Back catalogue: Breakbeat

Review: When Hadouken! first emerged last year their in-your-face indie-grime collision of sonic extremities just didn't make sense for some people. A step too far perhaps? Ridiculously East London? The soundtrack to Nathan Barley's life? In fact the urgent and inherently new nature of their sound captured thousands of dedicated young fans. Their forward thinking electronic-grimey pop energy and the explosively frenetic live shows captured fans imaginations. Within months they were selling out thousand capacity venues. Hadouken! realise that their ever growing fanbase are web savvy and tech smart, and as a knowing nod to this new generation they're now the first band ever to make their next release available on a USB stick only. The "Not Here To Please You" mixtape will feature six exclusive new tracks plus some remixes of Hadouken! tracks, including an exclusive Bloc Party offering.

Review: Candie Hank (aka Patric Catani) has been messing up the musical landscape from Tokyo to Sao Paolo for some time now. Patric Catani is the mad genius behind EC8OR, Irish Coffee, E De Cologne, and The Test Tube Kid.

Review: After winning Best Breakthrough DjJat the International Breakbeat awards and rocking the best floors across the country over the last few years, Scott Reeder aka Hexadecimal's finally taken the plunge and produced his first full length album. It's impressive stuff, from the opening beatless "Intro" which drops perfectly into "Dead Moose", and sets the tone with lots of high energy breakbeat power. Reeder brings plenty of variety though on Base 16, with "Serious Action" featuring the soft, soulful vocals of Percydread and rocking some moody washes of synth pads as well as dub-style bass. "I'm Not Insane" also goes the vocal route, with Kurnel MC filling the breakdowns with a fast-flowing rhyme that builds in momentum. And for the ultimate bass hit, check out the enormous and appropriately-titled "Nuclear Sub" - probably one of the highlights of a classy and pleasantly-varied debut.

Review: The dynamic duo, Hexstatic, return to the fray with "When Robots Go Bad," their finest album yet. Taking their electro obsession to greater heights than ever before, "When Robots Go Bad" finds Robin Brunson and Stuart Warren-Hill mashing up sounds and influences in search of the ultimate machine groove. From first track "Red Laser Beam" they lay out their wares - crunching guitar samples, huge drum box beats and enough synths to drown a nation beneath a sea of (sine) waves. It's such a euphoric opening that it's hard to imagine how they can keep the pressure up. First single "Roll Over" quickly lays any fears to rest. Featuring new vocal find Sabirajade, this is a swinging groove of heavily-layered keyboards and soulful, sultry vocals. "Tokyo Traffic" takes the tempo up again for an acidic, glitchy, surrealist pop-locker of a tune that just about makes sense of the term "future-retro". "Freak Me" features B+, a female MC from Oz, who effortlessly rides a more minimalist, sexy, funky riff. Continuing the sexy theme, "Prom Night Party" is a complete re-work of a classic 'lost' track from Mike Ladd's "Majesticons" project. Electronic ode to love "TLC" gives the boys an opportunity to take the tempo right down, whereas "Move On" (featuring Edinburgh MC Profisee) starts to drive us forward again. B+ returns on "A Different Place", a floating electronic groove that shows she can do much more than rap. "Subway" is another tune for a new generation of breakers. From "Lab Rat" onward the vocoder takes over - "Newton's Cradle," "Newaves" and the superb "Bust" offering an object lesson in the contrasting ways in which synths and drum boxes can be used to create superb, funny, funky, driving dance music. A superb Ninja Tune release.

Review: A class act ever since their debut album Wide Angle in 1999, breakbeat band Hybrid just keep getting bigger and better. Originally comprising duo Mike Truman and Chis Healings, they've been joined by singer and guitarist Charlotte James for 2010. Their sound has been expanded too, with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra even appearing on this wonderful new album. Opener Empire sets the tone for this audacious set as a huge string-drenched intro gives way to an exhilarating stew of acid-synths and big beats. Can You Hear Me Now is just as epic, combining operatic vocals with a huge chorus from James.




Where Hybrid really stand out from the crowd is in their incredible range of styles and true to form Disappear Here will keep listeners on their toes throughout. Green Shell Suit for example starts off as a dark and moody trip-hop beat before some warped pads get filtered up and usher in a cinematic key change and a host new instruments. On a more raucous vibe, Take A Fall takes on dubstep beats but with live drums and their trademark cinematic washes of sound. City Siren is a tense, all orchestral number (similar to The Beatles' A Day In The Life) while Formula Of Fear is a rocking, electro-paced stomper with yet another perfect chorus sung by Charlotte James. It's rare to hear an album with such variety in songs, yet done with a distinctive attitude and sound. Hybrid are just a class apart and Disappear Here is deep and textured enough to withstand many many listens.

Review: Hybrid are one of the most successful, influential and renowned electronic acts in the world. Their prolific touring and DJ sets have justifiably earned them incredible global support and adulation. They have sold in excess of 150,000 albums worldwide. This is Hybrid's eagerly anticipated 3rd album.

Review: Hyper has come a long way since curating Distinctive's landmark Y3K series of prog breaks mixes. Panic, his third studio album, seems designed to appeal largely to an American audio. It takes the stadium dance template developed by the likes of Pendulum and Crystal Method and Pendulum and fuses it with the ballsy rock-breaks of Freeland, a dash of Magnetic Man style crossover dubstep and a splash of teary-eyed balladry. Those who dig any of the aforementioned acts will find plenty to enjoy, while misty-eyed ravers will lap up the hands-in-the-air hardcore vibes of "Beyond The Rave" - it's undoubtedly the album's finest moment.