Straight Up Breakbeat Finland レコード& CD

Review: On a mission to "make d&b great again", Finland's Straight Up Breakbeat pass through once more with the second of three EPs formed to showcase modern junglism. Kicking off, 'Mystery Machines' sees Glastonbury's Dead Mans Chest slam down some deadly amen choppage reinforced by haunting vocal FX and paranoid drones. Aeon Four & FFF's 'Look Inside' is a jungle-tekno roller, served with chunky hardcore style amens and a side of warm old-skool pads. Keeping the mid-90s vibe alive, the tripped out 'Green Fields Forever ' from Fanu - which drops hot on the heels of his greatly received remaster of Source Direct's 'Stars' - delivers airtight amen trickery, weaving synth washes and blissful dubby basslines. Esc & Mineral round things off with 'Photosynthesis', a pensive stepper highlighting cut-up breaks waltzing with cheeky synth nudges and a wide, rugged bassline. If the pioneers had buried some beefed-up tracks in a time-capsule to inspire future generations, they would probably sound a lot like 'States of Art II'.

Review: It's a Finland thing! One of jungle music's finest new-generation representers, DJ Sofa returns to ODJ Dizzy's Straight Up Breakbeat with two understated, cold as ice work-outs. 'Love Hurts' gets you all mushy in the cardios thanks to some dreamy harmonies before those Amens come crashing in and flipping the joint. 'T4T' keeps the authentic feels flowing but in more of a jazzy kind of way. Think 'Casino Royale' but played in a disco deep under the sea and surrounded by bongos as far as the eye can see. Sofa ain't lying down on the job! Serious class.

Review: Destination Finland: Straight Up Breakbeat roll their sleeves up for this almighty VA from some of the most respected jungle crafters you could possibly shake a dubplate at. Local legend Sofa links with Rupture Queen Mantra for the opening cut 'The Tunnel'. Dark and tense, it sets the scene for some utterly fantastic moments. Long time pals Basic Rhythm & Tim Reaper get silly with 'Target Lock', Blood Trust gets militant with 'RLLR 24' while Jesta finishes with a little blue-faced bust-up 'Liquor Snurf'. Sup sup!!

Review: Breakbeat wizard Fanu returns with another multi-genre mash-up diving deep into the sounds he's mastered over the years: jungle, drum & bass, hip-hop and beyond. His rhythmic versatility and fearless approach to production is present and correct once more from the off:' 'Strobelight' is a tightly programmed workout with dark bass blasts offset by heavenly vocal coos. 'Ether' is even more involving with a lurching rhythm and snappy hits, and 'Free Fall' then casts you adrift in the cosmos, floating on the swirling pads with a more airy, spacious atmosphere. 'Coma'(feat Arcologies)' is a blissed out closer with more gentle but still dynamic drums. Ether shows Fanu's still pushing the envelope, one break at a time.

Review: Future fusion flexing! We have no idea what FFF stands for but we certainly knows what he stands for musically as he steps up to ODJ Dizzy's strongarm Finnish platform Straight Up Breakbeat - ice cold broken beat science. 'Answers' will have you asking plenty of questions as he shoves us into a midtempo furnace and cooks us slowly in rave juices. 'Temperature's Rising' continues the theme with added 4x4s and a more stripped back arrangement that builds up into something very sinister indeed.