breaksworld.co.uk

BREAKIN' NEWS: April 17th, 2002

The breakbeat newsletter from
http://www.breaksworld.com/

Breaksworld is back!! The biggest, baddest breaks site was offline for weeks recently because we were moving to a new hosting provider.

All technical difficulties have now been resolved so visit www.breaksworld.com and check out our new interviews, album and single reviews, DJ charts, clubbing info and much more! New April charts from Lee Coombs, Backdraft, Kid Kenobi, Scissorkicks, SOTO, B-Side and many others. And in our music section, you can listen to our exclusive Adam Freeland mix again, and check out some wicked tunes and videos by hot new breakbeat collective Visionary Underground.

It's been ages since our last newsletter so we have a lot of info for you this time. Enjoy!

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EMI

EMI, one of the world's five major labels, has announced major cutbacks in reaction to the industry-wide slump in CD sales. EMI last month said it's slashing 1,800 jobs – almost a fifth of its workforce – in a bid to save £100 million a year.

Virtually every dance act signed to EMI and its family of labels (including Virgin) could be dropped, according to skrufff.com. Reportedly 400 acts in all are going to be axed from EMI.

The EMI artist roster includes Fatboy Slim, Chemical Brothers, Kraftwerk, Uberzone, Les Rythmes Digitales, Wiseguys, Shy FX & T-Power and Rennie Pilgrem's Philadelphia Bluntz. Labels under EMI's umbrella include Virgin, Wall of Sound, Astralwerks, Autonomy, Positiva, Parlophone, Matador, Real World, Additive and Grand Royal.

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Fischerspooner

New York-based electro act Fischerspooner have signed a stunning £2 million record deal with Ministry of Sound in the UK.

Fischerspooner (Casey Spooner and Warren Fischer) combine unashamedly Eighties-influenced electro sounds with an outrageous, extravagantly choreographed and pyrotechnically enhanced stage show - part concert, part performance art and part fashion show. They apparently made a name for themselves performing at gallery openings on New York's avant-garde art scene.

The duo broke through last year with the single "Emerge", taken from their debut album "# 1". The album and single were originally released last year on DJ Hell's Munich (Germany)-based electro label International Deejay Gigolos (www.gigolo-records.de)

Fischerspooner are known for making shocking comments in the media. For example, Casey Spooner told New York Metro last year that, "We did this because we had gotten sick of the avant-garde. We wanted to be popular."

"Our manifesto is nothing beyond sounds good, feels good, looks good," Casey told NME magazine. He also rang up NME once to ask "Whose cock do I have to suck to get on the cover??"

A remastered version of the album will be released through Ministry of Sound on April 29th, while "Emerge" will be released through Ministry of Sound on July 1st with new remixes. Their first live show in the UK is scheduled for May in London.

To download "Emerge" in MP3 format, visit www.fischerspooner.com

"Emerge" is also featured on a new electro compilation called "Lektroluv" which came out in February through NEWS/BMG in Belgium. Fischerspooner performed live at the CD launch party on February 22nd at Culture Club in Gent. The "Lektroluv" CD was put together in association with national Belgian radio station Studio Brussel and also includes tracks from DJ Hell, I-F, Bolz Bolz, Doppler Effekt, FPU, Miss Kitten & The Hacker and Felix Da Housekat, to name a few.

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The Prodigy

The Prodigy are releasing a new single this summmer, according to Rolling Stone magazine. The tune is due out in July and will probably be called "Baby's Got A Temper". It will be followed by another single, most likely called "Nuclear", and the forthcoming new album "Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned", released later this year.

"There are two main differences on this new record. I haven't used my record collection as a source of sounds and samples, and I've tried to bring in other musicians and play a lot of instruments myself." The Prodigy's Liam Howlett told Rolling Stone.

Liam added that, "The lyrics on the last album didn't have much of a direction. This time the lyrics and the music have more of an equal role. We've come from a dance scene where lyrics aren't very important. We've really tried on this record to make and ask ourselves what we're about."

The Prodigy played "Baby's Got A Temper" and other new tunes at six dates in Australia during January's Big Day Out tour. They have two gigs in the USA later this month - one at the Coachella Music and Art Festival in California on April 28th and one in Las Vegas on April 27th.

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Leftfield

Leftfield have confirmed that they have split up. The lads, Paul Daley and Neil Barnes, said they will now be pursuing solo projects.

