ABOUT
Breakbeat Science
IT START WITH
An Endless Passion for Music
For Discovery, for People, for Life...
Breakbeat Science Recordings was a drum and bass record label and record store of the same name based in Manhattan in New York City, New York; both the label and the store were founded in 1996, and a website was launched in 1997. Breakbeat Science was the first store dedicated to Drum and Bass music in the US at the time of its opening the scene was still primarily based in the UK.
Breakbeat Science moved several times over the years. The first location was on 9th Street and the store later moved to Orchard Street, both in Manhattan’s East Village. After the Orchard Street location closed, the remaining backstock was moved to the Halcyon record shop in Dumbo, Brooklyn.
The label has been associated with a number of respected DJs and producers, including DJ DB and DJ Dara, who along with Paul Morris and Sean “Shooter” own the store and label and also Pieter K, DJ Abstract, and AK1200. Other former employees include DJ Reid Speed (who later founded Play Me Records) and DJ Clever (who later founded Offshore Recordings). It has also brought releases by UK acts High Contrast, London Elektricity, Klute, and others to the United States, along with releases from acts outside the US or UK, like the Norwegian duo Rawthang; Breakbeat Science often works with other labels (for example, Hospital Records, the home of both High Contrast and London Elektricity) to do this. The label has no branches outside of the United States, but it does have a sublabel, Orgone that cultivates American talent.
IS THIS THE END?
SAY IT AIN’T SO: BROOKLYN RECORD SHOP HALCYON
CLOSES
As concerns grow over an upcoming “retail apocalypse” spurned by the global COVID-19 pandemic, much-loved Brooklyn, NY record emporium Halcyon has announced its immediate closure.
Opened in September 1999, the store has served music fans of many genres in various locations – Carroll Gardens, DUMBO and Williamsburg (the shop was housed inside of the now-closed Output Club) – around Brooklyn. Its most recent iteration was inside of the Etiquette Café and events space at 53 Broadway.
Halcyon announced its shuttering on Instagram: “We have come to the decision that now is the time we close our doors for the foreseeable future – we hope to reopen one day when the time is right. For now, we want to thank you all for your love, your loyalty and your community – you’ve inspired us throughout the years. Music is our culture’s heartbeat that carries us all through the good, the bad, the exceptional and the mundane. We encourage you all to keep Halcyon’s heartbeat going in your homes, your hearts and your lives. Thank you to you all who have been our family for the past 20 years. Until we meet again.”
With only a handful of record shops left in the Big Apple, Halcyon’s closure is a major loss, especially for those of us who like to shop for music in-person.
Walking into Halcyon was always a pleasant experience – the décor was well-thought-out, the vibe was positive and I always found Halcyon’s employees to be knowledgable and helpful.
RIP, Halcyon. You’ll be greatly missed.
