Deep : Files #1
For years West London was the epicentre of broken beat.
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Artists like Dego and Mark Mac from 4Hero, Afronaught, Mark Force, Seiji, Kaidi Tatham from Bugz In the Attic, Domu, Mark De Clive Lowe and Phil Asher brought out quality release after release. Times have changed though. The Co-Op - the club where all the main joints were first broken - is no more, the sound has gone worldwide and is no longer just associated with London postcodes containing ‘N’ and ‘W’. Meanwhile, the originators of the sound have also branched into House and adapted to the four on the floor.
One of those originators, Domu, has his second house release on Papa Trax. ‘What's Your Name’ is comparable to its predecessor, ‘Odyssey’, in that it features a similarly old school Chicago feel with a big bouncy bass but cleverly uses Toots’ classic ‘5446 Was My Number’ the main vocal riff.
Also on Papa is Tarantulaz's ‘3 Sided’ EP. Three tracks – obviously. The first ‘Lend Your Ears’ is a deep house with a hypnotic acid-style riff running through it and a vocal by Frank McComb. Next on mic duties is Robert Owens on ‘Step By Step’ - a lot more bumpy than his signature style and none the worse for it. Keyboard magic supplied by Mark De Clive Lowe. The EP is rounded off by the rather ordinary dub ‘Listen’.
Another track to feature the Kiwi keyboardist is Atjazz's ‘Sweat No Sleep’. Out on Mantis, this collaboration has a jazz-techno feel which stays (just) the right side of noodly in the slightly deeper ‘Broken Soul’ remix.
Atjazz's Martin Iveson also pops up with a remix for Slowly's ‘Find Illusion’ on their eponymous Slowly EP on Flower Records, giving a slightly deeper re-rub of the vocal garage original with a little hint of 1980s slap bass. The standout track from the EP is the (mainly) instrumental ‘Black Sun’ on the flip featuring a drop in tempo and a killer synth riff which is meant to be a tribute to Detroit but comes off more like an early 90s Kerri Chandler joint.
While the flow of broken beat emanating from its original home has dwindled to a trickle there are still some prolific producers who are putting it out there. One is Danny Native aka Altered Natives whose ‘A Thousand Days Of Patience’ is chock-full of nasty riddims and the odd bruk house joint. Coming soon on Fresh Minute is his broken cut ‘Rass Out’ and out now on Moreaboutmusic is ‘Naked’ featuring Aisling Stephenson on vocals, which also comes with his own house “verzion”.
Another to check is Brooklyn's Hiro Awanohara aka Yellowtail. Taken from the forthcoming Grand And Putnam LP ‘Everything Is Alright’ is a broken soul cut with vocals by Monday Michuru out on Bagpak records. The pick of the remixes are Kay Suzuki's Bipolar remix which keeps the jazz soul flavour of the original but toughens up the beats for the dancefloor and adds some nasty distorted bass and the boogie-flavoured house version from U-Key.
Probably the one tune which is most associated with the Co-Op and the broken beat sound is 4 Hero's ‘Hold It Down’. Lady Alma, the vocalist behind it, has her debut solo release, ‘Running For Nothing’, out on Raw Fusion. Produced by that man again, Mark De Clive Lowe, the original mix is in the same stirring vein as ‘Hold It Down’, but it's the Simbad remix which stands out adding a stuttering drum pattern and winding ‘Deep Burnt’-style chords.
There seem to be a lot of dodgy cover versions doing the rounds at the moment. Doubly dodgy in that the fashion seems to be to use a slightly different title, maybe fooling some people into thinking that they are original compositions. Little Louie's Vega records has an uninspired version by Duce Martinez of the Salsoul fave, Love Committee' ‘Just As Long As I Got You’ – perhaps most memorable to the old school heads as the basis for Frankie Bones' classic Looney Tunes cut on Nu Groove. This one, which goes by ‘Just As Long’ adds brass and flute but doesn't really do anything interesting with it.