"Leftfield was always about pushing the boundaries of sound as far as we could. I’m proud to be part of this. Thanks to all the people we have worked with over the years and to everyone that promoted and bought our records," Neil barnes told Muzik magazine.

Leftfield formed in 1990 and released their debut album "Leftism" (often called the best dance album of all times) five years later. The followup "Rhythm and Stealth" was not as well received as "Leftism", despite the success of single "Phat Planet"/"Africa Shox" featuring Afrika Bambaataa.

Leftfield have had a huge influence on the breaks scene with their dub influenced dance sounds. They also set up the now-defunct label Hard Hands - the original home of breaks artists Dark Globe, Full Moon Scientist, Pressure Drop and Solid Ground. Hard Hands also released the breakbeat classic Dee Patten - "Who's the Bad Man".

For more info see www.leftfield-online.com

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Kid Kenobi

Ministry of Sound has just released a double CD mixed by Sydney breaks deejay Kid Kenobi, who was voted Australia's best DJ in 2001.

The compilation, "Clubber's Guide To Breaks", came out on April 9th and consists of a "party breaks" CD plus a disc of downtempo "chill breaks".

"Clubber's Guide To Breaks" also includes an interactive CD-ROM component featuring a video interview with Kid Kenobi, plus a look at the top breaks producers, labels, clubs and DJs in Australia and other countries.

The interactive Clubber's Guide To Breaks presentation is also available for download online. You're required to register before downloading (but it's possible to enter a fake email address). Go to:

http://www.inthemix.com.au/public/promo/clubbersguidetobreaks.htm

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Botchit & Scarper

Botchit has lined up some fantastic album releases in the coming months. Here's a quick rundown.

Out this month, the 4 Vini "Forever Young" album is a tribute to late label boss Vini Medley who passed away in 2000. A fantastic three-CD, 50-track compilation of breakbeat, downtempo, hiphop, drum 'n' bass and 2-step garage from Botchit and sister labels Emotif and Double Zero. All proceeds go to the Willow Foundation.

The Vini tribute album is accompanied by two vinyl samplers. The first features a revocaled version of Elizabeth Young's "Forever Young", with MJ Cole and Freq Nasty & BLIM mixes to choose from, while the second sampler features tunes from Atomic Hooligan and 10sui & Tamsin.

Also out soon is the Urban Funk Breaks 3 CD with SOTO on mixing duty, accompanied by a double vinyl sampler featuring another fantastic Atomic Hooligan production plus tracks from newcomers Distortionz, Sicknote and Quest & Ben Coupland.

This summer, you can look forward to the debut album from Aquasky vs Master Blaster, "Beat the System". The Ragga Twins appear as guest vocalists on several tracks,a nd the album also features a wicked reworking of Aquasky's "777" tune. The lads will be going on tour to promote the album. If you are interested in booking them please email botchit styx.cerbernet.co.uk

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DanceStar

The Crystal Method took home the award for Best Act at this year's DanceStar awards (www.dancestar.net). The Los Angeles-based breaks duo released a new album called "Tweekend" last year and gigged throughout the USA with Adam Freeland as tour DJ

The DanceStar awards, also known as the American Dance Awards, are the US equivalent of the DanceStar awards which have been held in London for the past two years. The prizes were handed out on March 24th during this year's Winter Music Conference in Miami (USA).

New York's Liquid Todd (www.liquidtodd.com) won the award for Best Radio DJ. Liquid Todd is host of syndicated radio show Solid State airing Saturday nites on 92.3K-Rock in New York. Guest DJs have included Fatboy Slim, The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers and Moby to name just a few.

Other DanceStar winners included Astralwerks (Best Label), Fatboy Slim (Best International Act, Best Video), Kosheen (Record of the Year), and Spundae 1015 Folsom - San Francisco (Best Club Night). Grandmaster Flash and Kosheen performed at the awards ceremony, which took place in Miami Beach.

The American edition of DanceStar does not feature an award for Best Breakbeat Act - unlike the original DanceStar Awards, aka the World Dance Music Awards, which have been handed out in London (UK) since 2000. Last year's breakbeat award (sponsored by British TV channel Channel 4) went to Fatboy Slim for "Sunset (Bird of Prey)".

This year's global DanceStar prizes will be awarded on June 6th at Alexandria Palace in London. The first-ever DanceStar Asian Dance Music Awards will be handed out in December in Hong Kong.

