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Richie Balboa returns with the ninth installment of his crucial breakbeat podcast series.
The torchbearer for the UK breaks scene, Richie Balboa returns with the latest instalment of his podcast series featuring Ed Solo, Kid Kenobi, Zinc, Kabuki, Baymont Bros and loads more.
The one and only Richie Balboa is back with the seveth instalment of the Juno breakbeat podcast, mixed and hosted by one of the scene’s hottest DJs.
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After an almost constant stream of great singles, EP’s and remixes over the past six months, Nick Thayer’s album finally drops and it definitely lives up to the hype. Encompassing all the colours of the rave rainbow (breakbeat, electro, hip-hop and dubstep all fused together), it’s a full on party album from start to end and a real triumph for the Australian DJ.
The Daft Punk-isms of “Bring On The Drums” kick things off with style. Thayer has a knack of making any tempo work, and so even a moderately slow tune like this one still gets filled out and beefed up so well that it’s impossible not to throw yourself around after seconds. “Alarm Bells” picks up the pace soon after and mixes Crookers beats with martian-synths and some eye-watering builds. “Zombies” follows and kicks some serious octave-riding bass into the mix and some bubbly drums.
While Thayer’s got the heavy breakbeat workers in check, he also brings MC’s Mike Beatz and Lex One on board for some new-skool hip-hop business on “Can’t Touch Me Now” and also on “Gimme Some More” featuring Sporty-O, which marries dirty bass with some equally dirty raps. Fellow hype-masters Black Noise also make an appearance on the collaborative “Rockin’ It” which is a masterpiece of bass driven lunacy powered along by some hard-hitting retro drum breaks. With sixteen hardcore gems on the album, Nick Thayer’s certainly excelled himself on Just Let It Go.
Review: Oliver Keens
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The Simonsound are in fact Matt Ford (aka hip-hop producer DJ Format) and Simon James, and on Reverse Engineering they’ve united to go on a Moog-fuelled odyssey into a funky and kitsch world of their own. Having initially drummed up interest by releasing two 7″ singles featuring covers of Kraftwerk’s “Tour De France” and The Jimmy Castor Bunch’s B-boy classic “It’s Just Begun,” they’ve turned the project into a full blown album and it’s huge amount of fun from start to finish.
Both of the initial singles appear on the album – “Tour De Mars” (as they’ve retitled it) kicking things off in style. As with almost all of the material here, funky live drums underpin extensive use of vintage synths, making it a pleasing cross between the earnest output of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and the slightly more tongue-in-cheek 90’s covers project, The Moog Cookbook.
Downtempo Psychedlic rock and soundtracks bear an influence on Hole In The Head and also the gourgeous Bad Love, which wraps a female vocal among layers of John Barry-esque strings and slow, doom-laden beats. The beatless and theramin-filed Inside The Capsule will instantly make listeners think of vintage Dr. Who, as will the experimental Against The Clock, while a cover of Bob James’ Nautilus sails along nicely using keyboard preset beats. With their cover of It’s Just Begun rounding off the album, the duo pull off this experiment well. Reverse Engineering is certainly very retro but it bears all the right influences. With the playing and arrangements all so accomplished, let’s hope they have another go again soon.
Review: Oliver Keens
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A self taught multi instrumentalist, Greek producer George Fotiadis, AKA Basement Freaks is one of the go-to men on today’s nu-funk circuit. We caught up with the man from Thessaloniki (but now based in Cologne) to find out what is in his record box this month…
Richie Balboa – winner of best breakthrough DJ at Breakspoll 2010 – gets back behind the decks for the sixth instalment of Juno Download’s breakbeat podcast.
Artist: Hybrid
Title: Disappear Here
Label: Distinctive
Genre: Breakbeat
Format: 12″, CD, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records (12″, CD), Juno Download
A class act ever since their debut album Wide Angle in 1999, breakbeat band Hybrid just keep getting bigger and better. Originally comprising duo Mike Truman and Chis Healings, they’ve been joined by singer and guitarist Charlotte James for 2010. Their sound has been expanded too, with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra even appearing on this wonderful new album. Opener “Empire” sets the tone for this audacious set as a huge string-drenched intro gives way to an exhilarating stew of acid-synths and big beats. “Can You Hear Me Now” is just as epic, combining operatic vocals with a huge chorus from James.
