Review: As always with Breakbeat Paradise, they have brought some serious heat to his one as we enter the 5th edition of the Stank Soul Edits series, featuring Mako & Mr Bristow. We begin with the rock & roll waves of 'Funky Diggin', which through a combination of lofi-vocal arrangements and groovy percussive inputs, delivers a flavoursome breakbeat design. Next to this, we are introduced to the horn-like harmonies and thunderous bassline bounces of 'Dynamic B-Boy' which when topped with it's nostalgic vocal line, gives us a fantastic festival closer, crescendoing left, right and centre with some colourful melodic twists. Both tracks represent a fabulous middle point between old school sampling and new school arrangement, delivering the goods in style.
Review: It's another Headz special! Bristol's finest Utopian, the man like Mako, delivers his debut solo album and it's every bit as deep, detailed and sense-slapping as you'd expect it to be. From the spacious drums and grizzly bass on the opener "Heartstone" to the rave-melting halftime switching "Flip It" via the bouncy harmonics of "Hoxton Home" and the depth plunge bassline and Subtitles-style rawness of the stripped back arrangement on "Offline", like all Metalheadz albums - and indeed Mako productions - this is a properly considered, thoughtful and detailed body of work. Essential.
Review: This is a special release. It's the last piece of music ever to be released via Soul:R, as the label is closing its doors after a long, rich history. It's fitting that Mako is the one responsible and he's done an amazing job at encapsulating the gritty, upbeat and vibrant sound that made the imprint special within a single EP. 'Come Down' is desperately steppy and full of texture; 'Message Music' features Marcus Intalex and that trademark Intalex tendency to drawn out an intro with perfect progression. All four tracks are special and all four pay homage to a truly iconic record label.
Review: Three years have passed since Horizon last rallied up the troops and embarked on a dead-night brain-burgling Dreamthief parade. As always it's an all-star cast with the likes of Amoss, Break, Naibu, Digital, Mikal, Mako, Need For Mirrors and many more cooking up some of their starkest, uncompromised and innovative cuts: the tight conga hypnosis of Breaks "Headway", the turbo piano rolls of Invaderz "Dukes Drift", the sublime cinematic jazz soul of Hydro & War's "Jam", the cascading, twinkling textures of Naibu's "Time Out", the neck-snap amen mechanica of Digital's "Spark Cut"... If this is the soundtrack to our innermost stories being syphoned from our heads at our most vulnerable sleeping states then sign us up and take the lot. Sweet dreams of thieved of this.
Review: Famed for their Stank Soul Edits vinyl series, Mako & Mr Bristo return on Funk Blasters with the mightily titled, Electric Bongo Disco. The name captures the vibes on here pretty well - four vintage cuts loved for their breaks gently souped up for modern dance floors. Opener is "Sugar Hill Bongos", which lovingly updates a Sugarhill Gang classic. Elsewhere "Hype Fresh Mine" is poppy disco meets hip house, "Refried Beans" is a sweet vintage B-boy gem and "Electric Ruffneck" really goes there, sampling Edie Grant and somehow making it actually sound cool! Now that's talent.
Review: Double decade business: Total Science celebrate their label's big two-oh with an on-point collection of ageless constructs from friends old and new. Naturally, everyone arrives to the party in their sharpest finery; Break's cheeky rave references on the juiced up "Unified", the ugly undertones and system-melting weight of Total Science, Digital & Spirit's incredible "Apply The Pressure", Calibre's cosmic ping-pong jam "The Trot", Nymfo's dreamy harmonic heaven "Game Of Love", The Invaderz swashbuckled drum session "Be Around"... Not one player has tailored a shabby garm, ensuring well-suited jams for decade to come.
Review: Mr Utopia returns to his spiritual home with four more forward-thinking sermons: "The Gully VIP" sees him giving 2015's underground thumper a toxic halftime treatment, "String Section" is a stark stepper with nary an orchestra in sight, "By Firelight" rolls with a really spacious design and polished bass textures that are reminiscent of a young Photek while "The Need In Me" counterplays big jazz washes with drum edits that are twisted on a Paradox level of detail. Crisp.
