Wild by Vortex: A Breakbeat Blast from 1993
If you’re into electronic music with a raw edge, Wild by Vortex is one of those albums that just sticks with you. Released in ‘93 and pulling influences from both Germany and the UK, this record feels like a time capsule of breakbeat and techno vibes. Produced, mixed, and even partially written by Ben Chapman (with a little help from Mars Bonfire), it’s got that hands-on, gritty charm that screams early ‘90s experimentation. Labels like WEA and Warner Music UK Ltd. gave it some backing, but this album feels way more underground than corporate.
The whole thing revolves around six versions of the track “Wild,” each remix flipping the vibe in its own weird way. Honestly, I didn’t expect to dig it as much as I did, but there are a couple tracks here that really stood out.
First up, the “Norton Mix Edit PKA Guitar Mix”—this one's wild (pun totally intended). It layers crunchy guitar riffs over pulsating breakbeats, which sounds like something you’d hear at a warehouse party where everyone’s losing their minds. The energy doesn’t let up for a second, and it’s kinda hard not to bob your head along. What makes it stick? That guitar—it’s not something you hear every day in a techno track, and it gives the mix this rebellious, almost rock-and-roll edge.
Then there’s the “BSA Mix PKA Ambient Mix”, which takes things down a notch. If the Norton Mix is the loud, chaotic friend, this one’s the chill cousin who smokes too much weed and stares at the stars. It’s dreamy, atmospheric, and perfect for zoning out. The beats are still there, but they’re softer, almost like they’re tiptoeing around. I remember this track because it feels like the calm after the storm—or maybe the comedown after dancing your butt off.
What’s cool about Wild is how it plays with contrasts. You’ve got these high-energy bangers next to moody, ambient pieces, and somehow it all works. It’s not perfect—some mixes feel a bit repetitive—but isn’t that kind of the point? It’s messy, unpredictable, and unapologetically itself.
Looking back, it’s wild (okay, last pun, I promise) how this album came out in ‘93, smack dab in the middle of the electronic music explosion. It’s not as iconic as some of its peers, but maybe that’s what makes it special. It’s like finding an old flyer for a rave you never went to—nostalgic, a little rough around the edges, but full of stories waiting to be told.
And hey, fun fact: listening to this album made me realize my cat hates breakbeats. Who knew?