Much better is King Unique's serviceable cover version version of the jazz funk classic ‘Look Ahead’ by Aquarian Dream out on Defected, entitled ‘Love Is What You Need’. The pick of the remixes is the Knee Deep version which is closest to the spirit of the original. It’s worth remembering, however, that definitive house/garage version of this tune was made 14 years ago by Danny Tenaglia and tuned up at the time by Murk.
Coming soon on Strut Records is a very interesting collaboration between cult Ethiopian jazz pianist Mulatu Astatke and The Heliocentrics. ‘Inspiration Information 3’, ranges from the straight ahead jazz of Anglo Ethio suite to the psychedelic guitar of ‘Live From Tigre Lounge’. Mulatu's music is often mislabelled as Afrobeat due to his country of origin when his main focus is jazz, which in his rendition is just as likely to be influenced by Latin as African music.
More of an orthodox Afrobeat influence is to be found in Sumo's latest offering ‘Mystic Drum’ on Lovemonk. Featuring Ugandan singer Sammy Kasule on vocals, this follows in the path of recent strong Afro house tracks such as Da Lata's ‘This Is Not Your Job’ by incorporating an African influence wider than the traditional Fela Kuti template. There's a percussion orientated remix by Pepe Link and Sumo also provide a more techy take in their Bangana guise.
Another slant on Afro beat comes in the surprising form of Laurent Garnier's latest release on PIAS. ‘Gnanmankoudji’ might read like a bad scrabble hand but the saxophone-driven track is a reasonable attempt at Afro/broken fusion.
Following the excellent ‘Soulparlor’ EP from last year, BPSS have another EP out this time from French act Flint. This one's more of a mixed bag with the dodgy hip house cut ‘Booty Shakers’ and the rather run of the mill sample-based house title track. Much better are the remaining tracks, bruk-house number ‘Please Move’ and the pitched down ‘Minha Perdiao’, the techy bass providing a great foil to the Brazilian vocals.
More lusophonica, this time from Sweden. Rasmus Faber's album, ‘Where We Belong’ on Farplane is in the main rather disappointing but contains at least one gem in ‘Na Minha Terra’ - the acoustic guitar and Clara Mendes' vocals providing a welcome harbinger of summer.
Frank McGahon.
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Comments
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FrankMcG @ 14 Mar 2009 17:55Yeah it's a cracking collection of tunes - pure quality is Mulatu...
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Dazboy @ 14 Mar 2009 19:39
Nice article
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Tom_B @ 14 Mar 2009 21:55
yeah great read but to be honest i've never really 'got' the whole broken thing ... like 4 Hero's ‘Hold It Down' is incredible (was it the Osunlade remix that smashed it though?) but there isn't much else thats really excited me. Loads of London hipster hype MO... like for example the new Kaidi Tatham album which has all the broken headz jizzin in their cacks... i think it sounds like a half-finished piece of work. Even Bugz stuff down't grab me like it probably should .. they are great live but just don't 'get' their rekids!! Maybe i should have gone to CO-OP but would i have liked it???
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Tom_B @ 14 Mar 2009 22:01
saying that though i do think Afronaught is a genius and i love his stuff....!!!!
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FrankMcG @ 15 Mar 2009 11:55
Tom, I guess I'll have to put together a co-op /bruk classics mix for you and then you can decide if it's all a load of bollocks or not!
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FrankMcG @ 15 Mar 2009 23:39
By the way - it was the Bugz mix of Hold It Down that really smashed it. Osunlade's a bit meh for me.
As for the "hipster" thing - you couldn't be more wrong. "Hipster" london is East End, Shoreditch and all that Nu-Rave Electro shite and changes from month to month. The broken beat thing was a pure music thing from the other side of London and none of the people involved are fashiony or hipster at all and has been around since the mid/late 1990s
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Tayor @ 16 Mar 2009 8:17
good article that frank. interestingly enough when you dont stick ' man u ' in your writing , alot of it makes sense :)
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Tayor @ 16 Mar 2009 8:21
broken beat for me is like alot of 'London' genres . great in small doses , shite in large. the problem/beauty with london is they've so much competition between artists & so many labels . every time your over there , there's a new ' genre'.
in fact there's 10.
in the last month .
its what makes it a great and vibrant place , but at end of the day, do i wanna listen to broken beat for longer than 20-30 minutes on any given night - no .
