New releases last two weeks: Breakbeat

Review: Analogue pressure from Bufobufo, who stops over in Japan for Cabaret Recordings after earlier international stints with Art Of Dark, Partout and Furthur Electronix. His second single for the label, founded by So Inagawa and DJ Masda, proffers a hypnotic blend, binarising the mood with the sliding melodes of 'Watercourse' and 'Armour Plated' with comparatively sparse and gritty perc-slaps of 'Wood Ant' and 'Cinnabar'. That strange but difficult-to-nail split between of hypnotic intrigue and immediacy is well and truly nailed.

Review: DIGWAH marks its tenth release in style, maintaining its signature mystery while delivering two standout cuts that embody the British label's underground ethos. Side-A's 'Wayside' is a clutch tech-house banger that has finesseiclean, classy and an irresistibly groovy. A crisp breakbeat underpins a funky rhythm, while a strong vocal hooks you in, giving the track a timeless yet fresh feel. This is underground house at its best, effortlessly balancing sophistication with dancefloor heat. On the flip, 'Demeanour' leans into ghetto tech-house territory, with a weighty bassline and infectious r&b vocal samples. The groove is deep, the funk is undeniable and the track's raw energy makes it an instant mover. Another essential release from DIGWAH - stripped-back, hypnotic and built for those who know.

Review: Apollo hammer down four new ones from Scienza X, the Portuguese duo whose shocker 'ARL001' release flung itself hard at our ears in 2023. Embodying associations of "heavyweight machinery, minimal influence and an outlaw spirit" as enthused in their bio, 'DLC' and its Steve O'Sullivan SOS remix strut an omnipotent variety of influences, from bleep techno to dubby minimal, as we relish the surplus joy embodied in the gaming concept of downloadable content. Then 'Decoding Signals' provides a licked EBM-esque weight and a slick, twinkling breakdown from Pedro Goya to top things off.

Review: Fierce electronic mavericks LNS & DJ Sotofett deliver a thrilling two-tracker that's built for serious warehouse action. The A-side is a teeth-clenching, bassline-driven beast that is raw, gritty and euphoric with static rhythms, stabbing synths and a halftime arpeggio breakdown that erupts into dreamy pads. On the flip, DJ Sotofett's 'Buzzy Breaker' starts minimal with just kicks, stabs and dubs, then morphs into a breakbeat monster with polyrhythmic tension and soaring pads underpinned with jungle-inflected drops. Both tracks harness deep, hypnotic repetition while sounding bold and system-ready so make for techno with real weight but also edge and purpose that results in high class DJ and dancer tackle.

Review: London underground night train riders Deadbeat Records prioritise techno-breaks handmade for late night and early morning dancefloors, times when both the best and worst comes emerges from each of us. Their inaugural Deadbeat Breaks compilation hears six out of ten full digital curations brought to a shadowy, space-invaded black vinyl truncation, with modern talking synth vomits from Olly Rant, booty bass hups from Hunter Starkings, hackney parroting hurtles from Rnbws, and a closing breakstep broil from Hooverian Blur.

Review: Shut Off Notice welcomes Teakup - a local Columbus, Ohio DJ and producer born Lauri Reponen and known for his stylish techno - for a second outing on the label. 'Forest Bed Moss' kicks off with dusty mid-tempo breaks and deep basslines full of soul, while 'Mhm' is a mechanical groove with dubby undertones and nice chopped vocals. 'Rain Groove Revisit' is a deep, percolating and stumbling rhythm with a smattering of percussion and bubbly feel infused with cooing female vocals. Finally, Teakup remixes Rew's 'Fragile Abundance' into a deft and lithe minimal dub for the small hours. Sophisticated stuff once more from Teakup.

Review: Tooflie's latest offering dives into the allure of French pop's vocal sensuality that weaves intricate production with global influences. The opener, 'CS VG,' anchors the release with its half-step beat that flows through grainy tonal shifts and rhythms, twisting familiar elements into something new and magnetic. Its dreamy, almost spectral feel is offset by sharper, more defined edges, creating an engaging dynamic that keeps the energy fluid yet charged. As the record progresses, 'BLORN' introduces a more laid-back groove, combining minimalist funk with a sense of melancholic soul, perfect for late-night listening. The flipside continues to surprise, with 'KRLE' and 'JUWRK' fusing breakbeat elements with soft digital textures, offering a distinct and refined energy. Tooflie expertly blends the experimental with the accessible, crafting a release that's both bold and sophisticated, ready to ignite the most discerning dancefloors.