I n v u r t

I’m squinting hard as the early dawn light is pummelling through the vans windscreen. We’re hurtling down the highway, somewhere between Rhode Island and Brooklyn – its post-party hour and some friends and I are dropping Reid Speed back home after an all-night rave in an abandoned bank vault. The gig is all done and dusted, and we’re talking shit about breaks, d’n'b and all the things in between – the details are murky, its the start of the new millennium after all, but I can still hear the passion in her voice and I’m still feeling the vibe of the set she played, and I easily recall my predominant thought at the time – “this girls really going somewhere, can’t wait to see where she ends up…”

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Over the past decade, breakbeat bloomed from its 80s roots into a new, modern sound, and ever so slowly it has morphed into a multitude of genres, as well as influenced the creation of others. From the beginning of the nu-breaks renaissance, Elite Force has been in amongst it all as a driving force in its development, so much so that his sound has now become synonymous with the coming genre that is tech-funk – music that decisively crosses traditional ground by blending a variety of tracks from different and diverse genres into a single, unified sound. This pioneering effort of pushing a new musical manifesto has moved traditional breaks away from the common-main stay of breakbeat to new heights, and into a distinct sub-genre of its own, even though many would disagree that there is even a still-existing “mainstream” of the breakbeat genre in its watered down, present day incarnation.
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Eighteen years is a long time in the electronic music world, but for Elite Force, one of the unquestionable kings of the beat, the time has been more than well spent.

Constantly evolving his craft and forever diversifying into different areas of production, Elite Force has over the years managed to stay at the top of his game by constantly exploring the variable patterns of change within electronic music, and his love for the journey works in near symbiosis with his over-arching optimism.
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It was hot. How does it go? Damn hot. So hot, I could have done a little crotch pot cooking -and that’s nice if you’re with a lady … but not….oh, wait, that’s been done before.

Really, though, who cared, besides the idiots who didn’t wear enough sunscreen? With arguably the best line-up in years, it was those that didn’t brave the 47c heat that missed out. Not even the sight of Prizzy standing behind the decks with Beauty School Dropout, in full denim jeans, sweating his ass off could damp the enthusiasm of those standing under the shade-cloth – and damn but if they didn’t play a great set regardless. Wish and Ben Mac played a set straight after, and those brave enough to dance in direct radiation were flinging their sweat like monkeys flinging .. Errm. Nevermind. Read more »

With quick entry to the event, and a near lack of a line even at a peak entry period, Parklife started off with a bang. A huge area, multiple tents, plenty of room for everyone – this looked set to be one of the best starts to the summer festival season for quite some time. Read more »

There is nothing more confusing these days than the line between both breakbeat and electro. With an increasing amount of DJs moving between the two genres, and indeed the two genres both disseminating and sharing ideas, DJ Madox aka Stephano Miele success in recent times is a prime example of how to overcome any form of barrier which may be inherent in attempting to pander to both crowds. Read more »

In recent years, Kid Kenobi has swiftly become a major player in the DJ world. From gigs the world over, to becoming an almost has-to-be-on-the-bill name for several major summer festivals here in Australia, Kenobi has managed find himself placed in a position of authority and respect amongst the nations break beat aficionados. His energetic and pervasive sets, often alongside his enigmatic partner in crime MC ShureShock, have reached almost legendary heights, and there are very few other names that have become so synonymous with Australian break beat than his own.

As sure as the summer festivals end however, there comes a time when every DJ looks towards the world of production in order to put forth their own version of a broken reality. Read more »

Having worked within the breakbeat scene for such a lengthy time, Tayos name is almost synonymous with the style. His eclectic and often dub and reggae infused beats have captivated people looking for variety, and as an innovative DJ and producer, he has earned the respect of his peers and fans. With numerous releases under his belt, including having been involved in the highly acclaimed Y4k series as well as his own smash mixup, These are the Breaks, Tayo continues to move both within and without the breakbeat world by maintaining his own individualistic outlook. Read more »

Stepping away from dnb for the evening, Greg Packer pulled out his hiphop and stepped up to the decks. Watching Packer playing old school hiphop is always a treat, and the fact that he was able to run for an extra half an hour, dishing out classic after classic was a pleasant surprise. Read more »

It has been the event of the year for over a decade, and this year, the annual go crazy event that is Madhatters, held at Ambar, lived up to its expectations.

Arriving early for a pre-party, the look of things to come was presented when we were greeted by the door girl, who was representing with a Manchester United kit, somewhere not far off in the distance one of the ref’s blew their whistle – and it was then this writer knew the night had only just begun. Read more »

A return by LTJ Bukem to Perth, with an accompanying performance by two other scene heavy weights, Friction and Tayo, is always to be anticipated. Heavy Weight Soundz at Club Capitol last Friday night was indeed anticipated by the dnb crew, and as the night lead on, the evening proved to be exactly what was promised. Read more »

Busy isn’t a word to describe the boys from Blighty’s west, who in the last few years have taken their spot of honor amongst the worlds breakbeat elite, and for Dom and Mark, who make up the DJing and production team Stanton Warriors, the word “holiday” might as well be constrained to a theoretical textbook.

“Its hard to remember my time off – I’ve dedicated my whole fuckin life to music, and its all good and I’m not complaining, but it’d be nice to go for a walk in the fuckin Himalayas or something.” Read more »

It seems only a short time since Elite Force, the creative mind behind a new wave of innovative tech-orientated breaks, last visited PE to display why exactly it is that a good party is not always to found in tried and tested formulas.

With a breakbeat scene that is often heavily orientated towards the “party-breaks” end of the spectrum, and with punters more familiar with funky styled and go-jump beats, the prospect of a tech orientated evening was promising. Read more »

Things have come full circle for the Aquasky lads who, in 2000, startled the breakbeat world with their groundbreaking track, 777. At the time, the Bournemouth trio were better known for their d’n’b outings, and Kieron admits that breaks fell somewhat into their laps by surprise. “It was funny cos we just wrote them tunes, 777 and Shure Shot….we had no clue about the breaks scene …we just wanted to do some stuff and made it up …that’s how the tunes came out …we didn’t listen to anything any one else was doing so it was kinda accidental really – but fun too…no rules! We just took all the production stuff we knew from making d’n’b and threw it in there …and [we] came up with a new sound, I think.”
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With another incarnation of the Bumpa series of breakbeat events at Heat Nightclub been and gone, there is much to be said. The visiting international contingent, comprising the unique and freshly innovative Tipper and Heavy Weight Breaks phenomenon Skool of Thought, performed to high expectations and did not disappoint.
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With the promise of some of the best of local breakbeat talent alongside the undeniably infamous breaks legends, Phantom Beats, the scene was set last Saturday eve at Heat Nightclub for those inclined to snare laced drums. As the night began, the fourth iteration of the Bumpa series presented itself with ferocity, startling punters with its fresh take on the nuevo-breakbeat scene. From its initial inception last August, and following on the footsteps of September’s local showcase, as well as a prior staunch performance by the mighty Stanton Warriors, Bumpa has quickly become the monthly gig of choice for breaks fanatics.
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