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Tom_B @ 16 Mar 2009 10:08
Frank i look forward to the bruk classics mix, until then judgement is reserved... much obliged Sir!
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m.g @ 16 Mar 2009 12:32
good article Frank , surprised IG Culture hasn't got a mention though , was he not the founder of CO-OP and driving force of broken beat scene
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FrankMcG @ 16 Mar 2009 13:07
Yeah, It's not really meant to be about the broken beat scene as such - just that that was something which connects some of the newer releases I was reviewing. IG Culture has a couple of remixes coming up (including a great one on Far Out) and released a great album and some mixes a few months ago but nothing right at the minute. Also, I didn't get a chance to review either the new Phlash & Friends album which is brilliant IMO, or the incredible Restless soul remix of Crazydayz by The Emptyheads
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GSoul @ 20 Mar 2009 0:27
Good reviews Frank but you could'nt say that they've branched out into making House, i mean i've Phil Asher house records from '95.(Sure you do too and probably earlier!). You listen to Phil's new lp and its got broken, 4 to the floor, hip hop, soul, jazz, tech influence. Modiji stuff was always a mix of everything, bit of house, bit of soul, broken etc. Same with early IG, Kaidi & Sk Radicals. Domu is still doing and will continue to do broken stuff aswell as the new straight up house joints. I think these guys just evolve as artists and just do their thing. As for listening to broken all night.. well you could say that about every genre. I would'nt wanna hear straight up house or techno etc all night either. When you hear these guys play they normally mix it up anyways. Seiji & Afronaught played the Speigle tent a couple years ago and they blew my mind. To be honest i dont think these guys get the credit they deserve. Kiadi is a fucking genius...modern day Stevie Wonder. If these guys where'nt around who could you say has pushed the bounderies as much? taking things to the next level, not just doing something thats already out there. Broken has influenced more then we think..You can hear broken in loads of stuff.. Henrick Swharz, Carl Craig, John Beltran, Kirk D Georgieo, Mr Scruff, Recloose etc... I think the name Broken narrows it down to just one genre or one sound.. and makes it easy for people to pigeon hole.. for me Broken is loads & loads of different sounds and influences.................... right enough of the Broken shit.. im off to bed!
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FrankMcG @ 20 Mar 2009 15:44
I think you're right they don't get the credit they deserve which is why it rankles a little to see it described as a media thing or even as a specific style you couldn't listen to all night - there's really two ways of looking at "broken beat". One is just as a drum pattern thing and by that definition it's the same as house music just with one or two of the beats in the four "out of place". But another is as the music coming from that original crew in West London and which is pretty varied with influences from Jazz, Soul, Funk, Boogie, Afrobeat, Brazilian, Reggae, House, Techno, Drum & Bass and comes in all styles and tempos. I suppose what I meant about the "branching into house" thing was that there's nothing like the slew of releases coming from those guys any more and it's now not just Phil Asher and Modaji, Bopstar etc. (who always did House) but the likes of Afronaught, Domu, Mark Force and IG who are playing more and creating more four on the floor stuff.
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GSoul @ 20 Mar 2009 18:52
Yeah i hear ya. Broken beat for me..is a shuffel in the beat.. thats it! That track by Bukola 'Hypnotised' (Marc Mac mix) is broken - but its a slow mid tempo soulful track too. You dont wanna throw these tracks into a scene and then dismiss them. These tracks are what the West London scene has created. Actually there is a new Afronaught track which sounds more like Osunlade then what you'd expect from him.. Chugging percussive number. Yeah even some Osulade stuff - im hearing broken. I just dont understand people saying they dont dig broken.. If you like Afrobeat.. Fela shit.. then you gotta like Broken.. its too close a sound. Anyway those guys will just keep doing what they do..recognition or not.. and create some new shit along the way.