Where Hybrid really stand out from the crowd is in their incredible range of styles and true to form, Disappear Here will keep listeners on their toes throughout. “Green Shell Suit” for example starts off as a dark and moody trip-hop beat before some warped pads get filtered up and usher in a cinematic key change and a host new instruments. On a more raucous vibe, “Take A Fall” takes on dubstep beats but with live drums and their trademark cinematic washes of sound. “City Siren” is a tense, all orchestral number (similar to The Beatles’ “A Day In The Life”) while “Formula Of Fear” is a rocking, electro-paced stomper with yet another perfect chorus sung by Charlotte James. It’s rare to hear an album with such variety in songs, yet done with a distinctive attitude and sound. Hybrid are just a class apart and Disappear Here is deep and textured enough to withstand many many listens.
Review: Oliver Keens
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The Juno Breakbeat Podcast is back, mixed & hosted by Richie Balboa voted Best Breakthrough DJ at Breakspoll 2010 by you!
Pale The Kid – The Doll That Made The Dice Behave review
by Juno Plus on 25.03.2010 at 10:23am
Artist: Pale The Kid
Title: The Doll That Made The Dice Behave
Label: Warriorz
Genre: Breakbeat
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download
A new project between two DJs and producers with tons of party-rocking experience between them, Pale the Kid might have given their debut release a wacky name but rest assured, it’s a winning slice of breakbeat action with some killer remixes included. Kid Stretch has form as a World DMC entrant while Pale Penguin has played alongside just about everyone, from Felix Da Housecat to Luke Slater. Together they’ve hatched a tech/breaks production partnership that sounds like they could be getting even more attention around the world.
Their original mix of “The Doll…” comes in hard and heavy on the beats and bass, but also adds some cool brass riffs that get filtered up for maximum hands-in-the-air effect. Plenty of vocal samples are layered into the mix too for an all round party vibe. The Rory Hoy vs Lebrosk mix takes it even further, adding old-school cuts and scratches and even the Apache beat for a sound that reminds of classic 90’s big beat. As a pleasing contrast though, the Timewarp Inc mix gives the tune some lovely disco action, stripping layers down to a Chic-like bass line and retro synth stabs, whilst still keeping the drums heavy enough to play as part of a breaks set.
Quincy Joints (one half of German outfit Geriba) also adds some funky fun thanks to some sharp guitar licks, as well as building in a French Kiss-style orgasm break midway through! Check out the way he builds it up, it’s pretty explosive stuff.
Review: Oliver Keens
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Artist: Mashed Up Funk
Title: Vol. 7
Label: Mashed Up Funk
Genre: Breakbeat
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download
Four more bootleg blends from the Mashed Up Funk series, which expertly layers well-known acapellas over brilliant funk tracks to consistently provide priceless “WTF?” moments in DJ sets. First up is “Hot Start” which glues the vocals from The Prodigy’s Firestarter over the Blaxploitation theme “Hot Wheels” by Badder Than Evil. A B-Boy staple (that showed up on the Chemical’s “Brothers Gonna Work It Out” mix), it sounds even more bad ass with Keith sneering over the top.
Shimmy Strut welds together ODB’s classic” Shimmy Shimmy Ya” over a recent cover of The Meters’ “Cissy Strut”, and puts some seriously funky swagger under the immortal chorus “ooh baby I like it raw”. Tutto Dreams fuses together a Tutto Matto track with the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” acapella – a nice twist since it’s usually the instrumental parts of Lennox’s and Stewart’s perennial classic that get the mash-up treatment. The superb clash of the ice cold vocals with the warm organic drums and wah-wah guitars has to be heard to be believed.
Rounding off the set is “Change My Bucket”, which takes K-OS’ “Crabbuckit” acapella and marries it to the Stereo MC’s mix of Quannum’s “I Changed My Mind” – still a Nu-Funk anthem after all these years and cleverly recontextualised here. All four tracks are well-crafted, perfectly matched and will kick off a party with ease – just remember to act like you’re laying down the acapellas yourself when you play them out!
Review: Oliver Keens
Our very own Richie Balboa, who took out the “Best Breakthrough DJ” category at this week’s Breakspoll Awards, is back with his fourth Juno podcast.
