Manchester-based bass veterans Backdraft return to Botchit with their new album titled 'I Know Where You Live!', a a full-on barrage of the old and new, mixing propulsive broken beats, heavy sub bass and staggering performances from a myriad of guest vocalists including Ebere, Julie E Gordon, Fox, KT Forrester, Elisabeth Troy, Solla & Lima Lean, Dreados, Veba, SportyO, Tumpz and Tracey Elizabeth.
Backdraft, aka Paul Chadwick & Karrie Price have been an integral part of the breakbeat scene for the past 10 year with supported by everyone from Plump DJ's, Meat Katie, Rennie Pilgrim, FreQ Nasty to Tayo. With releases on Botchit & Scarper, Passenger, Bassrock & Downbeat this Manchester duo are one of breakbeats heritage acts with a loyal, avid fanbase.
Album opener 'Peppapot feat. Fox' soars into action with a huge synths and a bumping break, completed by Fox's dance-inducing vocal. 'Be Again feat. Julie E Gordon' is an epic follower, her vocal complimenting the beats and haunting pads perfectly. 'Love Without Limit feat. Elisabeth Troy' hint's at the string arrangements of Rob D, before Elisabeth Troy's spectacular vocal cuts in an weaves into the tough bassline and choppy rhythms.
'Pon A Knife Edge ft. Fox' is a heavy hitting Amen roller. It's underpinned by big slabs of bass, organ riffs and Fox's distinct vocal that set the tone for a dancefloor frenzy with underlying themes of sub dread; 'I'm on a knife edge bredren' ringing out through out.
'Skreamin Out Loud!' has classic pad sounds laid over tough broken beat patterns and tear-out bass pulses, with Ebere laying down a strong vocal performance that matches the deep foundations of the music. 'System feat Tumpz & Fox' is the album's political commentary, with Tumpz and Fox putting down bars that depict the state of society through their eyes, all over a twisted backing track.
'I Wanna Rock feat. Solia & Lima Lean' plays with the call and response format, with both vocalists competing on the mic over a grimey breakbeat and hooky synths. 'Wanna Do feat SportyO' is a tearout dubstep / breaks crossover track with SportyO delivering a poignant message with serious flair over spooky synths and hi-energy power-ups. '9th Floor feat Ebere' takes the vibe down a bit with more groove and less furious energy to create this moody, atmospheric vocal track thanks to Ebere's sultry vocal work.
Next up we have the propulsive 'You Don't Know Me feat KT Forrester' whos mellifluous vocal delivery rides the melodies of the track to create new branches of colour. 'We Know Where You Live feat Solja & Dreados' is the title track and it doesn't disappoint. Solja and Dreados delivery is laidback but the content is heavy hitting. Match this with a heaving bass line and sidewinding effects and you've got a dancefloor devastator on your hands.
'One in War feat Veba' utilizes staccato string chops and switch-ups in the lead line to create a dark vocal track, with Veba's versatile and complex vocal lines lending to the enigmatic vibe. 'Mars feat. Ebere' comes across all sassy with a horns section before dropping into a massive electro mashup.
'Legs feat Tracey Elizabeth' is the penultimate roller, with Tracey Elizabeth delivering a stylishly restrained vocal delivery over building synths, then to finish, we've got 'Cat's & Dogs featuring Fox.' The strings are subdued and contemplative, with the beats hitting double-time momentarily before floating back into the ether to round off the album.
