Aim - Hinterland [Grand Central] (UK)

Aim's follow up to the much respected "Cold Water Music" is a definite success, capitalising fully on its forbearers explorative work in combining "real" Hip-Hop with fusion beats. The 4 tunes on the sampler (reviewed below) are all present and correct, making up the best third of the LP - this isn't to say the rest of the album is a disappointment but reaffirms the quality of tracks like "The Girl Who Fell Through The Ice" and "No Restriction".

The supporting cast are led by the slacker rhetoric of the eponymous "Hinterland" extolling the virtues of feeling guilt free for not seeing your Gran on a Sunday and "dissing" (eh?) the 8-5 routine over some flute led syncopation, which is something we can all appreciate. The back row comprises of "Good Disease" which on a first listen sounds like "camp disease" to this deaf reviewer on the part of the falsetto vocal, a decent tune though none the less. The only let down is the faux-moody hip-hop of "The Omen" which just doesn't quite gel - not helped by some dodgy lyrics from Diamond D about putting your "business before a ho".

Despite these minor bugbears "Hinterland" is sure to be the staple diet of stereos during the BBQ season this summer and well worth checking out if chilled beats are your poison of choice. Dan Bond

12 Shades of Fantasy - One [Fragment Recordings] (UK)

Fragment Recordings is a fresh new label incorporating various styles of funk/breaks and also some funky house that defies regular labels in the fact that there is such a varied spectrum of music. The first release from Fragments is from 12 Shades of Fantasy aka Grant Sullivan (Phunky Mentazum, Electro City Funksterz, Avanjelist, and Skinny Asthmatics, to name a few!). Track 1 is 'Love is what you need', very polished big club, big vocals and pumping drum and almost certain to get a crowd moving! Track 2 is 'The Edge', my favourite track off this EP, pure funk and breaks, you couldn't stop anyone dancing to this! Excellent production, Latin vocals flow over a modern day funk classic, a must for the breaks/funk DJ. The flip side is more Sunday chilled, 'Feel the experience' spark a spliff, sit back and relax to this mellow and groovy tune which is the essence of chillin'. 'Light as a feather' is fresh, cool and funky is how I would describe this tune. The production and work from this track shines with a sweet soul feel about it, as this track pumps out funk b-lines and clever filters that create a soulful and strong tune for this EP, but still a b-boy tune and something I could play in a Hip Hop set. Also expect an album out next year intitled 'Low Key' on So Kill Me Records! 4/5 Mark Wilson

Sky watchers - Anything EP [3Cell Records] (US)

This is the first release from 3 Cell Records, but has notable quality with three tracks and remixes from the likes of Bandpass and Option Escape. First up, the original mix starts with some nice shuffling beats, building up with a deep, heavy bass and cleaver, spooky vocals float over to set the trend for this breakbeat stormer! The Option Escape mix is more trance influence affair whereas the Bandpass mix a funky acid breakdown with full vocals. All together a club friendly 12"…I had this sent from America, as far as I know there is limited stock over here, so get hunting fast and buy it! 4/5 MW

Aim - Hinterland (Sampler) [Grand Central] (UK)

Aim have returned from the wilderness with this promo a sampler of the forthcoming "Hinterland" album, the follow up to the critically acclaimed "Cold Water Music". There is noticable change in the outlook of these tracks, certainly more upbeat than the sometimes melancholic "Cold Water..." the refrain of "Hip - Hop without restrictions" in the opener is a statement of intent i.e don't file under breakbeat (oops) but that would be misleading as "No Restriction" has a lush sparkling and most importantly funky production style that is bound to get the floor moving at any club, Track 2 is a nice laid back version of the opener and the highlight of the piece is "The Girl Who Fell Through The Ice" with some sublime lilting strings, emotive vocals (courtesy of Kate Rogers) and quality edits. The album will be a cracker if this is anything to go by. DB

Drs of Funk - Perverted Breaks Vol. 3 [Sound Surgery] (UK)

Big Beat scarred us badly at US, the indie guitar loop - boom chik- rough production formula a is horror we never wish to relive. Thankfully Sound Surgery Records have avoided all these clichŽs in Perverted Breaks Vol.3. The opener "Maximum Perversion Remix" takes the standard dance floor formula and twists it into a psychedelic spiralling wall of sound workout, with a cool sample stating "if something gets in my way I go round it" an excellent piece of Zen philosophy - a rare thing in Breakbeat. "Electro Rock" is a quality Underground Resistance lite / Orbital styled electro number that would work well in a house set. On the flip "666 (Remix 2001)" is a fragmented drum & bass tune and as a bonus there are a few nice loops thrown in. Well worth picking up.DB