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FrankMcG @ 21 Mar 2009 0:18
For sure. And it's not just afrobeat. Lots of classic stuff - stuff that's influenced House, loft/garage tunes and the like - has that "broken" beat. Off the top of my head
Southern Freeez - Freeez
Expansions - Lonnie Liston Smith
Feel Up - Grace Jones
(Knock Out) Let's Go Another Round - both the Rainbow Brown and Inner Life versions
Just In Time - Raw Silk
Body Work - Hot Streak -
FrankMcG @ 21 Mar 2009 0:24
Also, just on the West London thing and to tide Tom over until I got to making my Co-Op classics mix here's a list of the sort of tunes that might make it into it...
Future Ain't The Same As It Used 2 B - Neonphusion feat; New Sector Elements
Reaching 4 Da Farside - SK Radicals
Having Your Fun - Phil Asher presents Focus (original and 4 hero mixes)
Future Rage - DKD
State Of The Mental - MDCL
Feed The Cat - Agent K (the whole album - there isn't a dud on it, every single tune is a cracker)
Bada (Domu Dub) - Jazztronik
I Am The Road (Bugz In The Attic Remix) - Markus Enochson feat. E-Man
Inner War - Likwid Biskit
Distractions (Bugz remix & Co-Op remix) - Zero 7
Golpo Tuyo Calinda - Afronaught & Son De Batey
Carnaval - Afronaught & Son De Batey
Transcend Me - Afronaught
Run & Hide (Seiji Remix) - Micatone
Timeless Motion - Neonphusion
Trash Da Junk - Da One Away
Hold It Down - 4 Hero
Work (Bugz In The Attic Remix) - MAW
Looking For Love (Bugz In The Attic Remix) - Vikter Duplaix
Loose Tips - Floorplay (i.e. Breath & Stop Acapella over Seiji's Loose Lips Instrumental)
Grudge Monkey Hustle - Grudge Monkeys
Airto (Modaji Contemporary Mix) - Charlie Watts Jim Keltner Project
So Blue It's Black (Restless Soul Movement Mix) - Underwolves
Zombie - Bugz In The Attic -
Tom_B @ 21 Mar 2009 11:32
ok lads i will give ye an example of a track like 'Transcend Me' ... as much as i like Afronaughts stuff i just don't feel this track which is one of the original classic bruk tracks. Some of those classic bruk tracks you mention there Frank i just don't feel no metter how i hard i try. The new Phlash i love but hat aint bruk to my ears anyway!! Also, infairness these tracks
Southern Freeez - Freeez
Expansions - Lonnie Liston Smith
Feel Up - Grace Jones
(Knock Out) Let's Go Another Round - both the Rainbow Brown and Inner Life versions
Just In Time - Raw Silk
Body Work - Hot Streak
were around long before West Londoners started putting shuffled beats in their tracks and creating a 'scene'. All i am saying is IMO that 'scene' was overhyped for the very reasons ye have mentioned about ... there is broken/shuffled beat in a lot of shit!!! Fela, 4Hero, drum & bass... i could go on and on. Also, i went and bought the Kaidi Tatham from Japan and i still don't understand the hype...its like he was taking so long to do the second album he put it put it out before it was properly finished... stevie wonder he aint!!! This is why i find it hard to understand why bruk gets the attention or hype it does and hense my reference to London 'hipsters'. All in my humble opinion of course :-) -
Tom_B @ 21 Mar 2009 11:43
i should probably point out that i don't like a whole lot of jazz either... so any kids reading this, don't listen to me ha ha !!!
