Juno Recommends Breakbeat November 2021

Review: After MOY's 'Orbital Resonance' EP started the label in spectacular fashion, the second release on Damo B's EMOTEC comes from Ritual Poison co-founder BufoBufo. Following a run of releases on Furthur Electronix, Tone Dropout, Partout and Kouncil Cuts, BufoBufo's 'Perceptual Channels' EP merges acid, electro, breakbeats and the emotive melodies that have become a signature of his music. 'In The Reeds' sets burbling 303s and sci-fi synths against shredded drum loops; 'Silver Disk' nods to a love of classic hip-hop and hardcore, with a monstrous electro bassline; 'Scrying Mirror' has lush house chords, addictive bass and dark interludes; and 'Remote Viewing' is a more reflective downtempo piece with a blissed-out top line and influences from ambient and IDM.

Review: North Phase is an emergent collaborative project from James Burnham and Robert James, both already well-established in the minimal tech house scene under their own steam. In joining forces they're turning their focus towards breakbeat, having already appeared on Pilot opposite Kolter. This time around, they're going it alone with three original bombs of rolling breaks honed into a sharp, DJ-friendly unit. 'Look Around' is the big, chunky workout in contrast to the crafty, organ-licked touch of 'Eternals'. 'Sun Raves' meanwhile takes things into deep, evocative territory and comes off as the strongest track on the record in the process. So much so, Maher Daniel stepped up to remix it and turned it into a sparkling electro-breaks turn for sweet and spiritual sesh heads.

Review: Vivid does a fine line in breakbeat, techno and bass and has killer cuts from Borai and Tomashi in its discography. Now they look to Yosh who has two EPs ready for the label. This one kicks off with the rinsing old school jungle breaks of 'Bless', which is all dark energy and jerking rhythms. 'We Come In Pieces' is just as kinked with devastating drum programming, and 'Too Dread' gets a little more euphoric with its warm pads strewn over the top of the knotted bass and busy drums. Closer 'All Out' is another bit of pure dance floor bliss.

Review: St Petersburg producer Maruwa crash landed onto dancefloors two years ago via an inspired EP on Lobster Theremin and an equally as robust and mind-altering missive on Mall Grab's Steel City Dance Discs imprint. Here she returns to the latter with more rugged, retro-futurist, rave-igniting treats. We're particularly enjoying pulsating opener 'Dvizhenzie', an acid-smothered fusion of turn-of-the-90s bleep techno and hot-stepping electro, and the unfeasibly dreamy, loved-up breakbeat wonder that is 'Neo-Plant'. Elsewhere, 'Body Journey' and 'Mindstab' offer slightly different takes on Maruwa's psychedelic techno blueprint (she's fast becoming a masterful producer of TB-303 driven insanity), while 'Can't Stop' is a thrillingly energetic fusion of sparkling synth riffs, heavy breaks and breathless bass.

Review: Dystopian dramatist Djedjotronic is your pilot for this intergalactic trip on International Chrome. It is the label's ninth EP and is another standout offering that starts with twisted electro bass, cyborg funk and heavy, steel-plated drums. 'Slap' then layers up the melodies in a way that recalls Kraftwerk, but the drums and synths around them are much more militant and brutalist. 'Death Clock' then comes first as a searing, visceral rework by Jensen Interceptor and a darker, slower VIP Mix, Last of all, 'Statistics' closes out with bumping bass and crunchy hits that fizz and hiss.

Review: Moktar brings something fresh to the dance floor here as he combines club and techno sounds with traditional Arabic instrumentation. It makes for high energy sounds that are brimming with intoxicating melody and relentless rhythms. All the tracks emphasis the artist's proud Egyptian-Australian heritage and embrace real complexity while still making for danceable beats. 'Lemon' is full flavour club track with booming bass and exotic wind instruments, 'Drip' sinks down into a deeper vibe with rolling snares and hits and 'Blue' is an old school breakbeat banger. Great stuff.

Review: Master beat juggler Jaguar Skills takes us to The Savage Planet, his new album on NOPE23. The revered deck technician and proud craftsman of bulky breakbeats welcome us in with a big, celebratory tune filled with funky flutes and chest-beat grandiosity. Then comes a range of vocal beats, with plenty of cinematic references and catchy hooks. 'The Theme From Space Patrol' is all big chords and funky bass, 'Mr Dudikoff's Announcement' has prickly drumming and is wrought with tension thanks to the myriad vocal and TV samples and 'There's Six Ways 2 Kill A Louce' is a 60s funk tune reworked with modern drums.

Review: Self-proclaimed "queer Antifa" operative Neu Verboten has a hard-to-pigeonhole style all of his own, where filthy techno bass and raw rave stabs rub shoulders with intense EBM electronics, clanking industrial sounds and heavy, pitch-black techno beats. It's a hugely enjoyable sound all told and one he successfully showcases on the 18th volume in Libertine Records' Traditions series. Our picks of a very strong bunch include the heart-racing intensity of electro-EBM fusion number 'It Doesn't Have To Be This Way', the sub-heavy electro-bleep shuffle of 'If They Arrive (Part 1)' and the brain-melting, body-popping madness of 'Global Warming'.

Review: The ninth transmission from the distant electro planet of Nebluae is a super strong various artists composition that takes in all shades and styles. Label mainstay Curious opens up with a delightful track that pairs plunging bass with busy breaks, soulful vocals and pinging kicks. It's roomy but physical and emotive. Lee slows things down, with a nice rubbery baseline and classic hits and pings tied together by bulbous acid. Antonio Sa sinks into a nice reflective and pensive mood with the empty spaces of his doleful 'The Mnlg' and Rico Casazza & CPSL lis up for the busy, buzzing groove that is '11.11.' These are just some fo the highlights on this golden 12" nugget.

Review: Oakland-based artist Bored Lord makes a bold statement here on the T4T LUV NRG label with four fierce, club ready cuts of fulsome house. The opener plays with a famous pop vocal sample. It's layered into plunging bass and icy breaks with soulful pads finishing it off. 'GNC NRG' then skews acid and rasping snares, yelped vocals and farting bass into a big old banger, and 'Woman's Wisdom' is a psychedelic workout with chaotic patterns and banging drums. The final tune is the lush 'So In Luv.' The cover art by Periwinkle Lamb and EP title are inspired by a book called The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions.

Review: Felipe Valenzuela and Argenis Brito have been friends forever, and musical collaborators for almost as long. Their chemistry really shines though on this latest release as FAER, which was crafted in Berlin but journeys well off into the future. It lands in the Hearing Colours label that Felipe runs with Miami based Max Kraushaar and opens on 'Space Cuts' with its brushed metal surfaces and glowing harmonies. Elsewhere they layer up bulbous basslines and celestial keys on 'Trick Or Trick' then get naughty with busted bass fun on 'Immersion.'