Words by Tony Green

This article highlights Leeds' dalliance with Nu Skool Breakbeat music, from the 90s through to the present day.  I’ve listed 20 notable tracks from the genre, which you can also now find on the latest YouTube playlist at the bottom.

There were some tasty nights in Leeds from the 90s and 2000s - Lee Wrights’ 'Stush' @ Club Nato, The Faversham hosted 'D.Funked', 'Fresh Jive', 'Indigo Lounge' in the 90s. The Utah Saints, 'Sugarbeat Club' @ The Elbow Room, Mint Club/Mint Warehouse hosted 'Dirty Disco' & the seminal 'Technique' & 'Asylum' parties. 

Thanks to 'Gimme A Break Records' for giving me a solid starting point for the new Leeds breakbeat artists.

 

1. A Man Called Adam  - Techno  Powers

Stunning record, super hooky bassline, dance - jazz - breaks. It’s been played heavily since 1989 and any DJ from that rave/dance era will know this record well and probably still never tire of hearing it. Still feels like an obscure release with generations discovering it every year - perfection! Sally and Steve, take a bow!

2. Boy Wonder - Almighty Funk

The original partner to George in Nightmares on Wax.  He still makes rediculously good music.  I've added loads of his breakbeat bits to the playlist.  Bradford town not Leeds, but made his name in Leeds with George in the 80s  

3. Special Request - Make It Real

Power house major league music player,  check the Special Request catalogue,  totally unexpected to me as a breakbeat project being that he made his name through house/Basics.  Wulls however informed me he was always a Warp head all through the house days of Basics.

4. Papa Nugs & Phasmid - Red Handed

A new wave of breaks artists in Leeds, shout to Gimme a Break Records for leading me here.

5. Wulls - Ravey Davey

Wulls is moving in and out of breaks and hip hop beats..  Check his LP - Acid Snatch, it was a top pick on the front page of Bandcamp.

6. Supercharger - Boomer 

Signed originally to Soundclash, Daren Pickles and bassist Slapper Dave went onto major label success during the Big Beat era.  They were big enough to have to change their name in America to Supersonic due to another band called Supercharger.   Darren Pickles is big time in music - film scores and the like. 

7. Deep Impact - Methods (Original mix)

 Mark East & Simon Dyson - fierce breaks.  I saw them do some heavy shows including one at Rehab where they played after the Ragga Twins and Daddy Freddy,  the deepest breaks set I ever heard, I'd love to hear those records again now. 

8. Harka - Body Talkin

 

New skool artist. Loving this guy, added loads to the playlist.

9. Tim Hutton - 'The Prophet [Vocal Dub Mix]' 

I will always try and squeeze a Tim Hutton track in to these rundowns, such an amazing musician and artist.   

10. Eliphino - Old Lemons

Credible Hip Hop producer who moved effortlessly into bass music / garage etc (and ocassional breaks).  Smooth track, 

11. Prospa - Love Someone

Seemed to spring from nowhere, but thats probably just becuase I'm not charging around Leeds on a night time like I used to.  They are certainly stars of the scene.   

12. Autobots - Chickers

Tom was Bez’s DJ for a good while and used to meet up with KraftyKuts when he came to Sugarbeat Club and swap their new productions with each other.  Autobots made some pretty banging breakbeat records (Huddersfield technically) so deserve their place in this scene.

13. Overseer - Skylight

The backstory of Overseer always seemed to be that he made a name then got a big wedge of money and left town.  Uber talented punk/breaks.    Check his bonkers early Soundclash Recordings work. FIRE!

14. Kitachi - Brutal Style

Spoke about them in the Trip Hop article, they moved between breaks and dub and instrumental hip hop.   Now Iration Steppas. 

15. Samurai Breaks - Power Hour 

Loving this, again Gimme A Break records have turned me onto some fresh music.

16. Tony Neptune - Breaking Outer Orbit

Tony Neptune, AKA Sam who works in the Released Records shop, has this one release. But it’s fucking badass, and the artwork he drew for it is as good as it gets… so it’s got to go in!

17. Bobby Peru - Throb

This is a good excuse to mention Ralp Lawson’s 20 20 Vision label and Paul Woolford’s alias, Bobby Peru,  a precursor to Special Request.

18. Glamourous Hooligan - Back to the Precinct

Dean Cavanagh, Enzo Annechianni and Martin Diver, Dean went on to be a script writer in Hollywood, he was also the inspiration behind the Soundclash label in Leeds, his press releases were notable.  According to Discogs, Glamorous Hooligan took their name from the members’ past experiences ‘running with a local football firm’.

19. The Rootsman - We Come Rough

He probably hates me adding him to Leeds lists : ), given he's a Bradford artist. He's too good, and too close to Leeds not be included.   His whole back catalogue is a joy!

20. Kaidun - 5 Stars in the Tokyo Dome

New breed badass! 

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Here's the master playlist of Leeds Breaks!  

 

Extra notes:

• Rudimental - can we still call them Leeds after they attended Leeds Uni and left?
• Pea Green Boat - Rory Natkiel and Mitz - part of the Technique briggade that made a huge impact on Leeds.
• Speculum / Loyo - i couldnt find online.. apparently Soundex is another name to search for