The Vitals:

Label: Fat Records
Genre: Funky Breaks
Number of Tracks: 11
How to Obtain: www.thefatclub.com

Factor Scores:

Production Quality: 7.5
Programming and Arrangement: 8.0
Entertainment Quality: 8.0
Total: 7.8 – Good

Z's take:

Bigbeat may have lost some of its mainstream following, but it still remains one of my favorite styles because of its fun danceable feel. Merka brings a new offering of acid jazz disco electronic breaks to the table with this 11-track recording called Beserka. It is a fresh imagining of the bigbeat genre with all the good stuff you would expect. From jump-up jazz-step to low-end dirty breaks, this album spans a broad range of sounds while still remaining nicely gelled from song to song.       

Production Quality

The quality of all the tracks is very high-quality and professional. Though many of the tracks use speaking and singing samples gleaned from old recordings, they are tweaked and gated enough to bring out superb clarity. A few tracks retain the crackle of the record noise, but I can only assume that is intentional as bigbeat usually leaves an old-school DJ feel in the tracks. The overall production quality is very high and leaves nothing for the listener to do but press play and enjoy.  

Programming and Arrangement

Variety and variation reign supreme on this recording. Each track is a song within a song. Though a song may start out with a specific arrangement, there is inevitably a complete change-up before the song comes to a close. There is little repetition of themes, and the creativity in the layout keeps even the most impatient listener occupied. From light airy drum sequences to string vs. bassline mash-ups, this recording is full of electronic artistry.

Entertainment Quality

Perfect for everything from roadtrips to raves, this recording is the upbeat soundtrack for any activity. Pop it in your stereo and crank up the dance vibe, or run it through your earphones and enjoy an afternoon in the sun. This album is very creative and fun to listen to and contains few dark elements. I will be keeping this on repeat in my CD player for quite awhile.

Whether you are a fan of the previous bigbeat music or are a new comer to the genre, you will find a well-made, bright musical album in Beserka. I would highly suggest this gets added to your collection of breakbeat tracks.