- See all the Ratings
- Add my Rating now
(Fuzzy Breaks/Central Station)
Former drum’n’bass heads come breakbeat madhatters Aquasky vs Masterblaster deliver their sixth album of dancefloor killers. Released in the UK by LTJ Bukem’s new breaks imprint Shadow Cryptic (part of Moving Shadow) the album has been picked up locally by Sydney breakbeat promoter extraordinaires Fuzzy as the third release for their ‘Fuzzy Breaks’ label. This follows the very successful Fuzzy Breaks Volume 1 and History of Breaks. In similar format to AvM’s last album Beat The System, this is a double CD package with the first being a selection of fresh tracks un mixed whilst the second disc sees these tracks ‘inthemix’ along with a couple of special remixes. In comparison to other dnb artists to make the jump to breaks Aquasky don’t have the intricate programming of BLIM and Ils however much of the same manic energy and heavy funk of Freq Nasty. In saying that though they have pretty much carved out their own little niche of ragga and hard hitting breaks, making them a truly distinct act to see and hear.
Admittedly on the first few listens the album as a whole didn’t grab me. The more I listened, the more I kept changing my opinion of it. However this all clicked into place when seeing them live over the Easter weekend and hearing these tunes turned up loud on a cranking system, the way they are made to be heard. This helps explain the first thing with the album – it’s not one to listen to down low around the house. Aquasky vs Masterblaster incorporate a sense of franticness into their sound with upbeat programming and driving solid bass lines that need to be felt as well as heard. Turn it up loud and you suddenly find yourself compelled to move by an incredible sense of energy and hard-edged funk.
Stayfresh once again sees AvM doing vocal collaborations for a few of the tracks. The Ragga Twins bring their unmistakable touch to Coffee and Dem No No We. Coffee is a highlight in the way the Ragga Twins are able to add a darker and dirtier feel to what is a very bouncy upbeat track. Also helping out on vocal duties is the worlds fastest MC (as certified in the Guinness Book of Records) Daddy Freddy who brings his Rastafarian deep Jamaican drawl to War.
Aquasky vs Masterblaster have been some of the most prolific producers over their eight year career with six albums and more than one hundred 12” records. The second disc of this album sees the boys simply mixing up the album and basically showing off the fact that they can cane a dancefloor purely by means of their own hand crafted beats. This is what I feel makes them special as they have their own sound and are not reliant on the same “exclusives” that all the other DJs bring from their backroom trading sessions at London’s hippest night spots.
If you went to check out Aquasky vs Masterblaster for their brief Easter fling down under then you will most likely to recognise more than a few of the tracks on this CD. These three produce for the dancefloor and know how to get it moving. Whether you’re cleaning the house, getting ready for a big night or trying to wake up in the morning simply put this CD in your stereo, crank the volume up to eleven and you’ll be on your way with a smile a mile wide.
