*Review* BuzzBee Recordings 4.2
In a seemingly non-stop stream, I have been receiving stuff left right and centre, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all labels, artists and producers for trusting me with their projects, and allowing me to be honest about their music.
I’ve been asked by the BuzzBee lot to tell you all that this release will be out soon, and you can find out more over at http://www.buzzbee-recordings.co.uk so pay them a visit.
Buzzbee is the brainchild of Soundboy Taz, and ex-10% mentalist Garry Bynon, and release 4.2 sees the following tracks:
DJ Running Man - SkaCore
DJ Mono - TikTak
TwinSpin - TNX ID&T
Scar Wars - Scar Wars Vol 1
Shall we? Rude not to….. Ok, DJ Running Man. Ska Core. This is a really solid track, but it doesn’t seem to take elements from Ska Groups, its more reggae in my opinion. Anyway, whats in a name eh? I was really intrigued to hear what Running Man had done here.  So, this is what he did…. This is a proper oldskool runner which kind of reminds me of Reinforced Records 92/93. It starts with a nice ragga riff, and drops into a clever little dub section, helped along by the ‘Its the new style’ beasties vocal, this uses classic stabs, a cut up ‘Stakker’ breakbeat and good use of hoovers to push the track along. About half way through, the main riff reverses, and a stabby hoover section joins the party. Then back into the original riff to finish the track. Overall, not a bad track. More Reggae than ska, but as the man himself says, Reggae-Core sounds rubbish.
Ok, next is DJ Mono - Tik Tak, Right off, I’m loving the heavily EQ’d Hip Hop beats, and the apache drums. Again, oldskool samples are used, but these ones are a bit more obscure, ‘Big up yourelf and bring down the theme tune, respect is due.’. This tune seems to run a little slower than the rest of the EP, and my general rule of thumb is that if its slower, it needs to have more in it, and be pretty heavyweight. I think if you had to choose the 4 heaviest breakbeats in the world, and whack them in a track, then Mono has managed it. The synth work is haunting, and the choir type vocal adds to the effect of creating something that is dark, heavy and grimey. The end of the track sees some random breaks being cut up, and kept me interested until the end. Good track this. This is Hardcore.
Twinspin comes up next with probably my favourite track on the EP. This is again, heavily jungle-techno influenced, once again using ragga vocals, and heavily reverbed pitched down amens (have I told you about my amen fixation?), this track is tough, and is very similar to some Bogwoppa business. The synth work is simple, and the music is choc-full of samples. It doesnt stay still, and chops and changes about, and utilises everything from distorted synth sounds, to train whistles, to ragga vocals, lots of ‘uhhh’s’, amens, apaches, scratches, here we go’s and lots lots more. This is an excellent track, and makes the EP for me. It should do for you too.
Finally, Scar Wars. This track picks up the pace to give this EP a great range of solid tracks at varying speeds. (Dont you just love the hardcore stuff? No rules!) This is reminiscent of classic early 93 style, Roling amens and a 4×4 kicks, this track uses a busy baseline, and the ever awesome Inner City - Good Life stab. A little vocal that says ‘3am’ I think, cant quite make it out. It chugs along and introduces a single note ‘dirt-stab’ that makes the track feel a little dark. But i found myself pulling ‘hardcore faces’ at that section. (A hardcore face is like your orgasm face, just without the inconvenience of being dribbled on, or getting moaned at cos you’ve ‘made a mess’). This track has a load of energy, and it tops off the EP nicely.
Overall, I feel that the Buzzbee boys have got it right with the mix of music on here, and they all definitely have that ‘darker’ edge. Personally, I’m loving the BB side a little more than the B side (BuzzBee records only do ‘B’-Sides, hahaha, that, is a right touch.) But the EP should appeal to Oldskool Heads and people liking their hardcore a little darker. This EP is a classic example of an ‘unsung classic’. It has all the elements of what you would expect, and you’d think this EP was just something you’d play, but I guarantee you’d play it again. And again. And Again.
And again.
Anyway, support the scene, buy the records. Dont be a free-loader like me.
Until next time
The Mix Analyst