Review: Presenting another collection of the best nu-funk and ghetto breaks from the Breakbeat Paradise label, volume 2 of Paradise Breaks contains a killer selection of hip-hop, funk and bass work from artists at the top of their field such as Badboe, Morlack, Breakbeat Junkie and Jazz K Lipa. Among the 15 tracks, look out for Pimpsoul's low-slung remix of Badboe's "One of Those Days" and the re-energised Southern soul of Jiggy Joe and Prosper's "Sweet Home Smoke".
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: As you can imagine, Breakbeat Paradise Recordings specializes in the sort of house music that's carried by chunky blockade of beats and bass, all rounded off by a distinctive electro swing. This is the second chapter of the Big Fat Mama Beats series and, once again, the imprint have gone to extreme measures to secure a supremely effective line-up for both them and us. There's not a dull moment in here, or anything remotely beatless, so be sure to cop yourself this super-charged, super floor-minded collection of new-school breaks for the masses.
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: Mr 9Fingers gets the remix treatment: the Al Green-sampling "Love & Happiness" gets scuffed up and ruffed up by Ghetto Filth's acid attack. "Don't Wanna Stop" is a swampy slab of ghetto funk - all sparkly guitars, sludgy bass and walloping beats. "Goodie Gumdrop" takes us down the sleaziest streets where low slung grooves and fuzzy guitars rule the roost. Finally "Boogie Lover" takes us to a higher plane thanks to a slinky, strut-heavy walking bassline and a steadily progressive sense of drama that builds on every bar. Each one a party-pulveriser, feel the love today.
Review: With its promise of "biomechanical ghetto-electro waveforms", there's a certain amount of paranoia attached to this full-length from Danish breakbeat producer Kim M. Sorensen. Yet there's also funk for days and, impressively, some curious musical twists and the odd sting in the tail. Contrast, for example, the Latin jazz-funk tinged positivity of "Shamanic Funk" and the clandestine fuzziness of "Moonbatron". The real piece de resistance, though, is closer "Fingers (of Funk Session)", an epic exploration of darkroom funk breaks that twists, turns, rises and falls over 13 minutes of heavyweight dancefloor goodness.
Review: The alias of Danish producer Kim Sorensen, Wiccatron is devoted to galactic funky breaks of the finest order. On "Strongbeats", he mixes organic funk sounds with lashings of charged bass and 303 acid lines, as well as some crafty cuts and samples. With a host of remixes included, definitely check out JiggyJoe and Ewan Hoozami's deliriously chopped mix as well as Mustbeat Crew's aimed-at-the-floor rejig.
