September: 9 breaks releases you need to hear this month

Gorgon City 'Smoke' (Virgin / EMI)

Gorgon City deviate from their usual radio-friendly house hits in favour of broken beats and soul-stirring vocals on this progressive workout. They’ve been unveiling a new track every three weeks from their forthcoming album ‘Kingdom’, and really demonstrate their versatility here with new sounds and styles. Load up your smoke machines and prime your strobes – this one will not disappoint.

9/10

WxT (Woz & Troy Gunner) 'DWN' (Zoo Music)

Joining forces under the alias WxT, Bristol duo Woz and Troy Gunner unleash their new EP on Monki’s flourishing Zoo imprint. Lead cut ‘DWN’ is a stripped-back, garage-inspired rinser laced with simple, edgy vocal chops and a dark, churning bassline. We can’t wait to hear more from this forward-thinking pair.

8/10

Hong Kong Ping Pong & Skeewiff 'Sometimes Swinger' (Scour)

Cornwall collective Hong Kong Ping Pong link up with funk veteran Skeewiff for some tasty, electro-swing bootleg business. Bessie Jones’ track ‘Sometimes’, famously sampled in Moby’s ‘Honey’, gets spliced with 50 Cent’s ‘In Da Club’ and masterfully laid over happy, clappy rhythms and playful pianos.

7/10

2 Bad Mice 'Limit Of Paradise' (Sneaker Social Club)

UK legends 2 Bad Mice re-create their 90s hardcore sound both in style and production on their first EP in 25 years. Built around nostalgic breakbeats and warm, ethereal pads, the old-skool sound they produce on new release ‘Limit Of Paradise’ has started to come full circle recently, with the underground rave revival being championed by everyone from Bicep to Special Request.

9/10

Keys N Krates 'U Already Know' (Jakwob remix) (Dim Mak)

Rich with clever drum patterns and booming low-end bass, British powerhouse Jakwob transforms the jungly trap original into a contemporary breaks banger. Taken from Keys N Krates’ new ‘Midnite Mass’ remix EP, it’s the intricately layered shuffling rhythms and bright, bleepy hooks on Jakwob’s rework that makes it our favourite of the bunch.

8/10

NVLOAP 'Star' (Saucy)

Saucy Records welcome rising Russian star NVLOAP to the camp, who kicks off proceedings on the label’s ‘Saucy Selections Volume 3’ collection with tasteful garage beats, luscious jazzy keys and self produced pitched-down vocals. This is the perfect compilation opener and highlights the Reading imprint’s deeper, maturer side.

8/10

Pray For Bass 'Keep Praying' (Elektroshok)

There’s definitely a market for this flavour of breaks, but the once award-winning Elektroshock label has failed to move with the times. ‘Keep Praying’ is another one of those tired, synth-driven nu skool breaks releases that just won’t cut it on the modern floor. Surely it’s time for a fresh direction?

4/10

Machinedrum feat MeLo-X 'Angel Speak' (Ninja Tune)

Never one to be pigeonholed, Machinedrum packs in twerky trumpets, industrial synths and warm atmospheric chords on his latest offering on Ninja Tune. It doesn’t sound like it would work, but it does – and oh so well! Uplifting music from an artist that constantly delivers the goods.

8/10

A Skillz '7 Day Weekend' (Jam City)

Globe-trotting funky practitioner Adam A Skillz drops another phat slice of midtempo party-vibes on his own label Jam City. The releases are sporadic, but they’re worth the wait. Here, an underlying 70s vibe is deeply rooted in zappy electro melodies, punchy beats and an ultra-catchy vocal that’ll stick in your head for hours.

9/10