Written by admin | 17 April 2007

30Hz - Discophonic/Ghosts In The Machine
	Label	Vertical Sound
	Format	12"
	Release Date	Out Now   Buy this album
	Reviewer	Iytal
	Rating

Following his recent tour of the states and Supercharged collaboration with Baobinga, Vertical Sound label boss 30Hz returns to the helm with another serious double headed attack! On the A side he delivers ‘Discophonic' in his distinctive trademark style, with chunky percussive breaks and growling synths, atop a sub bass that’ll see floors shaking!. Flipside, ‘Ghosts in the Machine’ sees 30Hz team up with fellow American Eskmo, who recently debuted on the Cyberfunk label. This one employs a more of a rolling break, and more serious bass action culminating in a heavy, driving finale via some interesting edits and breakdowns. In the pipeline for Vertical Sound are singles from Smithmonger, and another 30Hz & Kraymon collaboration, while 30Hz goes it alone with remixes for the likes of Satamile and Warehouse Wax.

Entity/DJ Quest - Step Up/Weapon Of Choice
	Label	Combat Wax
	Format	12"
	Release Date	08-00-05   Buy this album
	Reviewer	Iytal
	Rating

Second outing for Cyberfunk’s sister label Combat Wax, following Search & Destroys ‘Mark of the Beast’. Duties this time go to Entity and Label boss DJ Quest. The A side goes to genre spanning northern trio, Entity, whose previous form includes releases on Fusetrax and ET Breaks. They provide ‘Step Up’, which is arguably their best release to date, an uplifting intro soon makes way for the firm steppy break, gnarly bassline and cut up vocal hook, with the chords of the intro cutting back in occasionally providing a nice contrast to the moodier tone of the main body of the track. On the flip is label boss DJ Quests ‘Weapon of Choice’ which takes a more straight up breakbeat approach, kicking in with atmospheric chords before dropping into a vibrant swirling bassline, wrapping up a good second release for this new label.

Jnr Hacksaw - How's Your Modulation EP
	Label	Trigger
	Format	12"
	Release Date	08-01-05   Buy this album
	Reviewer	Evac
	Rating

Jnr Hacksaw and Trigger were destined to join forces. With massive subby basslines, glitched-out edits and a beat that you can actually dance to, this EP is right up the alley of Trigger's other next-gen releases. You can certainly hear influences in the tracks, but Hacksaw is no copycat. He brews his own kind of digital funk. If you like the sounds of Tipper and Si Begg, you should definitely pick this one up.

Ed209 & Long Range - Dr Hoover
	Label	Hardcore Beats
	Format	12"
	Release Date	07-00-05   Buy this album
	Reviewer	Iytal
	Rating

The latest offering from Hardcore Beats sees an interesting meeting of minds, between label boss Ed209 and former Orbital man Phil Hartnoll’s new project alongside Nick Smith, Long Range. As you’d imagine ‘Dr Hoover’ sees both parties pulling from the respectable solo productions, with Ed209’s rolling breaks and distinctive basslines working well against Orbital-esque top end synths, giving ‘Dr Hoover’ a rave feeling, as the name may suggest! On the flip Ed209 and Ken Mac join forces for ‘United States Of Mind’, a kind of feelgood summer tune with piano and horn stabs backing up Ken Macs vocal input. Forthcoming projects for Long Range include a collaboration with Aquasky, whilst Hardcore Beats next offering comes from Baobinga with I.D. and Control Z.

Mixed By Ollywood & Ed209 - Hardcore Beats Volume 2
	Label	Hardcore Beats
	Format	CD
	Release Date	06-00-05   Buy this album
	Reviewer	Iytal
	Rating

One of the leading labels in the ‘tear out’ breakbeat scene, Hardcore Beats release their second compilation, this time mixed by label owners Ollywood & Ed209, assisted on MC duties by long standing drum & bass MC, Fearless. The majority of the album is made up of the Hardcore Beats recent back catalogue, including the rave tinged Distortionz remix of Ed209’s ‘Infectious’, and both sides of new single, Ed209 & Long Range’s ‘Dr Hoover’ and Ed209 & Ken Macs ‘United State Of Mind’. Other names featuring include Freestylers, Breakfastaz, Stanton Warriors, Booty Bouncers ‘Fame and Money’ featuring one of the UK’s finest MC’s, Skinnyman, and Cut & Runs recent anthem, ‘Outta Space VIP. The album is entertaining and well mixed, particularly towards the end, where the pair cut less than a minute of each track in, using tunes from Baobinga & I.D, Distortionz, Napt, Mutiny and Quest among others, providing a great introduction to anyone not already familiar with the Hardcore Beats sound.

