DJ Odi's Breaking Night: The Morning After the Rave
- Tally G
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
DJ Odi's Breaking Night: The Morning After the Rave
When the opportunity arose to review American junglist legend and pioneer DJ Carlo "Odi" Castillo's latest LP, I jumped at the chance. DJ Odi has influenced so much to the American drum and bass and jungle world that our scene wouldn't be what it is without his early and ongoing contributions.
To quickly summarize, Castillos was a major influencer during the conception of the rave scene in New York City. He was very much present during the birth of hip-hop and that shows in both his DJing and production. He promoted and held a residency at the NASA raves happening there in the early 1990s. He is a founding member of the Digital Konfusion crew and record label as well as holding a residency with Konkrete Jungle NYC. He has worked for Satellite Records as a vinyl curator of jungle and dnb. The final thing that I'll mention before discussing his upcoming tunes is that he is the first junglist to be a member of the Zulu Nation. He holds many residencies, three of which I share with him: Proper Chicago, Drum and Bass Proper, and Boomslang Recordings. He is currently based in Cincinnati, Ohio. You can read more about Odi here.
The appropriately titled Breaking Night is a six-track album dedicated to the feelings and memories associated with the adventure of heading home in the very late night/early morning hours after raving. The album has a certain blissfulness that I associate with that feeling. Every track delights in its uniqueness from each other. They flow beautifully after another. Everything is complementary.
Breaking Night begins with "Claws", a tech-edged, upbeat roller featuring some very quirky samples and just enough synths and strings. This track is very uplifting and moving.
"hit em up" also features prominent synthesizer sounds along with the right drums, snare, and accroutments. The vibe of this track definitely reads as pre-dawn. I would describe this as a moody roller with both touches of hope and melancholy.
Odi's hip-hop influence is very present here right at the beginning of "I Wanna Rock" with a sample of Rob Base saying how he wants to rock (you know that iconic track) combined with a sample of Fatman Scoop's "Hands Up...Now Get Your Hands Up". It's classic two-step with catchy use of these samples combined with a funky bassline. High energy. This will definitely rock dance floors.
The fourth track, "Icarus", begins with interesting use of samples as well. The intro is drawn-out, leading to a definite tension before the track releases into a very cool extended steppa drum pattern with intermittent amens thrown in for good measure. I love every track on this LP, but as a dancer this one is the most fun for me.
"Outta Brooklyn" seems like a typical roller but ends up blossoming into a song influenced by liquid, neurofunk, and tech-step. I know that liquid and neurofunk are almost polar opposites on the drum and bass music spectrum, but this track seriously has elements of both that work beautifully together.
The sixth and finaly track, "Ready", is a heavily rolling track featuring a big cat sample and the UK's MC Foxy on the mic. There are elements of jungle and a ton of great, thick reese bass.
I absolutely enjoyed this album from beginning to end, and I very much looking forward to rinsing these tracks as soon as possible. Breaking Night is set to be a success when it is released on all major online platforms on Exult Records this Friday, August 29th, 2025. Keep your eyes peeled.
Make sure to wish him a happy 50th birthday tomorrow as well. Happiest of birthdays, Carlos!
Hugest of ups to you all and to DJ ODI,
Tally G
