Breakbeat Era

Breakbeat Era was a short-lived British project, that combined the breakbeat talent of drum and bass producers, Roni Size and DJ Die, with the vocals of singer Leonie Laws.
The Rise of Breakbeat Era: A Musical Biography
If you’re a fan of electronic music, you’ve likely heard of Breakbeat Era - a British duo consisting of Roni Size and DJ Die that dominated the scene in the late 90s. Formed in 1996, the duo drew influence from jungle, drum and bass, and breakbeat to create a unique sound that quickly gained popularity. In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the musical biography of Breakbeat Era, explore their best songs and music genre, touch on their famous concerts, and read a critic's review.
Musical Biography: Breakbeat Era emerged during a time of immense growth for electronic music. Roni Size had already tasted success with his group Reprazent, winning the Mercury Prize in 1997 for their excellent album ‘New Forms.’ He then teamed up with DJ Die to form Breakbeat Era in 1996. They released their debut album ‘Ultra-Obscene’ in 1999, which received critical acclaim for its fusion of jungle, breakbeat, and drum and bass. The duo worked together until 2002 when they decided to separate, with Roni Size returning to Reprazent.
Best Songs: Breakbeat Era's brief tenure left quite a mark, especially with their excellent singles that showcased their talent. One of their best-known tracks is ‘Rancid,’ which is a classic example of the breakbeat genre. The tune starts with an early acid hook and revolves around a wicked breakbeat, driving headlong into the frantic rhythm of jungle with an infectious beat that will get anybody moving. ‘Bullitproof’ is another fan favorite, where Janine's smooth and soulful singing mixed with Die's clever use of sampling and live drum rolls. If you like high-energy dance music, you won't want to miss 'Terminator,' that features standout vocals from Skeme. In short, all of Breakbeat Era's music is worth listening to.
Music Genre: Breakbeat Era's music crossed multiple genres, which is what made it so appealing to many. They fused elements of jungle, drum and bass, acid house, and hip hop to create their unique sound. The result was a catchy and innovative type of dance music that felt fresh at the time and still sounds exciting to this day.
Famous Concerts: One famous concert was the 'Bristol’s Celebratory Opening Party', which had taken place on May 7, 1999, in the UK. Breakbeat Era's performance featured an army of drummers who gathered on-stage to hammer out the rhythms in unison, creating something that was bigger than the sum of its parts. It was unforgettable; the energy was palpable and felt by all.
Critic Review: Breakbeat Era's music was praised by many critics during their peak. It was chosen by The Guardian as one of the top 100 albums ever, with journalist Paul Lester calling it an album that's so full of ideas, so full of energy, so revolutionary in its approach. Many fans have compared it to the work of other electronic music acts like The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy, who pioneered the genre alongside Roni Size and DJ Die.
In conclusion, Breakbeat Era's distinct blend of jungle, breakbeat, and drum and bass set them apart from similar acts of the time. They created music that was both innovative and catchy, which still stands the test of time, even after all these years. They managed to leave an impact on electronic music despite their brief tenure, and their sound still resonates with music fans today. Truly, they were one of the greatest acts of their era.