Breaka Leans Into Swing on New FABRICLIVE EP 'Mangled'
Arriving a year after his hybrid club album 'Aeoui,' the five-track release finds the UK producer exploring heavy bass, tightly-wound grooves and rhythmic restraint.
Cameron Holbrook
UK DJ/producer Breaka is kicking off a new chapter with Mangled, a five-track EP marking his debut on fabric’s FABRICLIVE imprint. Known for his slippery blend of UK bass, jungle, breaks, and electro, the London-based artist takes a more focused route this time around, locking into swung drums and steady four-to-the-floor pressure while letting groove and space carry the momentum.
The record lands roughly a year after the release of his hybridized club album Aeoui, and finds Breaka intentionally simplifying his rhythmic approach to see what new ideas might surface. Japanese producer and Beatport Next alum Stones Taro joins the project as well, appearing on both the title track and the EP cut “Yes,” adding another spark of club energy to the release. Listen below.
“This record came out of a place of exploration,” Breaka explains to Beatportal. “I realised I’d never really given swing a proper chance, so I started a few projects with kicks on every beat and swung drums. They quickly turned into five simple, functional yet detailed club tracks. It sounds silly, but putting a kick on every beat is very liberating for me. I’ve spent way too much time overcomplicating rhythms. Working with limitations always lets me get more creative.”
Across Mangled, that mindset results in a batch of malleable, club-ready tools that leave plenty of room for DJs to shape the moment while still carrying Breaka’s unmistakable low-end weight.
To mark the release, Breaka has also put together an exclusive Beatport chart highlighting a handful of tracks that caught his ear while writing Mangled, offering a snapshot of the sounds orbiting the EP (listen below).
