration with Walid el Barbir.

Alelah records presents the debut album from Polow – ‘In Da Diggalow’, recorded at Hilbert’s Grand Hotel with tracks produced between 2017 and 2019.
Dusty instrumental beats, hazy jazz loops and MPC-styled hip hop treats across two sides of a lovingly created cassette tape. A pure unadulterated listening experience that deserves the time and space that a tape can offer.
Kick back, light up that incense and lose yourself in this one.

Hellfish and Bryan Fury, the Axe Gabba Murda Mob, are two of the biggest innovators in hardcore techno. Both have been pushing the genre in all kinds of directions for over two decades providing the pulse for thousands of parties around the globe. So with this in mind, we are honoured to present ‘Baby Eaters’, an earth shaking joyride to the very edge of the human psyche and beyond.

The eponymous A-side strikes terror into the hearts of men, splitting brain cells like atoms with destructive chain reactions of radical distortion and soul-stripping screams. Pure demonic catharsis, sound frequencies don’t get more violent than this. The B side ‘Acid Abyss’ is an LSD stained hardcore techno anthem where eerily cold voices are strangled by crunchy bellowing kick drums and bleeding 303s. Despite still being cranked up, the precision of the fills in this track offsets the chaotic kicks of the A-side, coming off almost subtle in comparison.

This single is for connoisseurs coming lovingly housed with artwork by the wonderful Jim’ll’Paint it, depicting the deadly duo conducting some rather grizzly research in their underworld studio.

More bad ass booty shakin' breaks from the Baffin Island Beat Brigade.

‘Mini Tollbooth’ is inspired by a novel called Phantom Tollbooth. The film adaptation from 1961 is so beautiful. I like to get lost in these childish worlds of freedom, where everything is possible. This modern fairy tale is about a young boy named Milo who is bored by the world around him. He feels everything is a waste of time. He comes home from school one day to find in his bedroom an anonymous package containing a miniature tollbooth and a map of the Lands Beyond. He takes the map, drives through in his toy car, and instantly finds himself driving on a road to Expectations. Enjoying the ride, he pays no attention to his route and soon becomes lost in the Doldrums, a colorless place where thinking and laughing are not allowed. He is having plenty more adventures like watching Chroma the Great conduct his orchestra in playing the colors of the
sunset or meeting The Awful Dynne, a genie who collects noises for Dr. Dischord. – fLako

All Songs produced by fLako.
All Vocals by Dirg Gerner.
Except Vocals by Shuanise.
Art Design by Iain Macarthur.