Laidback

Laidback (the British producer Jason Laurence Cohen) is a master of the high-energy breakbeat, delivering a sound that is anything but its namesake. The music is defined by thick, crunchy drum loops that feel like they were dragged through a gravel pit before being polished in a high-end studio. It is the quintessential sound of the late 90s and early 2000s UK breaks scene, where the goal was to make the speakers rattle and the floor shake.

What makes this project distinctive is the aggressive use of sampling and compression. Cohen layers industrial-tinged textures over funk-driven foundations, creating a rhythmic tension that feels both nostalgic and forward-leaning. The basslines are heavy and saturated, often mimicking the 'big beat' energy of contemporaries like The Chemical Brothers but with a more underground, technical edge focused on the breakbeat itself.

Start with the album 'Frequency Delinquency'. It perfectly captures the transition from the rave era into a more refined, electronic production style. It is the ideal soundtrack for when you need a surge of momentum or a backdrop for high-intensity movement.