Breakcore
| Breakcore | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Gabber Drum and bass Digital hardcore IDM Oldskool jungle |
| Cultural origins | Mid-'90s Germany, United Kingdom |
| Typical instruments | Personal computer, keyboard, Synthesizer, Drum machine, Sequencer, Sampler |
| Subgenres | |
| Raggacore | |
| Other topics | |
| Power noise | |
Breakcore is a style of electronic music largely influenced by hardcore techno, drum and bass and Intelligent dance music. Its sound is largely characterized by a high-tempo, well-timed mingling of distorted kick drums (also known as "Gabber kicks"), break beats arranged from samples of the Amen break, and audio samples from a wide spectrum of sources (dialog from horror films, instrumental snippets from metal and Gangsta rap tracks are common). Musicians and DJs such as Drop the Lime, Christoph Fringeli and Dj Balli have said that breakcore is merely a catch-all term which encompasses a variety of distinct electronic music styles that are related through a scene culture and aesthetics, rather than sound.[citation needed]
Characteristics
Breakcore hosts such a diverse array of sub-styles that it often presents a challenge when attempting to specifically describe the genre as a whole. Most styles of breakcore share an element of aggression or chaos, unconventional song structures, sudden shifts of rhythm, and sounds from all over the musical spectrum to accommodate the frantic and fast-paced nature of the rhythm section. Other styles are less aggressive, but still contain the common element of intricacy in drum programming, usually based on the manipulation of the Amen break and other classic jungle and hip-hop breaks in high BPM. Classic rave sounds such as Acid bass lines, Hoover leads and Reese bass lines are also common. Distorted Roland TR-909 bass drum sounds aren't uncommon either, which has led to breakcore, either mockingly or affectionately, to be referred to as "gabber kicks and Amen breaks".[1] There are a growing number of musicians who make use of recorded live instrumentation in their music, such as Hecate, and Benn Jordan.
Production techniques
 | This section focuses only on one specialized aspect of the subject. (September 2011) |
Breakcore's hallmark drum programming style is achieved by various means. One method is to manipulate an original recording of a beat: Some artists slice audio clips of drum loops using a hardware sampler, or audio editing software, and arrange them manually using a hardware or software sequencer. Other artists preserve and simply loop the original drum beat sample, applying effects such as distortion, compression, chorus, delay and pitch-shifting to alter the beat's timbre. Another method is to compose original beats, using virtually any percussive audio sample, either programming the patterns with a software or hardware drum machine, or manually arranging the samples using a hardware sequencer or audio clip editing software.
Influences and development
Ambush Records
In London, DJ Scud co-founded Ambush Records with fellow producer Aphasic to focus on more extreme noise-oriented hardcore drum and bass. Some artists released on Ambush are Christoph Fringeli, Slepcy, The Panacea, and Noize Creator. "Scud and Nomex tracks like 'Total Destruction' helped create the blueprint for much of breakcore's sound, a high-bpm mash-up of hyperkinetic, post-jungle breaks, feedback, noise, and Jamaican elements paired with a devil-may-care attitude towards sampling that pulls from the broadest musical spectrum of styles (hip-hop, rock, industrial, pop, and beyond)."[2]
Bloody Fist Records
At the same time, Bloody Fist Records based in Newcastle, Australia released many records of hardcore/gabber, industrial, and noise. Label founder Mark Newlands said, in 1997, "I think that the uncomfortableness also comes from a reaction towards the mainstream and popular culture that's constantly shoved down our throats, that's forced on the people via television, radio, mass media, etc. I think that also fuels the fire and keeps the aggressiveness there and the uncomfortableness."[3] Artists signed to Bloody Fist in its lifetime include Syndicate, Xylocaine, Epsilon and Nasenbluten.
Digital Hardcore Recordings
Formed in 1994, Digital Hardcore Recordings released music by artists such as Alec Empire, Patric Catani, Shizuo, Atari Teenage Riot, EC8OR and Bomb20, shaping the breakcore sound.[2] The Alec Empire album The Destroyer is often noted as the first breakcore album.