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Rennie Pilgrem

UK breakbeat mogul Rennie Pilgrem is releasing a new mixed album on TCR this month. The CD, "Tribalizm", showcases his new tribal breaks sound. A 12" sampler will also be released, featuring Meat Katie & Rennie Pilgrems 'Atmosphere' and Arthur Baker & Rennie Pilgrems 'Face It'. The full track listing of the "Tribalizm" is:

CHRIS CARTER - RANDOM FACTORS

WAVEFORM & CRASH - SYSTEMS ONLINE

MEAT KATIE & RENNIE PILGREM - ATMOSPHERE

MEAT KATIE - NEXT LIFE

RENNIE PILGREM + ARTHUR BAKER - FACE IT (RENNIE PILGREMS NEW YORK MIX)

VIGI + ZERO - OTHERS

KOMA & BONES - HIGH ROLLIN ( RENNIE PILGREM REMIX )

2SINNERS - MRS JINGLES

DJ WHO - CRUSHER (PILGREM EDIT)

RENNIE PILGREM & B.L.I.M. - MONKFISH

UBERZONE -BOUNCE (RENNIE PILGREM & B.L.I.M. REMIX2)

KOMA + BONES -MORPHEUS ( RENNIE PILGREM REMIX )

UBERZONE & RENNIE PILGREM - BLACK WIDOW ( V.I.P. REMIX )

KOSHEEN - HIDE U ( KOMA & BONES REMIX )

Launch parties will be held April 26th Bug Bar in London (feat. Rennie and BLIM) and May 3rd Ocean Rooms in Brighton (feat. Rennie and Koma & Bones).

Rennie is also playing with Arthur Baker and Meat Katie on May 2nd at Hum Elbow Rooms in London, celebrating the second birthday of Arthur Baker's Elbow Rooms club. More info at www.humclub.com or www.tcr.uk.com

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Timo Maas

Top German producer Timo Maas, best known for his classic remix of Azzido da Bass' "Doom's Night", is releasing another breakbeat tune this month featuring vocals by ex-Blue Note MC Chickaboo.

The tune, "Shifter", is due on on April 29th thru Perfecto with remixes by Roger Sanchez and Scanty Sandwich. The single is taken off Timo's new album "Loud" which also features the breaks mix of last year's "Ubik".

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Ming & FS

Ming & FS, the renowned American breakbeat / drum 'n' bass / 2-step production team, are looking for acts to sign to their new label.

The duo announced that they have scored a distribution deal for their label Madhattan Studios in New York City and are asking artists who are interested in getting signed to send them a demo:

Madhattan Studios

Attn: Demo

433 West 43rd St. Suite 5E

NY, NY 10036

For more info see www.mingandfs.com

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Fuel

Dave Tipper's label Fuel is opening an American office and will be releasing its singles domestically in the USA, starting with Salim Rafiq's Sound Off 2 sampler 1 featuring Buckfunk 3000 - "Future" and Tipper - "Subalicious".

Fuel USA will be located in San Francisco. The launch of Fuel USA will be celebrated with a party Analog in san Francisco on May 3rd featuring sets by Tipper, Salim Rafiq (aka DJ Wreck) and cosmic1 (Trigger UK) and local breaks talent including an-ten-nae (live set), Dov and adam ohana. Fuel's infamous Dodge Challenger cars will also be present, the label promises.

More info at www.liquidinjuredhearing.com

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Sound Surgery

Sound Surgery Records is an UK based underground Breakbeat label specialising in broken beats and future funk.

"I set up this label to extend what I believe to be pure future funk and nu skool underground sound," says label boss Mark Wilson. "The artists that are signed to Sound Surgery Records have this understanding and ability to change and are on the forefront of new boundaries whether that boundary is Breakbeat, chillout, house orientated, drum 'n' bass or jazz, the artists have to grow as well as Sound Surgery Records."

So far there have been 6 releases from various artists and a number of licences to compilations like Wayward Soul's Electric Kingdom.

