I like to relive music as I write about it. Hybrid is a British breakbeat effort that I discovered during my freshman year of college back in 2001. This was my first year where I could spread my wings and have some level of independence. I had just moved out of the house into a dormitory a significant distance away from home. I had a computer, a college campus, and a gym just down the road. The campus was bustling with youthful enthusiasm and I was happy to be there. My mind was fresh and I was open to so many different influences. I had not previously listened to electronic music until around 2000-2001, and I wish I remembered the first group that set me on that path but they all seem to jumble together a bit.
I had discovered the album Wider Angle, a two disc re-release of their debut album Wide Angle. Although the album was released in 1999, I had not discovered it until 2001. The album seems suited for introspective introverts, for which I self-proclaim. The album is very emotional and suited for solitude. The track “Finished Symphony” is simply a masterpiece which I thoroughly enjoyed not just listening to, but experiencing. I regret that I was unable to experience it live in person but I did find some videos online of their performances in Europe.
The album at its core, is breakbeat. Breakbeat music is generally characterized by sound influenced by the world-renowned Amen break from “Amen, brother” by The Winstons, or other similar drum break patterns. I was familiar with breakbeat from my core group of friends from high school who listened to both this genre as well as freestyle music which was popular around the time. We listened to pretty much any music which included these breaks while we practiced breakdancing.
That being said, while the music was in essence breakbeat, the orchestral and progressive elements included added gravity to the music, and the vocals accentuated this gravity. Wider Angle was a staple album of mine throughout my years of college and I continued following Hybrid for their future releases. They were admittedly one of my favorite bands during the timeframe of the late 90s through the 2000s. I listened to all of their albums faithfully up through their fourth which released in 2010. There was a significant gap from there to their latest release in 2018.
By year 2003, I had moved from my initial dorm to another dorm which was newer and a little better equipped. It was at this dorm that I obtained a copy of Morning Sci-Fi, their second album. This album was an evolution from the first in that the previous breakbeat influence is polished while their orchestral and ambient elements are strengthened. Other music I listened to around the time included works of BT and Delerium with similar styles. A standout track from the album for me is the final track on the album, “Blackout.”
I find myself in 2006 where I just graduated from the college, the first in my immediate family. I moved back home to figure out my next moves as a young adult at 23 years of age. I land a temporary job working to build my resume for the next permanent role so I can move out on my own. This was the year Hybrid releases their third album I Choose Noise which stays the course but proves to be more cinematic and orchestral in nature. This makes sense given that the team is known for movie and video games scores today. If you listen to “Just For Today” from this album you will see the progressive and orchestral elements I discuss ever so clearly. This is the music they are known for. Another notable track I recall from this era is “Dogstar.”
In 2010, I am a seasoned mid-level professional looking for growth opportunities both internally and externally. I am newly married by now and saving to upgrade to the house I want to have versus the house that I could afford. This year the team releases their fourth album Disappear Here. I admit that I did not listen to this album as much as others, and the only real track that I recall is the title track. It is possible and highly likely that there were competing genres that were taking my attention at this time. It was 10 years since I had first listened to breakbeat, and music does evolve with time. Looking back at 2010, Justin Bieber, Drake, and Black Eyed Peas were popular along with several other pop acts. Additionally, Tiesto, who holds a place in my top 5 even today, was hitting his stride having released several powerhouse albums.
Now we can skip all the way to 2018. At this point I think I was primarily listening to some collection of pop and hip-hop. I check Spotify and lo and behold–Hybrid released a new album!? I listened to it’s lead single “Light Up” and noticed it was an upbeat, more pop-focused effort. It still has its break influence, but it was a bit different from what I expected. It was at this point I read up to find that one of the core group members had moved on several years prior, and that there were many movie and video games scored in the gap as well. I admit I did not give the album much of a chance.
Given this entire line-up, I emphatically hold the Wider Angle as their best album. I understand it is disappointing for any artist when their initial offering is their peak, but at the same time, when you set the bar on your initial album very high there is always that risk that future albums can’t measure up. I enjoyed listening to all of their albums up through their fourth, and perhaps I will come back and give their latest a few more listens at some point, but when I listened back when it was released in 2018, it simply could not compete with other music being released.