Evm128 – 8 Tracks Of Forgotten Brokenbeat

Released on Mainsqueeze in 2005, for me this track epitomises the Brokenbeat sound. The beats are rough and jagged from the start, you can’t help but get caught up in this deep groove. It has a sparse square wave bass that sits perfectly with the bass kick. The vocals by Totti Agusto are also sparse and sang effortlessly with that always positive lyrical message which was always apparent in Brokenbeat tracks, weaving in and out as the track builds to an almost Cuban sounding percussion jam! For me, this is one of I-G’s dopest remixes.

Released in 2001 on the mighty 2000Black label which was founded by 4 hero’s Dego in 1998, this is a track that I remember being played at Co-Op but not rinsed out like many of the others. It was composed by Kaidi Tatham and it reminds me of Lonnie Liston Smith’s ‘Expansions’ with the triangle sound on the off-beat constantly running through the track. It has beautiful Rhodes pianos with that tribal afro beat and a vocal chant on loop that just hooks you in. Not an obvious pick but worthy of being one of the best forgotten broken jams.

Pritchard is my man! I mean, what he has contributed to underground music is extensive to say the least. He’s a proper diverse talent with a keen ear for bass! Turn It On ft. Steve Spacek was their earliest collaboration before they started Afrika Hi-Tek together. It was released in 2007 around the time Brokenbeat was hitting its peak. It wasn’t really a Co-Op classic but I remember hearing this at Plastic and thinking Raas! That bass feels like its touching my internal organs! I think this easily falls into that forgotten broken treasures realm. It’s a certified underground banger that is hard to pigeonhole really (which is what Brokenbeat was all about: expression).

Released on Loungin recordings in 2005. This was part of a remix 12″ including remixes by Domu and Kenny Dope. But it was the Solid Groove remix that got me under it’s spell! The beat straight away is a tuff Broken one that echoes those carnival style riddims. It builds up to a huge ‘bit crushed’ bass drop worthy of rippin’ up any dancefloor. No vocals, just Bass and Beats, perfect for mixing!

It was only ever Brokenbeat heads that would get this tune. Released on Shut Up & Dance records in 1991 – way before the term ‘Broken’ was even coined! It was a B-side to the track ‘Waking Up’ which was a pre-Jungle/Breakbeat classic. Many times I’ve played this out and the crowd just don’t get it. Its an extremely challenging beat that, unless you’re willing to listen to with open ears, you will completely miss the point! The beat is a cut up break that almost feels like a CD is skipping! To a Brokenbeat head this is normal! I remember buying this 12″ soon after I heard it for the first time in 1998. I’d never heard anything like it in my life (until Brokenbeat came along). I guess for me this is the first ever Brokenbeat tune, yet it wasn’t classed as that. I only ever heard this at Plastic once and I think it was Dego that played it. Definitely a forgotten gem that was way ahead of its time!

Released on Universal in 2002 and filed under Future jazz, this remix is a sure fire broken joint. Although this was often played at the end of the night at Co-Op to send people off, I feel this one has been slightly overlooked when looking at say the top 20 best broken tracks, which makes this a forgotten gem! Afronaught is always on point, this was a refix for Bugz In The Attic with Mark Force on drums, Agent K (aka Kaidi Tatham) on Keys and mixed by Daz i-Kue. Top players all involved in this so its no wonder this is bang on the money! Proper Vibes! It was always the track that was in my head all the way home after Co-Op!

Released in 2000 on Derek Carter’s Classic label, this is a tune that I think has been largely overlooked. I haven’t really heard this played out much. It has all the elements of a Brokenbeat jam but more on the jazzy side with that amazing mythical sounding flute (performed by Nathan Haines) bubbling over the percussive rhythm. It was written and produced by Phil Asher and Mark de Clive-Lowe. I suppose it’s more of a filler track as opposed to a lead Bruk ‘n’ Bass banger. (Did I just make a genre up there? Ha!) But still a forgotten treasure that deserves attention.