As from 12th April 2002 Sound Surgery Records has moved to larger premises:

Sound Surgery Studio

19 Salisbury Street,

Bedford MK41 7RE

For further info see the label's temporary site at

http://soundsurgery.fws1.com/

or check out an interview with label boss Mark Wilson at

http://www.ihhco.com/mc/intervista_SoundSurgeryUS.htm

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SuperCharged

Krafty Kuts' labels SuperCharged & Against The Grain Records have also moved. Here is the new address and telephone number:

Unit 14

Level 6

New England House

New England Street

Brighton

BN1 4GH

United Kingdom

Tel: 01273 628181

See also www.superchargedmusic.com and www.againstthegrainrecords.com

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Alliance Recordings

Alliance Recordings is a new 2-step garage label based in Minneapolis (USA). The label was formed by three members of Minneapolis garage collective Steppers Alliance (www.garageand2step.com): Aaron Bliss, DJ Easyrider and Signore Veloce. Alliance Recordings has already received attention from British 2-step magazine Deuce.

Alliance Recordings' first release, Alliance Recordings 001, features an dark breakstep tune by Boston's very own G-Notorious, entitled "Riddles." G-Notorious is a member of Boston's Soulchampion crew, pushing the 2-step sound in the New England area. The 12" features a remix by DJ Abstract from San Francisco's Phunckateck crew plus a remix by Alliance Recordings' own DJ Easyrider and Aaron Bliss. Easyrider and Aaron Bliss have been featured with the rest of the Steppers Alliance in such magazines as TIME and URB, as well as in the Associated Press and Minneapolis' City Pages.

For more info see www.alliancerecordings.com

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Fad Gadget

Frank Tovey, aka pioneering electronic musician Fad Gadget, has died. He passed away on April 3rd at his home in London, following heart failure.

As Fad Gadget, Tovey was at the forefont of the laste 1970s, early 1980s electronic scene. He released four albums as Fad Gadget and five more under his own name.

Tovey was the first ever artist to sign to Mute, in 1979. He was later joined at Mute by SI Futures (aka Si Begg), Luke Slater, Moby and Depeche Mode, to name a few.

For further info see www.mutelibtech.com

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Freq Nasty presents Y4K

Freq Nasty has mixed the latest installment in Distinct'ive Breaks' "Y4K" series of mixed CDs. Tayo and Koma & Bones mixed the first two CDs in the series.

Due out on May 20th, Freq Nasty's mixed CD offers 17 tracks in all including a dub mix of Freq Nasty's "Amped" as well as a Freq Nasty Y4K Edit of Fatboy Slim's "Retox" and a Freq Nasty remix of Aphrodite's "All Over Me". For the full track listing and audio samples visit www.distinctiverecords.com

Distinct'ive Breaks is promoting "Y4K" with a tour featuring Freq Nasty, Hybrid, Koma & Bones, Tayo, Future Funk Squad and James Davey. The tour kicked off during the Winter Music Conference in Miami (USA) and the following dates are still to come:

Friday 17th May - KHZ The End, London - Y4K presents.....

Friday 24th May - The Red Box, Dublin - Y4K presents.....

Friday 31st May - Fabric, London - Y4K presents.....

Thursday 6 June - Cargo, London - Y4K presents.....

The May 17th date also kicks off Distinct'ive Breaks' new monthly residency at the End in London, in collaboration with KHZ. Representing Distinct'ive are Freq Nasty, Future Funk Squad and James Davey with future DJs on rotation to include Hybrid, Tayo and Koma & Bones. KHZ supply residents Luke Brancaccio and Marcus Wallis. For more information contact Ronnie Traynor on 020 73232 6610 or email ronnie distinctiverecords.com

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Electrocuted

London's legendary electro nite Electrocutes returns with a new monthly residency in Brixton, ananova.com reports. Launch nite is May 17th.

Electrocuted residents Andrew Curley and Sherman have teamed up with Billy Nasty from Electrix Records to present the new club night, called Do Androids Dream? The nite takes place on the third Friday of every month at The Telegraph on Brixton Hill.

"We've been doing our regular slots on Groovetech.com and some production duties but it's good to get back into a club. I can't wait to start shaking to my electro treasures," Andrew Curley told ananova.com

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Bass Fission

A new nite in Birmingham (UK) focusing on bass heavy breakbeats. DJs on the first night include:

DJ X (House of God, PCM)

Sol_Dat (Breakin', [k]rack-troni[k])

Deadbeat (Spunky Town)

Saturday 4th May

Bass Fission the Academy Bar, Dale End, Birmingham

9pm-3am, £3 entrance

For more details email iansherwen yahoo.com or see www.geocities.com/sol_dat_electro

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