New releases last eight weeks: Breakbeat

Review: Some 20 years after its original release, the long-awaited follow-up to Archive One finally arrives on vinyl for the first time. Half-speed mastered for Record Store Day 2025, this edition breathes new life into classics like 'Way of Life,' 'The Wolf,' 'The Wiggle' and 'Just Ride.' The tunes showcase a more refined yet adventurous side of legendary techno Baron Dave Clarke's electronic palette and blend cinematic textures with club-ready drums. It's a deep, atmospheric techno with his signature post-punk energy and sleazy vocal edge that captures his restless creativity across four sides of vital wax. The swelling synths and fuzzy pads of 'Deo Gratias' and unhinged percussive layers of 'The Wolf' are two standouts amongst many.

Review: The late great Cosmic AC's vast catalogue again yields some posthumous treasure with part two of the For Now album. It's another record that is as sophisticated as it is adventures with plenty of painstakingly crafted but effortless smooth breakbeats on 'Larvy' topped with pensive synths. Elsewhere there are logic-defying rhythm structures on 'Snood', hooky synth shimmers and more raw textures on 'Wisconsin Desert' and jazzy, cosmic motifs on the wonderful 'Setting Sun'. This is a high-class mini-album full of next-level sound designs and turbo-brain drum patterns. It makes for a compelling listen wherever you may be.

Review: Yo Speed has been making moves on the likes of 83 and Distorsion Records, and after several standout EPs, now makes his full-length debut with Colores. Across four sides of vinyl he explores every facet of breakbeat, starting with the sort of emotionally, architecturally grand cut that has defined Sasha's approach to sound for many years. 'Fucsia' gets more down and dirty with howling basslines from drum & bass and soulful r&b vocal hooks. Elsewhere are gems like the sun-kissed and serene 'Esmeralda' and masterfully melodic, tightly sequenced arps of the potent 'Escarlata'. A real widescreen trip.