Review: The second of two big break edit releases from Resense: World champion monkey boxer Mako and decorated turntablist Mr Bristow get real with two more funk obscurities. "Breaks All Tight" struts with a classic Motown feeling and a vocal power that's not dissimilar to Lee Fields. "Mama's Little Breakbeat" keeps it real with a swinging twist on Kris Peterson's "Mama's Little Baby". Both absolutely tickle the dance. Vinyl only, too.
Review: The first of two big edit releases from Resense: Titanic Bristol funk from the infrequent partnership of Monkey Boxing's Mako and serial editor Mr Bristow: "King Soul-omon's Mine" takes a cover of heavily-sampled, well-known Lee Dorsey/Allen Toussaint gem and adds a subtle contemporary swing. Flip for a full band breakdown over a pristine break as "Sock It Silly" strips down the science of every funk tune ever. Vinyl-only; this one's a keeper.
Review: If you're the type of person who prefers old school vibes that roll out on a danger flex, you're going to like this EP. Goldie's choice set-closer leads the release (oh, so that's where you've heard it before), and it's not hard to see why: "The Narrator" has everything you'd ever want from a drum and bass classic. The only thing missing is the 25 year maturation - this one's straight out of the barrel, no messing. There's not a man on the planet that can mould a beat like Mako and this is going to transform him from cult hero to ruler of the free world. Just saying. Get your stake now and lead the way.
Review: Drunk on heavy Craig Charles support, Bristol chain-funkers Mako & Bristow get mucky on Breakbeat Paradise with four more floor firecrackers. "Twist & Shout" fuses various versions of the classic rock n' roll song over a snippy breakbeat tempo, "Funky Jive" is a schooling in Bo Diddly business while "If Stax Ain't A Reason" takes us on a way trip to Memphis and finally "Funk Am Im No Good" flips Winehouse into the funkiest homosapien on the planet. Ridiculously funky.
Review: "Do You Feel The Same" rampages onto the scene with an intense blast of syncopation and darkness, before moving into a more impressionistic sound - and then back again with a militant onslaught. "All We Can Do" offers up less of a rampage and provides a relentless push instead, taking apocalyptic sound-bites and minimal tones that creates something only nightmares are made of. "Too Broke To Get It" is the release's lighter touch, still tinted with danger through hints of a howling basslines, however brighter musicality shines through in an old school fashion. It's a shapeshifter. Do not miss this release. You need it.
Review: It seems the full CIA cast list has come out for this entirely massive release and holy moly is it a large one. Kicking things off with the legendary Total Science guys and the one and only S.P.Y headed up by Chroma on remix duties, "Whoonga" is a relentless roller, pushing on through dark bass and sparks of light from harsh pads and electric samples. In "Stoned", Calibre calms his intensity levels for a chill roller packed with lucid dreamy sounds and tight percussion. Riya joins old friends Total Science to lend her sultry vocals to a crisp, soulful stepper in "Walk The Same Lines" and Utopia henchman Mako
Review: Utopia bossman Mako steps up with three outrageously on-point cuts for the Metalheadz label. Each one slapping a different cheek of the dancefloor, we're flung from tearingly ugly rollers like "The Gully" to unique broken beat/jungle hybridisms on "Ju Ken" which comes with added input from the man like Throwing Snow featured. The main draw, however, will be "Tell Me Something" which sees Mako team up with Detail. Lush sense-popping synths blast spine-chilling chords and deep bass gurgles in every direction as it runs amok on a meticulous drum arrangement that never sits still. The truth is out there for those that seek it.
Review: Fluctuating pockets of lion-growling bass tickle the edges of Mako, DLR, Villem & Ant TC1 mega-production "Hungry For Atmosphere". Its groove is the exact type of rhythm we all want from a classic Metalheadz record, which is circled by chiming bells, tremolo-infected Rhodes and an infectiously urban-sounding 'yeah vocal'. The other track however, presents a different story, with something more tear out. This time it's Mako, DLR amd Villem - minus Ant TC1 - that provide the ripping, snorting, and shaking "A Certain Flavour" - watch out for this.
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