Jason Sparks - The Story of O/Gangsters (Si Begg Mix)
	Label	Botchit & Scarper
	Format	12"
	Release Date	03-00-06   Buy this album
	Reviewer	Iytal
	Rating

Jason Sparks returns to Botchit with another multi genre single aimed at satisfying more than just a breaks crowd. The original of ‘The Story of O’ (included in both vocal and instrumental versions) is an atmospheric downtempo affair with loud crunching beats and a smooth vocal. Remix duties go to Finland’s LBJ, who ups the tempo and aims for the floors with a variety of crowd pleasing riffs. For me though, the treat on this 12” is the inclusion of Si Begg’s much sought after remix of ‘Gangsters’, previously included on Lawgiverz ‘Bass Instinct’ compilation and James Zabelias Renaissance album, while the original version can be found on Jason Sparks debut album, ‘Heroes and Villains’. This mix has been knocking around for a number of years now, but still sounds every bit as fresh now as it did the first time I heard it, fusing elements of the original with Si Begg’s unmistakable low end and cleverly produced beats, it’s good to see it finally get a vinyl release!

Various Artists - Nubreed Presents... Y4K
	Label	Distinctive Records
	Format	CD
	Release Date	02-06-06   Buy this album
	Reviewer	Iytal
	Rating

The latest Y4K sees Australia’s Jase Catherine, Michael Walburgh and Danny Bonnici, a.k.a Nubreed, follow releases for the likes of Mob Records, Boom Box and Zero Tolerance and join Evil Nine, Tayo, Freq Nasty, Phil K and many more, in stamping their own unique touch on Distinctive Records Y4K series. Nubreeds previous releases show an ability to take influence from a variety of sources and not confine themselves to one genre, and this mix reflects that, with a range of styles being covered. The first half of the mix displays a more mellow side with tracks from Lusine, Habersham, Tipper, with ‘Rare and Plentiful’, the distinct style of Ils on ‘Over My Head’ and the more progressive leanings of Nubreeds Dirty Fours alter ego with ‘Machines’. For me the second half of the mix is where things really get going as Nubreed explore the glitchier end of things, which sees the inimitable sound of Texas’s Son Of The Electric Ghost with ‘End Of Six’, Si Begg’s excellent ‘Turn Up The Volume’ and two impressive new tracks from Nubreed themselves – ‘Festa’ and ‘The Thing’, alongside offerings from the likes of fellow Australian Andy Page, with ‘Vermouth’, and Kilowatts, who’s tranquil ‘Learn To Love Loneliness’ closes the mix. For me this is definitely the best of the recent Y4K releases, displaying an experimental nature that gives the listener the chance to experience more than just a CD full of obvious crowd pleasers.

Phrenetic/Contax - Who's Rockin Best/Baddest Mutha Fucka
	Label	Guerrilla Tactics
	Format	12"
	Release Date	12-00-05   Buy this album
	Reviewer	Iytal
	Rating

Guerrilla Tactics return with a fresh release from label regulars Phrenetic, backed with a tune from the solo guise of one half of the duo, Contax. By now we know what to expect from both Phrenetic and Guerrilla Tactics, and if you are into the tear out sound, this certainly won’t disappoint! A side, Phrenetics ‘Who’s Rockin Best’ doesn’t take long to get going, with rave-ish stabs and a growling synth atop a rolling break, switching basslines and throwing in a half speed breakdown to keep things interesting. On the flip, Contax’s ‘Baddest Mutha Fucka’ sees more of tough ‘bassline’ action, its break full of the usual energy, with a hip hop vocal hook sitting nicely amid old skool feeling stabs and scratches. Next up for Phrenetic is another release for Mechanoise, with ‘Flatline’.

Hostage/Shodan - Untitled/Ain’t Nobody Tighter
	Label	Combat Wax
	Format	12"
	Release Date	11-00-05   Buy this album
	Reviewer	Iytal
	Rating

Combat Wax’s third release sees another Drum & Bass artist display their talents at a slower tempo as Evol Intent become Hostage for ‘Untitled’. With previous releases for the likes of Renegade Hardware, Outbreak and Barcode, you kind of know what vibe to expect, and ‘Untitled doesn’t disappoint, showing influence from both drum & bass and the grittier end of the dubstep sound. Heavy synth basslines and a firm break warm things up nicely for some interesting variations and edits after the breakdown. On the flip, fresh from his release on Funkatech, Shodan takes ‘Ain’t Nobody Tighter’ in a funkier breaks direction, with hip hop vocal sample and horn stabs before dropping an energetic bassline creating a party vibe, completing another strong release for this young label.

Loopdigga - Timewarp/Economy Class
	Label	Guerrilla Tactics
	Format	12"
	Release Date	09-00-05   Buy this album
	Reviewer	Iytal
	Rating

Loopdigga is the new breakbeat pseudonym of sometime drum & bass producers Chase & Status, whose multi genre career has notched up releases for the likes of Bingo, Barcode, Vehicle, Renegade Hardware and soon Breakbeat Kaos, and now under the new alias provide the latest 12” for the fast rising Guerrilla Tactics label. The aptly named ‘Timewarp’ gives a nod to days gone by with the use of ‘Energy Flash’ style stabs and a classic vocal sample, whilst the break feels more solid than their previous breatbeat outings and is suitably aided by deep growling bass. On the B side, ‘Economy Class’ rolls along in the style of their earlier Bingo style releases, with an unrelenting synth line working its way around a tight break and more old skool style stabs.