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FrankMcG @ 21 Mar 2009 12:50
All I'm saying is if you like those earlier tracks, there's no reason not to like Broken stuff just because it's got a shuffled beat in it. If you don't some of the tunes for other reasons fair enough. Just don't dismiss the whole thing out of hand. Plus these guys have been plugging away for years and don't get much hype/credit. There's a lot more hype about shite music than there is about the likes of Kaidi etc. Maybe it's just that there's a lot of attention in the niche magazines you read but the mainstream media has ignored it. I remember when Booty La La came out, I thought this was going to be a No. 1 record - I thought Bugz would crossover the way Basement Jaxx did with Red Alert - it was that catchy. Always surprised that never happened.
Funny on the Transcend me thing - it's one of the classics and it is a good tune IMO alright but it wouldn't be my own favourite. Afronaut's best has to be Golpo Duro Calinda. My alltime favourite is probably Future Ain't The Same - that's over ten years old. Plus the Agent K album
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Tom_B @ 21 Mar 2009 16:43
maybe i am spending too much time on the Brownswood forum and reading old issues of 'Straight No Chaser' lol .... love 'Golpo Duro Calinda' alright ... been blastin' that one out down in scribble for the last two years. Also the remix of Nicole Willis 'Holding On' hasn't left my box since it came out...as i said earlier Afronaught is a genius!! Throw 'Future Ain't The Same' on the mix Frank if you could ... don't know it to be honest
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FrankMcG @ 21 Mar 2009 17:44
I had 'Calinda on my November 2005 mix and just looking at the tracklisting, there's a few of the classics I mentioned above on it:
http://frankmcgahon.com/musicblog/2006/01/15/november-mix/
01. Daylight - Xela Siatta (Visions)
02. Future Rage - DKD (Bitasweet)
03. Kara Walker Variation 32 (Domu remix) - Douglas Pagan (Voltage)
04. Show Me the Way (Seiji remix) - Zap Mama (Giant Step)
05. Golpe Duro Calinda - Afronaught (Bitasweet)
06. Loose Tips - Floorplay (Floorplay)
07. Bada (Domu dub) - Bakura (Especial)
08. Brand New Day (Espidub) - Little Louie Vega feat. Blaze (MAW)
09. Stormy Seas - Franck Roger (Real Tone)
10. Africa/Brasil (Isolee remix) - Louie Vega (Vega)
11. Bateria, Latin Impressions - Victor Simonelli (Flux)
12. Eu Nao - Basement Jaxx (Atlantic Jaxx)
13. Capoeira Vai (Spiritual South remix) - Sabrina Malheiros (Far Out)
14. Cravo e Canela (IG Culture remix) - FFR2 vs. Bembe Segue (Far Out) -
GSoul @ 22 Mar 2009 17:37
Frank good choice of tunes.. you've way too much time on your hands!! Tom i think you gotta hear tracks like Transend me on shit hot sound systems to appreciate whats going on. Broken/ jazzy / house tracks are for me are just a continuation of those classic disco / jazzfunk tracks mentioned, good music is good music... Kiadi is not as prolific with worldwide sales obviously but he's as an artist he's as talented, skilled & create as Stevie. He's a present day real Jazzman... Underground. The jury be out in May at SP. Love 'Future aint the same ' also Quango - Sky is the limit.. no so much broken but its a West London groove ...Innit!!
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Tom_B @ 23 Mar 2009 1:15
I appreciate whats been said here especially where it's comin from.... time for me to reflect maybe....and listen to the Kaidi album one more time....................................... but when i wake up in the mornin' i don't think i am for changin' no matter how good the sound system is!!! Peace!
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Tom_B @ 23 Mar 2009 1:26
but yeah Kaidi @ SP in May.... in fairness to catch him live i rekon he could smash it.....listening to the album now again,,, to be honest it is starting to grow...... shit it is time for reflection!!!
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Tom_B @ 23 Mar 2009 1:28
still ..half way through, i've turned it off and replaced it with Gregory Isacs 'Night Nurse'..... now thats my sound lol
Really looking forward to 'Inspiration Information 3’....heard a track off it and it was wicked. Pull out my Mulatu Astatke every now and again on Sunday mornings...amazin' stuff