Groove Allegiance consists of the Mancunian duo Jonny Strinati and Chris Hughes, who additionally run Splank! records. The label deals in breakbeat, and a little electro-house, contrived primarily for the dancefloor. Splank! hosts site to many aspiring electronic artists that include Sgt.
Rock, Myagi, Moston & Malente, etc. But Groove Allegiance lead the way, with a unique style that blends both funk and breaks. They site their influences as assorted – ranging from rockers such as The Libertines, Pink Floyd, The Clash, alongside electro bangers like Justice and Daft Punk, and last but not least, they harbour a fondness for The Rogue Element: a similarly energetic breaks outfit. The instruments Groove Allegiance use in live sets, too, are eclectic – a guitar, decks and FX pad, often all used simultaneously.
2007 saw the release of The Drip – a summer smash that received endless acclaim from the breakbeat community. However, their two latest singles, Organ Dementia and Restlessness, are a slight departure – or, perhaps, just a slightly amended style (heavier on the electro side of things), and with even more added funky beats. Sweet.
Rattling bass and chopped up disco-snippets resound in their new breaks-lite sound, unveiled in these two new singles. Organ Dementia is outstanding. A thrumming, rolling bassline stutters and splutters its way forward, dominating this funky banger. With a great break down to boot. Groove Allegiance throw together a bit of electro, funk and breaks – all bound to get your head bouncing, at the very least:
Groove Allegiance – Organ Dementia [pelski highly recommends]
Groove Allegiance – Restlessness
The Drip retains the rasping, but at a lesser tempo and lacking the good-fun fragmentation of their latest (above), Organ Dementia.
Groove Allegiance – The Drip
This breezy breaks remix is reflective of their earlier work in 2005-6. Less electro, and heavier on the breaks and vocal snippets: