Name: Release The Beast
Brand: Breakwater

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

BEWITH003SEVEN

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2024-03-08

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

4251648412502

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Total Cap

Black 7"

Artist

Breakwater

Genre GB

Funk / Soul

Label GB

Be With Records

Be With Records is a reissue record label that specializes in officially licensing and releasing vinyl records. They focus on making music available that is currently unavailable or has never been released on vinyl before. The label works closely with artists to ensure they have as much input as they desire.
Their mission is to bring *unreleased* gems and forgotten classics back into the spotlight, allowing music lovers to experience these timeless tracks in their original format. Be With Records carefully selects each release, ensuring the highest quality sound and packaging for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
With an extensive catalog spanning various genres, *artists* from Be With Records have gained recognition for their contributions to the world of music. From soulful melodies to funky beats, their releases offer a diverse range of sounds that appeal to a wide audience. Whether you're a seasoned collector or new to vinyl, Be With Records offers something special for everyone.

Remastered for this vinyl reissue, Be With Records present this modern soul double-sider. Essential in every way. Breakwater’s earth-shattering Release The Beast is unquestionably the standout song from their 1980 funk masterpiece LP Splashdown. It also came out as a now-hen’s-teeth-rare 7" in the same year and when it came to putting it out as a 7" again Be With just had to do it in a miniature version of the Splashdown sleeve. It’s one of the best album cover shoots of all time. For the b-side, it's backed with Breakwater’s biggest track: the quietly majestic gem Let Love In, another winner from the same LP.

Possessing a sound and a feel that was lightyears ahead of its time, Release The Beast is a showcase for Breakwater’s phenomenal power-funk capabilities. The energy is astounding. It rips out of the grooves on a deep funk tip, with speaker-smashing, room-shaking drums competing with distorted funk-rock guitar, bumping bass and space-age synths. But it’s not without its compellingly haunting elements too. What else can we say? It’s a genius piece of music.

And, yes, of course this is the tune Daft Punk sampled for their 2005 track Robot Rock. Let’s be blunt, they lifted the Philly act’s funk-rock vamping pretty much wholesale. But to be fair to them we wouldn’t have messed with the perfection of the original either and those Parisians shone a much- needed spotlight on an innovative band from the halcyon period of post-disco funk.

On the flip, Let Love In is a smooth, easy glide that demonstrates Breakwater’s superb, sophisticated musicianship. The tight horn section and irresistible bass make for an undeniable groove. However, it also reveals a depth to their lyricism that’s often overlooked. In these dark days, the sentiment of the opening lines is truly one to we should all take to heart:

Release The Beast

Music GB