I have the same dilemma every weekend: what foreign film or documentary is it going to be tonight? My mammoth DVD collection is pretty impressive, but a little overwhelming. I sometimes ponder what to watch for entirely too long, looking over shelf after shelf, from right to left, then left to right, up and down, down and up just to make sure there’s one I didn’t miss. Minutes pass, sometimes hours, sometimes the ice cream truck, you really just never know. Eventually, fatigue kicks in and my legs and back begin to ache, then my neck, and inevitably my eyes and then it just takes over my entire body 'till the only thing left for me to do is retire to bed. Not exactly how I’d like to spin every Saturday night.

Since this question has pitched tent and perpetually inhibited my thinking space, I’ve officially decided to get it out and put it down on paper for good. So, in the future I can reference it and decipher what’s going to be my entertainment for the night in a utilitarian, more expedient manner. Well, I’ve made my list and checked it twice. Here, in no particular order, are my top 5 foreign picks (for now). 

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Alternately known as Old Skool, Hardcore or simply Rave Music, Breakbeat Hardcore is the bastard spawn of Chicago Acid House, Dub Reggae and Bomb Squad-style Hip Hop. Here's a slew of videos I've been collecting that showcase the stuff in it's full glory. All Hail YouTube!

Run Tings - Fires Burning:



Liquid - Sweet Harmony/SL2 - On a Ragga Tip:

This week I happened to receive new music by Elektrons, a Manchester-based duo who've recently released their second single, and it's one that has shot to the top of my chart - I've been humming it all week!





Elektrons are also known as eclectic DJ crew  The Unabombers and throw an internationally-known club night called The Electric Chair (popular enough that they have their own CD compilations) that's been turning folks on to its varied music policy of fun, funky and leftfield dance tunes since 1995. Made up of Justin Crawford and Luke Cowdrey, the Unas both have a long history in music, with Crawford being behind jazzy downtempo act Only Child on Mark Rae's Grand Central Records as well as bassist for Madchester dance-rockers New Fast Automatic Daffodils (who are due for a major revival any day now - you heard it here first).