Back catalogue: Breakbeat

Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight surface marks, record slightly warped***


In the summer of 2023, Upgrade Records launched via a nostalgic, party-starting EP from the previously unheard artist In 5 D (likely an alias for someone a bit better known, but don't quote us on that). For the label's return, long-serving DJ/producer Buckley Boland (best known for his releases on Made To Play, Black Riot and One Records) is the man at the controls. What he's delivered is a nostalgic, sample-rich affair that combines the angular wonkiness and mind-mangling noises of early-to-mid-2000s tech-house with nods towards vintage acid house, electro-house and the hard-to-pigeonhole house filth of the (long gone) Music For Freaks label. Basically, it's all fun-time, party-starting fare, with the bump-and-squelch of 'Daft Sandwich', the bustling brilliance of 'Nude Night' and the break-sporting hustle of 'S/A/M Real Man' standing out.

Review: The enigmatic Downtown Romeo Records returns with its signature blend of melancholy and intensity from Saved My Life. First up, the Chuva de Verao remix of 'Amar' is a lush downtempo track laced with subtle acid elements that draw you into a hypnotic vortex. Meanwhile, the Ilusao Dub on the flip pushes forward with a powerful, massive breakbeat groove. It's a usual mix of sound designs, acoustic elements and club energy that really stands out. True to the label's tradition, the record is presented in a luxurious sleeve, complete with an embossed stamp and insert that elevates the tactile experience.