Review: As always with Big Fat Mama Beats, they have come to put on a show with this latest addition to their 'Funk Bananas' compilation series, which enters its fourth edition with a dash of finesse. The combination of psychedelic melodies and groovy drum designs that lie at the heart of every track are what give the project a fantastic level of cohesion, as in the uplifting horn toots and lively vocals of Pecoe's 'Funky Individual'. The whole project hosts a pretty professional vibe, with the likes of Sir-Vere, The Funk Philosopher, Sonale, The Criminal Minds and more all making wavy additions. Our favourites from the project have to include the monstrous bass pulsations and techy arpeggios of B.U.U.G's 'Dancin Time', next to the Chubby Robots rework of 'Space Time' from Adrenalinez and Wiccatron's lively percussive masterclass in 'Funk Dribble.
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: 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 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.