Development
| This section contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. (September 2011) |
 | This section is written like a personal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essay that states a Wikipedia editor's personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic. (September 2011) |
As the early days of hardcore techno grew in European popularity, breakcore as a genre began to take more concrete forms in other parts of the world. Emerging labels such as Addict, from Milwaukee, USA; Peace Off from Rennes, France; Sonic Belligeranza from Bologna, Italy; and Planet Mu, from London, proliferated a new sound incorporating mashup and IDM with the hardcore derived sound of the genre.
...breakcore is purveyed by artists like DJ/Rupture and Teamshadetek, the music combines rumbling bass lines, fidgety beats and grainy ragga vocals to create a home-listening surrogate for the bashment vibe of a Jamaican sound system party. Others within the breakcore genre, like Knifehandchop, Kid 606 and Soundmurderer, hark back to rave's own early days, their music evoking the rowdy fervor of a time when huge crowds flailed their limbs to a barrage of abstract noise and convulsive rhythm. It's a poignant aural mirage of a time when techno music was made for the popular vanguard rather than a connoisseurial elite, as it is today.[4]
— Simon Reynolds, The New York Times
In Europe, the breakcore genre was solidified by raves and club events such as Belgium's Breakcore Gives Me Wood,[2] featuring local acts such as UndaCova, Sickboy and Droon; Breakcore A Go Go, in the Netherlands, which was run by FFF and Bong-Ra; as well as Anticartel, in Rennes, the seat of PeaceOff, and later, Wasted,[2] in Berlin and Bangface in London.
Raggacore
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2011) |
Raggacore is a type of breakcore that is highly influenced by ragga jungle, a style of music that somewhat predates breakcore, characterized by ragga and dancehallrhythms and vocals. Its roots align with that of jungle producer Remarc, who was one of the first producers to mix ragga and dancehall vocals with chaotic and intricately rearranged break beats.[citation needed] While only a few producers primarily work in the style, it still has a sizable following among breakcore fans. Notable artists who have releases in this style include Bong-Ra, Enduser and Shitmat.
Distribution
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Since the genre as a whole still is developing and growing rapidly, the music itself is largely downloaded via peer-to-peer networks, and discussed on internet forums. Whereas the early days of breakcore were based in select urban cities, the genre now has no geographical center. The music itself tends to reflect this multiplicity of media diffusion itself by incorporating many different forms of music hacked together. It remains a relatively small genre, but compared to its size prior to the 1990s web boom, it continues to grow substantially.
Breakcore today
| This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2011) |
Since its inception, breakcore has mutated, branched off and provided a foundation for numerous fusion styles. Notable artists such as Venetian Snares and Igorrr have produced breakcore blended with elements of classical music.[5][6] Many breakcore artists focus on melodic progressions and complex drum programming reminiscent of IDM, while others continue the tradition of producing breakcore influenced by dark-edged music (such as heavy metal, and industrial) and marked by distorted hardcore breakbeats. Artists such as Shitmat, Sickboy, DJ Scotch Egg, and Drop the Lime[7] take another direction towards mash-up, happy hardcore, and rave to create a lighter sound. The rise of chiptune music brought a new sound to breakcore, by artists such as Patric Catani (of EC8OR), Baseck, and Tarmvred. Artists such as Edgey, and SNM, who are typically classified in the darkstep power noise scene, have taken influence from breakcore. The UK free party scene has increasingly expressed interest in producing and distributing its own takes on breakcore, working with crews and labels such as Life4land, Hecate, Audacious Records, Sindica7o and Bad Sekta to promote the breakcore culture and sound.
See also
References
- ^ "Hard Dance - Breakcore". Electronica Music Guide. Music Faze. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d Matt Earp, "Breakcore: Live Fast", XLR8R, July 20, 2006. [1] Access date: August 8, 2008.
- ^ Interview in Datacide Three, October 1997
- ^ Reynolds, Simon (23 January 2005). "The Turn Away From The Turntable". The New York Times. p. 22.
- ^ "Rossz Csillag Alatt Szuletett" review, Tiny Mix Tapes
- ^ Detrimentalist! review, "Soundcheck", The Wire 293, July 2008, p. 60.
- ^ Vivian Host, "Night Music", XLR8R 123, December 2008, p. 40.