Andy Gardner and Lee Rous bring another dancefloor pleaser in “In Stereo,” with its requisite disco vocal and funky slap bass for booty-shaking. Glitch programming gives it an edge, with an infamously Plump mindfuck breakdown. On the flip, the evocative “Mantra” delves into less familiar territory, with an electro backbone supporting solid, trancelike programming.
Black Mighty Orchestra Ocean Beach
BMO’s Cesare Cera and Ricky Rinaldi lift angelic strings from Henry Mancini’s “Lujon,” which add a touch of beatific cocktail jazz to their sturdy 100-bpm beats on “Ocean Beach.” Allesandro Meroli’s live flute plus ’nuff percussion recall NY DJ Sasha’s Organic Groove ethno-downtempo excursions, a sound furthered on the flip’s airy Brazilian ode “Rua Escondida.” And to keep you guessing-English IDM misfit Metamatics is in the mix here as well. Globally germane.
John Tejada Streetmatik
Tejada didn’t hold back any vicious beats for his debut on Scotland’s future jazz imprint Fenetik. Instead he delivers bombs for that azz-three to be exact-all precision-guided broken-funk jams with production cleaner than an Audi showroom. Wobbly bass, Tejada’s signature Detroit-by-way-of-San Fernando techno melodies, and some of the fattest gated snares this side of Seiji’s studio will rattle your brain and remind you of dance music’s vital and transmutable powers.
Dug Infinite & No I.D. A Sampler
Responsible for some of Common’s finest recordings, these two Chi-town cats combine effervescent jazz loops with rugged MPC3000 beats. These at-times dusty, at-times sci-fi-soul gems play like card table dominoes: challenging, syncopated and fun. What Primo and Extra P do for NYC, Dug and I.D. do lovely for the Windy.
Banda Favela Remix EP
Upstart broken-jazz label HTT goes samba for its sixth and seventh singles, inviting the likes of Bugz In The Attic’s Alex Phountzi, North UK beat-master Wai Wan, Manchester’s Riton and German Afro-fusionist Ras to make their impressions felt. Jumping, jagged future riddims back the Banda’s shimmering Brazilian harmonies and, like a shot off Ronaldo’s foot, every mix hits the back of the net.
DJ Eli Feat. Kadiatou Warriors
This NYC Afrobeat/house hybrid from famed radio DJ Bobbito Garcia’s new imprint should have Gilles Peterson drooling for months and Joe Claussell hammering it at every gig. Imagine Femi Kuti and Herbie Hancock collaborating with Blaze’s Kevin Hedge and you’re close to “Warriors”‘s spiritual, rhythmic deepness. Thank Kadiatou for her vocal restraint, which matches the song’s introspective tone. Tune in.
Freedom Soundz People’s Beat
Rolling used to describe a type of drum & bass record that just, well, flowed smoothly despite the hyperactive pace. That style has found its way into broken beat via records like this. “People’s Beat” collects bongo loops, scattered snares, analog synths and diving bass licks, arranged in a linear yet hypnotic instrumental groove. “People’s Dub” on the flip is West London doing Metro Area’s late-’80s electro house their way. ‘Tis
Danny C. Feat. Philly B Big Batty Girl
You can’t go wrong with cuts about butts! Dancehall/garage fusion label Aim delivers it righteously rough on this 12″, presenting a searing 4/4 mix that maxes out the bass, slices up the vocal and skitters the snares for ultimate excitement. Three more mixes-a saucy Bashment vox lick, a stripped-down dub and a “Girly” version-ensure the most for your money.
Outlaw Breaks Feat. Gemma Fox & Sweetie Irie Dutty
One of the best of the current crop of ragga chat tunes. A hyper-catchy tweak-bass melody underpins sweet scat from new talent Gemma Fox and vocal stabs from stalwart Sweetie Irie. “You say we’re heavy/you say we’re rough and tough but dem nah ready,” sings Fox. No shit. Dutty beats + dutty bass = 100% dutty dancing.
Baron Meet the Creeper
Two snarky, futurist jump-up tracks from Oxford upstart Baron. “Meet the Creeper” pounds like a meat cleaver, with sassy hi-hats and cartoon noises that keep the insistent beat from becoming dull. Acid rave bleeps and bloops take center stage in “Hell Billy,” which sounds like an out-of-control Atari game. Mentalist fast-forward breaks for the old-skool speaker-freaker in you.
