I loved the last Aquasky release – big, stomping breakbeat tunes with occasionally cheesy electronic voice overlays, ecstatic highs and driving bass lows. In fact, I think it was the bass that blew up my iPod earphones and reduced them to a crackling mess. Here, they’ve got their hands all over another “all stars” type release which calls on the mastery of the likes of Tayo, Breakestra, The Drumattic Twins and the Ragga Twins, as well as their own rather developed talents.

Aquasky have been around for a while now; the trio also known as Brent Newitt, Kieron Bailey and Dave Wallace started working on music together back in 1995 releasing their music via seminal drum and bass label Moving Shadow. Luckily, they’ve still got talent in spades and are even prepared to hark back to the days of rave in search of a good tune. In fact, this album almost takes me back to the hazy days circa the boys’ first meeting, when big warehouses stuffed with shirtless boys, pumping sound systems and cans of medic spray suddenly took on new significance. Sorry, don’t mind me…

The first track has been earmarked as one to watch and it’s certainly a kick-ass tune that dips into trancier territory for the occasional bleep and wobble, while staying more than attentive to the beat. There’s a few more in the same ilk, as well as the deliciously bass-heavy boompf of Backdraft (who I believe is soon to release his first album on the Passenger label), Agent K’s excellent rhythm and hypno jibes over nasty beats and Rob le Pitch’s moog-flavoured Twisted. It ends with the Ragga Twins – those guys kick ass! I actually can’t wait to start pounding the treadmill to these tunes.

For 2007 Aquasky plan to drop their 8th album presently titled as ‘Ultimate Breaks and Beats’ and a new compilation series ‘This Way Up’ featuring talent from across the globe contributing exclusive tracks. I don’t need convincing that these guys really have a handle on the best and funkiest tunes in breakbeat today and I wait with bated breath for what they’re gonna serve us up in future. If I was deformed, I’d even give it three thumbs up.