As the name implies, broken beat DJs fuck with standard beats in genres as varied as house, drum ‘n’ bass, and hiphop, breaking up and scattering drum patterns and creating a more experimentally complex electronic sound in the process. As a key player in London’s broken beat scene (the birthplace of the genre), Seiji (AKA Paul Dolby), along with his production collective, Bugz in the Attic, has been helping promote its eclectic sound outside of the U.K.–a mix that blends aspects of jazz, house, 2-step, jungle, breakbeat, and classic funk/soul vocalists into a futuristic collage of sonic styles.
Seiji first gained notoriety in the mid-’90s with his experimental drum ‘n’ bass track “Northern Exposure” and LP Just Another Number (Reinforced Records). His exploration into both house and drum ‘n’ bass productions led to the formation of the Bugz in the Attic crew with Kaidi Tatham, Afronaught, Daz-I-Kue, Mark Force, Mark de Clive-Lowe, and Nathan Haines. Individually, though, Seiji’s sound is kindred to such artists as Jazzanova, Trüby Trio, and Kyoto Jazz Massive, who are linked globally by their explorations into futurist jazz and funk.
Remixes, which was released by Bitasweet Records last October, showcases Seiji with another angle of his skill set–reworking tracks by Neon Phusion, P’taah, Reunion, and the Joakim Lone Octet. The beats skip, bounce, and stutter while the overall sound incorporates contemporary electronic sensibilities, funk percussion, jazz arrangements, and Afro/soul vocals. Remixes is a wonderful representation of broken beat principles both for those already familiar with the genre and for new listeners.
Born out of the necessity to transcend rigid dance floor structures, broken beat is cutting a fresh course through the future of electronic music. With his DJ sets, though, Seiji prefers to stay unpredictable, switching between more standard genres and the one for which he’s best known. “It’s great to make and play everything from soul to techno,” he says, “but it’s also great to play a pure broken set and see people bug out.” NICOLAE WHITE
Seiji w/A. C. Lewis and J-Justice, Sun Feb 9 at the Baltic Room, 1207 Pine St, 625-4444, 9 pm-2 am, 21+, $5.