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The breaks are a series of three compilations - each one spanning two well pressed slabs of wax. I'm not even going to get into the ethics of these compilations - lets just say that some purist crate delvers arent really down with the idea of their profession n' hobby getting commercialised and packaged into one bundle of amazing breaks. This is to say that across this series the compilations really do highlight some amazing records, that is if you wanted to get originals or even repress 12's of them - well it would be mouldy head inducing in terms of the amount of time you would have to spend indoors. My personal take on this arguement is - fuck it (no suprise there then!) - I think this series really develops through each record. It allows somebody to recognise some of genre which is one of the fundamental pillars of hiphop. It also highlights tunes from a completely different era which may be FRESH to to a young hiphop head who wasnt even a recorded delivery from the postman yet when the originals did the rounds. To me - its making a whole new era of crate digger.... giving people the feel and taste for beat searching - I mean there are millions of breaks out there so these existing famous ones are mainly creatively dead anyway so why not let us all flip the script and enjoy that fabulous moment of joy when an old funk track - to which you are completely unfamilar of artist or title - just suddenly gives up its secret and you know where its been used and how it was manipulated. In my opinion thats what gets you hooked and keeps the heads breeding people willing to look for the unexpected break - we all start the same and thats ignorant - compilations can mass educate. Anyway what I'm trying to say is compilations - and in that sense this particular series - does develop well to hook you into the culture. The first part (compiled by DJ Pogo) is very easy-going. It gives you the simplest things in their purest form... you should know these by now. Running through stuff like Apache, Funky Drummer (all TEN minutes of it) - but it also has sevrely limb loosening highlights in the means of: Rhythm Heritage - Theme from SWAT, Dennis Coffey - Scorpio, Ramsey Lewis - Back in the USSR and 24 Carat Black - The 24 Carat Black. Not a very obscure bunch perhaps - but 110% quality all over....totally brutal hard drum patterns n' superbly rich basslines all rounded off with varying degrees of sophistication in terms of horns n' all that jazz! Loving it. The second set of tracks was compiled by Cutmaster Swift - this takes things in a little bit of a new direction - a little more soul-ish from my viewpoint with stuff like the Commodores, Booker T n' the M.G's, and Kool n' the Gang. But this ramped collection contains many a bonofide classic waiting to give up its fruit to you with the hardworking ear. I'm not going to lay it on the line and tell you what tracks these have been sampled from - why waste the fun for you. Get listening - if you plump for this collection then you will find some niceness indeed. Jeez some utter classics right here: Skull Snaps - Its a new day (AWESOME!!!!), Gil Scott Heron - The Revolution will not be Televised, Cymande - The Message (UK funk y'aaaalll!!), Curtis Mayfield (RIP) - Underground, and the ding ding di-di-di-DING of Bob James - Mardi Gras. Again a bit like the first series some of this tracks are available on 12's within the Omega series of represses so if something takes your fancy it might be worth chasing up down HMV or whatever. Again this will give you the flavour for the oldstyles cos if you dont recognise what that Bob James track has been used for then its time for you to go back to the old skool hiphop before trying to start on the beat laid pillars of yesteryear - foundations first mate. Last up (so far) - a set of tracks compiled by Skye...this is the classiest collection. Really it has superb obscure tracks n' is a well researched lovingly crafted set (just read the sleevenotes). This one gives up some gems I would never even have thought capable of the groups on first thought - e.g. Jackson 5 - Hum Along and Dance or NinaSimones - Funkier than a Mosiquito's Tweeter. Other highlights include Yellow Sunshine - Yellow Sunshine, Jerry O - Funky Charge, All the People - Cramp Your Style (WICKED!! Keep your ears open!), and Vernon Bunch - Get Up. The man Skye knows his "styles" and as you could imagine this bunch has tons of it... yup the big it. Overall these compilations are certified guaranteed by me to make your head wiggle like you have a neck niggle. Lovely but a bit pricey - in terms of your pocket and the time you'll use listening to 'em.
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Various The Breaks
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