Meat Katie (aka Mark Pember) is one of the leading names in the breaks scene. A well known DJ and producer, his music has led to numerous tracks and multiple global tours. His gigs have earned him the reputation of a man who delivers not only on record, but also as a live DJ. Having seen Meat Katie tear up the Chinese Laundry on his last visit, I was eagerly awaiting the release of Lot 49 Presents: Meat Katie.

One thing I have to admit before I get started is that I’m a breaks fan. Or at least I was. When breaks exploded about six years ago, it was somewhat fresh and lively, and everyone wanted to get into the ‘in’ sound. However, over the years breaks has been usurped by electro, with every Tom, Dick and Harry playing the tried and tested sound inspired by arguably the most unfashionable decade in history. Breaks continued on, but was no longer the powerhouse it was back in it’s heyday. I guess that’s to be expected with music in general. Artists don’t stay at the top of their game by being stale. And that’s what I like about Meat Katie. Sure, he hasn’t reinvented himself like Madonna, but whether or not he’s going through some spiritual Kabbalah phase wouldn’t bother me, as long as he’s pumping out quality like this it doesn’t really matter.

You see the thing with breaks is, it decided that in order to survive, it needed to branch out. So with this compilation, Meat Katie has assembled a collection of banging tracks, showcasing tech infused breaks with a smattering of electro and house. Kicking off with the rock electro stylings of Vandal and Bad Acid, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was heading straight into cheesy electro house territory. But in come the pounding drum beats, steering the track into an almost funky direction.

When Jamie McHugh chimes in with the rollicking Yeah, the synthesizer sounding like one of those electronic doorbells that were huge back in the early to mid 90’s. Sharam Jey is thrown into the mix with the Loulou Players remix of When The Dogs Bite. Meat Katie then ups the toughness factor, with Miles Dyson vs Blende’s Clubweapons. This leads into his own track She Ain’t Right, which is an awesome tune complete with a dirty, chunky bassline. The Dexter (from the Netherlands, not the DJ from The Avalanches) remixed Vandal feat Odissi track Obey effortlessly fuses elements of house and breaks, the deep beats being complemented by the occasional vocal track.

Being a regular visitor to our shores, it’s a testament to how much Meat Katie enjoys his time here when he uses a sample from none other than Australia’s own Jono Fernandez & Nick Thayer. The vocal from their track Stay On The Line fits the Trashtalk joint Tank Girl (Misc remix) down to a tee. But he doesn’t let up there, introducing the Dylan Rhymes track Suicide Girls into the mix, the repetitive drum beats sure to leave no one who isn’t stomping along in appreciation. British tech funk giant Elite Force provides the slamming I Don’t Think So, while 30Hz will keep you bouncing with the gritty beats of Mutton. Alter Ego ups the funk with Mensa (Dub) before it descends into a little techno halfway through. The Bassbin Twins get a Meat Katie reworking on their track The Dogs (Meat Katie Remix) and Dylan Rhymes gets the Rogue Element treatment on Muzika (Rogue Element Remix). Rounding out with Swen Weber’s First Stroke (Scratch Massive Remix), the vocal sample from Odissi on Meat Katie & D Ramirez’s Stop The Revolution underscoring a fat beat.

This compilation is said to be as close as possible to a Meat Katie live set, and I’d tend to agree. All that’s missing is the sweaty atmosphere with hundreds of clubbers enjoying the music. From breaks to house to tech to electro, this album has enough depth and variety to satisfy even the staunchest of breaks enthusiasts. Meat Katie shows why he is one of the most sought after properties in dance music.