Unique 3 featuring Adele Collins – Take This Love review
by Juno Plus on 03.02.2010 at 15:39pm
Artist: Unique 3 featuring Adele Collins
Title: Take This Love
Label: Mutate
Genre: Breakbeat
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download
True pioneers of the scene, Unique 3 have been involved in all aspects of British underground dance music since the early 80s. They even claim to be the first dance act to ever sample the Amen break, which puts them at the front of a long, long line of artists. Through hip-hop and house, they’ve inspired the Chemicals through to Goldie, and their classic “The Theme” was voted the Hacienda’s Number 1 anthem EVER by the Manchester club’s DJ alumni
This latest release sees them paired up with vocalist Adele Collins and it’s a tasty slice of Breakbeat joy with some nice gurgling acid synths that will remind listeners of the old-skool days. It’s poppy enough to work in a variety of different sets, but there also are a host of remixes to choose from, many of which are done within the Mutate family. Si Begg for example comes in with a storming mix, with some seriously tight and dynamic production that shows he’s at the top of his game right now. The Underpass Re-Route goes for a slightly softer approach, putting the vocals right out front and giving them a diva-ish feel, nicely backed up by some retro drum machine sounds.
Anyone familiar with Cakeboy’s full frontal live set’s will know what to expect from his mix, while other mixes by Milanese, Jedeye and Monstr round off this EP nicely. Well worth checking them all out.
Review: Oliver Keens
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Breakbeat don Richie Balboa already knocks out the odd mix for Juno, which we think is rather good. It seems we’re not alone in thinking that either – it’s been nominated for Best Podcast in the 2010 Breakspoll awards (vote here). With such a talented man on our team, we thought we’d rope him in for a featured chart too. Here are his top picks for January – enjoy…
We’re pleased to announce that Juno has been nominated for ‘Best Retailer’and our new Breakbeat Podcast mixed by Richie Balboa is up for ‘Best Podcast’ in this year’s Breakspoll.
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The third Juno breakbeat podcast, mixed by the masterful Richie Balboa, is now online.
Breakbeat producer Richie Balboa doubles the length of his fortnightly podcast as a seasonal treat.
Artist: Layo & Bushwacka!
Title: Deep South
Label: Juno
Genre: Breakbeat
Format: 12″, Digital
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
Following on from the superb Linkwood & House of Traps remix effort on “Deep South” (which we reviewed here), Danish breakbeat artist Badboe provides the second remix package, with an irresistibly funky dub remix on the a-side and a rolling, percussion-heavy original remix of the flip.
Badboe has developed a style that has clear echoes of 60s and 70s funk yet still fits seamlessly into the modern musical landscape. This man has dipped his toe in almost any genre you care to name – from house to trance; hardcore to trip-hop.
He eventually came to conclusion that funky breakbeat is what he does best, and, based on this evidence, he’s made a great decision.
Review: Aaron Coultate
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Where to begin? Christmas is looming fast, and the usual slew of quality releases came through the Juno doors this week.
Juno Download teams up with Breakbeat’s freshest talent, Richie Balboa, for a new podcast series.
In a short space of time Richie has DJ’d for some of the most prestigious names in UK club music – from Global Gathering to Raindance – taking his unique style to clubs and festivals all over the UK, America, China and Europe, resulting in a nomination in the best breakthrough DJ category at the Breakspoll international breakbeat awards 2009.
Manager of NSB Radio since 2007, he helped it win the Breakspoll best radio station award 2008 and 2009, and has taken it to be the first and only completely live breakbeat radio station bringing in DJs from Canada, North and South America, South Korea, Japan, Australasia, India, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia as well as its home of the UK.
For his first Juno Download podcast he mixes up High Ranking, Baymount Bros feat Benzo, Mesmer, Generic Bass, Big Bang Breaks & more…
Subscribe for free in iTunes here and buy all tracks here.
Tracklist:
1. Big Bang Breaks – Save Us All
2. Baymont Bross feat. Benzo – Faster Pussycat
3. Dis E – Dirty Cash
4. Downtime – Little Bit Closer (Crackerz & Jam remix)
5. Taishan feat. MC Kemon – Moving On
6. Breakzhead vs Dandyskillz – Religion
7. Davip – Robots
8. High Ranking – Sitting in the Wet
9. Mesmer – Fine Wide Spread
10. Generic Bass – Mass Confusion
11. Ed Solo – Egyptian Horns (Amen VIP mix)
