Customer Reviews

Tectonics

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There was a time when breakbeat was all the rage, and the music- as close to rock as electronica would get- seemed a sure thing for mass acceptance. Ah, the perils of courting the mainstream; the sound quickly junked song structure exclusively for the appealing hooks and devolved into big beat. Whoever that didn't turn off quickly fled for the frenetic stylings of jungle.

So what's an artist to do, with a genre largely held in disdain? Adam Freeland has the answer, raising the flag for nu-school breaks, the hottest hybrid of the past year or so. Take two parts breakbeat, add the subterraneous basslines of drum and bass, a dash of electro for good measure, and you have a sound that packs the groove without beating it over your head.

Which brings us to Tectonics, Adam Freeland's mix of thirteen tracks by artists you've probably never heard of, that take you through the variations of nu-school style in one thorough swoop. Opening with the moody "Chronologic" and "Tectonics," the electro-tastiness of the (literal) "Pig chase" and slowly expanding to encompass old school techno with "Impulse Transmisson" and the hip-hop nod of "My Mind" and "Stich Up." Winding you down proper, he offers up the bobilicious (and too short) churning bass of "Freak Frequency" and the bluesy wonder "Deep South." In fact, the only disappointment in the set is the one artist you're likely to recognize, BT's overproduced "Hip Hop Phenomenon."

As an album it highlights the scene and makes a complete journey through sound. More important, it's an excellent mix demanding to be heard in its entirety. Grade A-.

I got this CD because Adam Freeland's name kept popping up everywhere - he helped BT program "Madskilz-Mic Chekka" - Sasha mention him in an article I read on the world's top DJ's - and I had the rare pleasure of interviewing Scott Henry, DC's Buzz/Fever kingpin, and Scott also thought very highly of Adam Freeland - so I admit that I was a bit inclined to think this album was good before I even heard it - but nevermind that, because I was completely blown away

This album is sexy - It has the coolness of drum n' bass with some of the textures and instruments that makes great deep trance - tracks melt together and they are all truly top notch - I don't think I possess the techno-vocab to perfectly describe the merits on this album, but this CD is definately something special - Nu Skool breaks is going to explode and Adam Freeland is a pioneer - you'll want this CD before all your friends get it so you can say you were into new skool first - it's so good

not only is it cool and sexy, but it's downright beautiful - it begins with some chill cuts before turning up the bass - the energy is unleashed but not wildly, somehow cooly and confidently (example BT and Tsumani One's Hip Hop Phenomenon) before ending with beautiful songs - "Deep South" is a gorgeous moving track and it yields to the damn-near spiritual "Juvenile Delinquent"

GOD I LOVE THIS ALBUM - I'm often let down by CDs, but this one is the best thing i've heard in a very long time - deep, silky, funky, confident, dark, thumping and beautiful all at once, "Tectonics" will take up residence in your CD player

Adam Freeland is at the top of the heap of the nu-skool breaks scene and with this album you can see why. He has built a fiery, sinister mix of hard metallic breaks, eerie little melodies, and huge industrial synth washes. His studio collaboration with BT, "hip hop phenomenon" included on the mix is a perfect example of the sound he is pushing forth. Very flawless mixing and a nice progression made over the course of the album. He keeps pummeling you with stab after stab of enormous riffs and skittery breakbeats but he never really becomes monotonous because he doesn't go all out and blow his watts on the first track. Everything thing is nicely built up and eased into. This is a very crafty piece of turntable work. It is very obvious that this sound is going to get much larger when you have a DJ like Freeland who can support a sound with great production work like "Hip Hop Phenomenon" , a great label in Marine Parade, and most importantly an astonishing mix like Tectonics

weather you are listening it in your car,
dancing on the floor,
adam freeland's mix has a contagious energy
that will keep you moving throughout the entire set
feel the base and drums,
if the track 'frequency' doesn't make you move, i don't know what else can make you move, cuz there is nothing like
an underground breaks with a gothic sound for a incredible euphoric journey.
my favorite track is 'bangin' by Apex.. it has a superbass charge ,full blown base , and dark drums .. All in One
Buy it.

This was a pumping, heart racing album that is a good album to put into your collection if you're a techno or electronica fan. Very energetic and good music goes together like peas and carrots.

those guys in the UK know how to throw down the dope sounds, and Adam Freeland is no different. This LP is a definitive collection of forward thinking breakbeat music. The tracks on here are a nonstop parade of talent, from ILS to BLIM, Beber, Bushwacka, and Motion Unit. This is an absolute must-have for any breakbeat DJ. Adam Freeland is set to blow up here in the states. He's already got the UK right where he wants em. Check this out!!

This is a fantastic collection of nu-school breaks, which couples the funky breakbeat backbone with futuristic loops and synthesizer. It's always engaging and one of the most consistent dance albums that you can buy. If you are not familiar with nu-school breaks, then this album is a great introduction. You'll discover why many believe that this will be the next great wave in dance music.

ive been into breaks for about two years now and this is definately by far one of my favorite albums to date.. very very smoothly mixed and the order in which the songs are played leads you on a soulful journey thru all that is nu-skool breakbeat.. i recommend this album to any of you forward thinkers out there, because this is the genre that is going to take the music scene by storm.. pZ out!

What is breakbeat? I didn't really know the true meaning until picking this up. I really had to look hard for it because it was nowhere to be found where i live but i finally found it after 2 weeks of searching and it was worth it. Its funky breakbeat at its best. Don't be reluctant to buy this because it scratches the surface of what i think to be the new sound of dance music. If you like Leftfield, you will love this becuase it moves the blood through your veins with the pumping of each and every beat. If you have never heard of Adam Freeland, you might recognize Tsunami One which is Kevin Beber and Freeland mixing some of the best hip hop to date. BT even worked with Tsunami One so you know Adam Freeland is no newcomer to a dying interest in new great dance music. Sasha has even mentioned him in an article that i read saying that he is one of the upcoming great DJ's to look out for. He has a style all his own and he lives up to the hype that made me search so long for this mix. It is a definite to keep your head bobbing all night long. I love walking to my classes with this pumping through the MD player because it makes my whole campus seem happier and livlier...how many mixes can do that without being cheesy (oakenfold). It seems to me as a right of passage for new dance music, making breakbeat standout even more than a sore thumb, but in a good way. The only let down to this is that it does not show varying feels of rythm with is not bad if you are looking to really feel hard pumping thumps all day long which is what i use it for. It shows his view on music which is what i really like. A must buy for mainstream techno lovers maybe but definetly a must buy for people who want to hear new age dance...i love it...i hope for more albums to come out like this one, but i'm not weary because others will recreate this sound after understaning the marvel of the "Adam Freeland breakbeat."

Strictly for people who think dope means good, electronic is good, and you are hip if you use the lingo.

Pretty standard drum machine, samples, and keyboards. Personally I find loops that extend through an entire track a colossal bore and I think most people would. I would describe it as standardized. BORING.