Hardcore Breakbeat Action | EQ Magazine

This 4-CD, construction kit-oriented set organizes collections of loops and one-shots into folders, each identified by name, BPM, and key. (Or maybe I should say "destruction kit," because these sounds are definitely aggressive). Tempos range from 127 to 172 BPM; while the material never veers down to rap or up to drum 'n bass, it incorporates the lo-fi edge that rap perfected and some of the speed vibe of d&b.

One disk of acidized WAV files has 34 total folders; another has 32 folders plus another folder with 26 drum loops. That's a lot of material. Each folder (except the drums-only one) typically has several mixed loops, along with the loops and one-shots that make up the loops. Frankly, I find the mixed loops more useful as demos, as they often contain fills that don't stand up under repeated looping. But they give an excellent sense of the material's intentions. The two audio CDs are, of course, an excellent way to audition material without having to boot up the computer.

There's a lot of distortion, compression, and even some comb filtering - you can just about hear the PA stacks being ripped apart at the seams, and see gesticulating bodies as the smoke machines release another blast. This material is the polar opposite of chill; it comes to the party wearing black and bringing cartons of Red Bull (and probably more, but let's not go there).

However, even if you don't want something quite this hardcore, remember this is a construction set. Being able to extract individual elements for use with somewhat more, uh, "polite" tunes can give a veneer of sonic anarchy without taking over the track.

I like this kind of stuff, and Hardcore Breakbeat Action is the real thing. Check it out if you dare. (Four CD-ROMs, two Acidized WAV format, two audio, $99.95)