Fabric Records Returns To Broken Beat With ‘SELECTS VIII’

The new compilation traces the genre’s London roots while spotlighting the artists pushing it forward.

fabric Records is turning its attention back to broken beat and bruk with 'SELECTS VIII', a new 11-track compilation due 28 August. It marks the label’s first release dedicated to the genre in almost two decades, following Bugz in the Attic’s FABRICLIVE release in 2006.

The first track to arrive is ‘Carnival (AfroForce Vox Dub)’ by Mark Force ft. Afronaut, released today. The pair, both former members of Bugz in the Attic and key figures in the CoOp movement, reunite on a deep, bass-heavy cut built around Afrocentric rhythms, rolling percussion and vocals recorded in Puerto Rico.

The compilation looks both backwards and forwards, pairing established names from the scene with newer artists. Maddslinky, aka Zed Bias, contributes ‘UNTITLED AS YET’, an unreleased CoOp-era recording that has remained unheard for more than 20 years, while Bruk Rogers, Ben Hauke, D’Monk and Streeton bring more contemporary takes on broken beat’s rhythmic language.

Elsewhere, XL Regular, Donsurf and Last Nubian ft. Arinola round out the collection, which moves between soulful, chord-led productions, dub-influenced grooves and heavier club tracks.

For fabric, the compilation is intended as a snapshot of a scene that has continued to evolve without losing its connection to its roots. The label describes broken beat as a sound with a “devoted community” that has been carried forward by new generations of artists.

Alongside the digital release, fabric will issue 100 exclusive white-label sampler 12-inches, available to pre-order from the campaign launch.

SELECTS VIII follows the wider SELECTS series, in which members of the fabric team explore the scenes and sounds that have shaped club culture. This edition puts the spotlight firmly on one of London’s most distinctive underground movements.