Review: Denmark's Breakbeat Paradise, as the name suggests, is Scandinavia's holy ground for anything breakbeat-oriented. Starting as an early music website back in 1996 it has since then developed into a full-blown label and an impressive one at that This time we have five different names and five different tracks, ranging from Conte Crux's electro-charged "Turn It Up" to "Like Jello" by DJ Rudd - featuring masterful sampling and chopping throughout. Morlack's "Makossa" re-spins some old-school NY rap, whilst "Bring Back The Funk" itself is a driving, break-ridden floor monster. DJ Throwback's "The Hook" tops it all off with some loose, hip-winding beats and breaks a la Africana.
Review: More regularly found on the Pig Balls label, Pulpfusion here releases Funk Never Sleeps via BPR. The title track is a slap bass funk rock spectacular featuring Morris Chestnut, Lorenzo Medici and someone called Jim. Remixer Jayl Funk also rocks up to take the tune downtown to cool, retro New York block party. Elsewhere "The Beat Inside My Soul" is steamy, rolling 60s mod funk jam, given a party friendly electro-swing makeover by DJ Maars and turned into party breaks territory by Rory Hoy. Extra party breaks ammo can also be found in bonus cuts "Beat The Clock" and "Feeling The Blues".
Review: Swiss funk and breaks star Pulpfusion reloads for another banging collection of raw funk drums and wicked bass on this second edition of "Headbanger Funk". Tracks to watch out for include the fast-paced and hectic psych-funk of "All Hell's Breaking Loose", the sublime mix of dub and rock on "Cockaine" and the heavy rumpshaking bass of "Fat Ass".
Review: Swiss breaks master PulpFusion gets busy on this new release, which takes has a downtempo feel to his previous storming and sweaty singles. Working up a stew of atmospheric jazz samples, and combined with some Prodigy-esque vocals, "Street Art" is a real grower. Frenic loads up on gnarled tech sounds for his remix while Ewan Hoozami manages to capture the original's spaced-out beauty while still adding an addictive bass line and punchy snares.
Review: Swiss producer Pulpfusion returns with this full-length album - a feast of raw drums and funky textures that range from chanking guitars, Rhodes, retro-synths and even some sinister piano 'n' double bass licks (as heard on one of the highlights, "Harmonica In Coma"). A record that takes instrumental trip-hop, exotica and nu-funk in its stride, this is a true rollercoaster of a record stretched across 20 tracks.
Review: The latest from Swiss funky-breaks producer Pulpfusion not only boasts a snappy title, it also comes loaded with a huge remix collection that stretches the lively, drum-fill riddled original in many different directions. German trio Funkanomics add a smooth '80s gloss to their mix, while Telephunken add a muddied-up bassline to the fun. Discover even more variations from Frenic, Digital Alchemist, MustBeat Crew and more - all are well worth checking.
Review: The guys at Big Fat Mama Beats have pulled out all the stocks available on this one as they ready up and unveil a mammoth compilation, pulling together twenty absolutely monstrous recordings from across the breakbeat spectrum. There's something for everyone on this one, be it the more old school funk driven drum work on 'Dissin U' from StuC4C, the more rock driven guitar riffs of 'Old Tape' from Adrenalinez, or the super futuristic synthesis on the Chubby Robots rework of 'So Good', originally from The Placenta, featuring Wiccatron. This is definitely one we would recommend getting stuck into on a long play!
Review: Break Beat Paradise Recordings tend to celebratory the more celebratory side of breakbeat music. Here though, the gloves are off on this hard-hitting compilation, Big Fat Mama Beats. There are seven fresh jams to enjoy including the housed-up, ska-infused bouncer "Chinese Robots (Re-Up)" by DiscObeta, Mr Rich & The Caretaker's street tough electro breaks cover of "My Feelings For You" (originally a Gwen McRrae joint) and the urgent percussion and Middle Eastern samples of Crunch "(Scratch By DJ Craft)" by Funky Boogie Brothers. Dope!
Review: If you're into beats and basslines then the Breakbeat Paradise label is the stuff of dreams. While many labels try to branch out into different styles and often lose their identities on the way, these guys deal solely in raucous breaks for the big room dances. While they usually release compilations by single artists, the imprint launched the first volume of the newly crowned Funk Bananas series. Coming through with a vast collection of new artists and familiar faces, these cuts are guaranteed to jump-start your Saturday evenings. Electrogorilla, Rory Hoy and many others dish out party bombshells in an old-school flavour. A mighty fine collection, indeed!
Review: Four volumes in seven months... Actual Sounds are ruthlessly efficient when it comes to showering the scene with fresh booty-shaking bootlegs. And it's business as usual as we're thrown around by the limbs to a 28-track strong selection of wide-eared funk fusions that range from an uptempo breakbeat cut n' shut of Nina Simone ("Ooh Baby") to Brooklyn era block busters ("Down With The King") via classic rave-meets-early house mashery ("A Bigbeat Treat"). A bargain and banging - these booties are keepers.
Review: Years ago, if someone offered you some street jam you'd have said no; jams made of pavement and general dirt just don't make the cut for an all-star breakfast. Then Actual Sounds comes along and your understanding completely changes. Gone is the gritty, fag butty, exhaust pipey grime and in comes the royal block-rocking fodder from some of Actual Sounds' finest funky upstarts. Comprising sneaky booties and authentic grooves, this 18-strong collection is a one-stop-shop to party town. Highlights include Mr Mezdup's percussion and glitch-heavy rub of The Specials "Ghost Town", Rory Hoy's high voltage acid attack "Hey!" and Freddy Fresh's beautiful seasonal sonic soliloquy "Summer's End".
Review: This should be considered something of a treat for funk breaks fans. In a bid to raise funds for the Love Music, Hate Racism charity, it gathers together tracks from both heavy hitters (Badboe, Fort Knox Five, Zamali etc) and lesser-known talents on one action-packed compilation. If this kind of party-rocking fun is your thing, it should be an essential purchase, not least because it includes some fine material. Check in particular Super Combo Funk's trad funk/P-funk fusion "I Don't Need No Dope", PulpFusion's fuzzy "Rockin Kids" and the wobble-step influenced "Boob Job" from Bristolian Ewan Hoozami, who happens to be the son of former England rugby player Alistair Hignell.
