Juno Recommends Breakbeat: September 2022

Review: Following releases by John Shima, Derek Carr, Cignol and Sound Synthesis amongst others, Distant Worlds continue their deep dive into UK techno culture with this record from Inkipak. Inkipak is the pseudonym for Jon Mace, who has released a solid run of albums and EPs since 2020, most notably on the recently revived Mighty Force Records from Devon (home to Aphex Twin's first ever release). Sonically, Mace balances crafty drum editing sensibilities with cinematic composition, creating a melancholic and immensely satisfying strain of headphone fodder. It's an approach which slots right in the B12 style of electronica you commonly find on Distant Worlds, and it marks yet another top drawer drop in the burgeoning Inkipak catalogue.

Review: We're huge fans of Coco Bryce here at Juno. His take on drum & bass is that of a Jedi master, with pitch-perfect drum designs and scintillating rhythms always coming laden with soul. He shows he is no sampling slouch either with this new EP from Lobster Theremin as it opens with some killer Diana Ross hooks over his trademark rolling but lively beats. 'Blue Tile Lounge' then has a clear blue summer sky above its Balearic drum & bass rhythms and on the flip, 'Smoke Screen' gets dark as it heads indoors for a strobe-lit rave-up. Last of all is 'Get Shwifty', a flurry of edgy breaks and plunging bass. There really is no faulting the Dutchman.

Review: DJ Normal 4 has boiled his name down for this latest trip out on Emotional Response, which finds the German breakbeat evangelist getting into a specifically tranced-out mode which should sit right with many a new age raver. The 90s is plastered all over this release, which rolls low and heavy like a good trance record should, and there's an honesty about DJN4's particular approach which makes the tracks land perfectly. Conceptual consistency is also key, meaning the twitchier cuts like 'X Capsule' can sit comfortably alongside unabashed wig out fodder such as the psy-tinged 'Mind Expander XS'. If you love the early, moodier strains of trance, this record is essential.

Review: Ninja Tune aren't the only wax shuriken-touting dance gesticulators on the block. Lumbago Records are their reissuing rivals; hailing from France, this anonymous pair focus on rereleasing long-lost dance cuts from the crates, new and old, compiling them into short EPs. Scratchy electro and breaks bits from EFX and Samix time travel all the way from 1991 ('Technique Amiga' sounds like it's lifted straight from an early Lara Croft soundtrack), and are reconciled with two tracks made in the last 5 years - and one bang in between from 2001, The Ruffneck's 'Phase Shift'. An impressive exercise in cross-generation reconciliation. Electro will never die!

Review: Second time around for '90s jungle and drum & bass revivalist Coco Bryce's 2020 Lobster Theremin debut, the 21st century junglist classic that is Deep Into The Jungle. The prolific producer hits the ground running with the weighty but rolling 'Flight Six Six Six', where sustained chords and bubbly electronics catch the ear, before opting for a rave-inspired deep breakbeat hardcore sound on 'Vegan Library'. Over on the flip, 'Deep Into The Jungle' is a barnstorming, 21st century jungle anthem full of tightly-edited breaks, dub-wise breaks and manipulated vocal samples, while 'Only When I'm Dreaming' is a deeper, more sparse-sounding affair that pushes picturesque melodies to the fore.

Review: Given that these days everyone seems to be making breakbeat-driven, revivalist rave music, it's worth noting that Denham Audio have been serving up heavyweight hardcore workouts since 2015. In truth, other than label-mate (and fellow Club Glow founder) Borai, nobody else does it better. That much is proved once again by their latest EP. It sees them giddily skip between B-more influenced breaks/R&B fusion (astonishingly sub-heavy opener 'Could Be'), rap-sporting, slow-building heaviness ('38 Snub', featuring mic man Trim), Incredible Bongo Band-sampling darkcore wobblers ('U Give Me') and '94 style drum & bass (the crunchy but melodious 'Missing You'). In other words, it's another club-ready EP packed to the rafters with tried-and-tested hits.

Review: Cairo based producer Hassan Abou Alam joins the revered ranks of the Banoffee Pies label here as it clocks up the 20th release. It is a punchy techno offering that opens with the roaming, brain-numbing leads of 'Kesibt' (feat SHBL-LBSH). The bass comes heavy, the percussion is raw, the refracted vocal a great hook. 'Fasla' (feat SHBL-LBSH) is hyperdrive double-time techno with wobbly bottom ends, 'Mawkif' further plays with the rules with its hopping hits and driving bass and this more original and inventive of offerings closes with 'Hanshoof', a physical bit of percussive techno funk.

Review: The Shot of T label serves up a versatile new split EP with CV Smiles kicking things off. A long, drawn-out and emotive synth opens up on 'Home-schooled' and comes layered with bubbly pads and serve effects that soothe the mind. Then comes a rap mix that is detailed with louche bars and more 909 production to make it pop. On the flip side, the masterful Porn Sword Tobacco flips the script with a gurgling, pulsing, deep and linear techno roller in the form of 'Techno Story' which is perfect for late-night sessions.

Review: Berlin's Darkotix returns for its second release by newcomer Cosmin Adrian aka Dot13, a Vienna-based Romanian who's had some impressive releases previously on Storytellers and H24 Records. The She Knows No Fear EP is an interesting take on the Rominimal sound, where its typical elements meet electro-bass futurism, and to rather impressive effect as heard on the first side's two tracks. Over on the flip, scene veteran Nu Zau appears with an ethereal and truly hypnotic rendition of the title track, which will take you deep into the afterhours.

Review: Holding Hands is all about turbo charged tech house for sweating dance floors. The latest in its on going run of top class tunes is a various artist collection. It kicks off with Leeds lad and new dad Ste Roberts, who helms his own label for this sort of stuff and so is a master of it. '1998 In London' is just as you would expect from the title - sweaty rave sounds, flashes of acid and strobe lit synths over a booming bassline. Elsewhere Bolam's 'Flabbergaster' is a gritty and grimy cut with neck-snapping hits and dirty bass. On the flip, Yosh goes for a dark setting garage vibe and Inner Zone's 'Higher Dimension' is a nice throwback house pumper.

Review: Newcomer Zara makes her debut on Salt Mines with an EP that takes its cues from "the sounds, colours and textures of festivals in the Australian bush." As a result, it is organic techno with a rich array of organic and natural details that make it an experience for both body and head. 'Breathe' opens with bird calls, the sound of scuttling insects and nice leggy, rubbery drums. 'Fragments' is a more ragged and rough rhythm with the sound of stampeding herds and 'Di Plastica' is a more aqueous dub with neon fireflies darting about the mix. A Mara mix offers pure liquid techno joy.