Back catalogue: UK Garage

Review: Mechanistic vector lines and cold, hard angles point acute on the latest V/A from Punchline, on which featuring artists don new guises and exchange blows with first-timers. Though our ears aren't trained well enough to be able to tell who is behind each of these smackers, we must say we're special fans of Jack U Late's analogue-jammed 'Stay', whose quickscoped FX and tenderised drums prove a surreal jaunt. King Wing's '4 Da Hunniez' is a comparatively heavy speed garage number garnishing the flip; the track could hardly prepare us for the dactylic 4-step closer 'Sea Circus', whose toothy lasers and julienned beats pack more umami than a packet of burnt crisps.

Review: Reptile Mob is an all-new sub-label from the revered GLBDOM that is focussed on garage house and bassline. Its first drop was a killer and now this second outing is a various artists collection featuring six standout and bass-heavy jams. It's garage on the A-side and speed garage on the B-side so chose your weapon: Groovy D's 'Outta My Mind' is a sweet shuffler drenched in soul, there's grit in the grooves of 'Babylon' (U-Tah vocal dub) and Highrise layers up the 2-step sounds. Full-on nawtiness defines the odds school sirens and slamming bass of the reverse side. Get stuck in with gun fingers at the ready.

Review: Reptile Mob is a newly launched, vinyl-only sub-label of the well-regarded GLBDOM imprint. It kicks off with a five-track various artists release that pays homage to the garage sound. 'Don't Know It' by Highrise opens up with a distantly 90s vibe, then Sky Joose shows his class on 'On The Shores' with its hard-edged bassline and full-throttle drums. Johnny U-Tah works some re-pitched and time-stretched vocals to perfection on 'Voices In My Head', with further gems from The Thunderkats whose 'Melatron' is a piano-laced bumper and last of all Jay Ward's 'Everything That I Need' brims with vocal lushness. A top draw start for sure.

Review: Jhobei, an emerging artist with a growing reputation in the electronic music scene, is set to make his mark with the Age Of Virality EP on Enzo Siragusa's label. Known for his deep and expansive sound, Jhobei kicks off this EP with 'Swarming,' a dynamic track that uses a slithering bassline to lead a garage-influenced journey through punchy lows and catchy vocal snippets. Following this, 'Machine Language' blends playful, sweeping melodies with a dose of robotic funk, creating an engaging auditory experience. On Side-2, 'Defusion Solution' takes listeners on a late-night odyssey with its syncopated percussion and cosmic vibes, while 'Rising Sun' offers a refined, laid-back progression with smooth organic rhythms. Overall. a very enjoyable record with a lot of creativity.

Review: Described as a release "made by wrong'uns, for wrong'uns", Wrong'uns 001 hears artists JoeJoeMojo, Oward, Rewi De Kooney and Mehlor join forces for some serious bassweight united. Exemplary 2-step, speed garage and bass compiled into a single EP for the modern zeitgeist, and packaged under the visage of a stoned, grilled bucket-hatter, the likes of 'Crackz' and 'Meet With The Devil' stick out like throbbing sub-bled ears, hardcore-continual conches for a next gen eager to prove their mettle.

Review: Gun fingers should very much be locked and loaded before you drop the needle on this eight volume of the 2tuf 4u label's Undeniable Grooves series. It's another rich various artists affair that covers all bases: Johnny U-Tah keeps things dry and 2steppy with 'Sun Comes Up' and Fresh II Waves then bring a US garage feel with the horn stabs of 'Scream N Shout.' Confused Identity & Gungo Peas's 'U Gotta Mov' is an irresistible lithe and nimble garage shuffler with cut up vocal stabs and Stixy D & Tempreture keep it deep, low-slung and dubby with their late night gem 'Camden Palace.'

Review: A brand new label for your delectation here: ESO Recordings enters the fray with some rude boy garage sounds from Jook and Blumey. 'Shade' has heavy drums, robust beats and plunging bass with grime touches and soundboi vocals from Logan. 'She' pairs devastating bass sounds with glitchy hits and pixelated melodies to make for something both retro yet future. It's a hefty number before an instrumental mix of Shade allows the prickly, paranoid production to shine. A fine collision of worlds defines this interesting first EP.

Review: Josi Devil's debut on Hessle Audio is a natural step forward for the label, expanding its sound in a way that still feels unmistakably its ownithis release adding a layer of tension and subtlety to an already diverse catalog. Hailing from Bristol, Josi has built a reputation with labels like Innamind and Nervous Horizon, known for his raw, unrelenting style. But here, he takes a step into slightly murkier waters, layering euphoric vocal snippets with deeper, atmospheric textures that give the track an interesting push and pull. 'Make It Better' kicks off with swung breakbeats that quickly dissolve into a blend of chopped vocals and rumbling sub-bass, offering moments of pure euphoria while maintaining an underlying tension. There's a certain balance here, as the energy ping-pongs between light and dark, but it never feels out of sync. Josi manages to hold onto a grounded, gritty feel, all while pulling in atmospheric elements that make the track feel spacious and immersive. On the flip, things get darker with 'Restless Sleep' where muffled drums and deep, growling basslines add a sense of foreboding as shadowy Buchla tones weave through. The UKG-inspired samples mix with the heavy low-end, creating a sense of unease without ever feeling too overbearing. It's a track that knows when to hold back and when to let the tension fully break looseishowing off Josi's knack for creating complex, layered sounds that still pack a visceral punch. This release feels rooted in the underground but offers something fresh for the forward-thinking listener, leaving a lingering impression long after the first listen.

Review: UK garage is in a purple spot right now. Gather have been onto that for a while and their parties in Southend-on-Sea have become essential for those in the know, with guests spots from all the key heads - Der 2, Perception, Riz Le Teef. Now they start a new label with local-sit producers Jubley and 9TRANE serving up two tracks each. The beats are dark, heads down and serious, with some smart samples and killer bass. It's a sensational start that is sure to sell out and be the start of something special.

Review: East London MC Jus Rival teams up with Camden's Joe Fire here for a hard-hitting new track 'G.M.S (Gun Man Sound).' Following their previous collaboration on 'Dangerous Settings,' the duo builds on their undeniable chemistry for another explosive release with some serious low-end heft. Produced by grime heavyweight Spooky Bizzle, the brass-laced instrumental provides the perfect backdrop for both MCs to shine and Jus Rival opens with a catchy hook and sharp bars, while Joe Fire takes over with a playful, yet commanding verse. Accompanied by a slick visual directed by Honey JD,tihs one is defined by its dynamic delivery and relentless energy.

Review: Wrong'uns is a newly established label designed to serve up dirty jams for the dancefloor. For this second outing, they look to a beat-making crew of miscreants in Just Olly, Mehlor, Jake Rollinson and Joejoemojo who all offer up one jam each. Just Olly's 'Tougher' has filthy basslines and lip-curling menace in the stepping drums. Mehlor's low ends are just as warped and the drums and percussion are just as kinetic, then Rollinson's 'Trip The Funk' is a sinner blend of synth modulation sand bleeping dial tones that is full of fun for the club. Last but not least, 'Shake The Funk' is a catchy slammer with big breaks and sirens designed to blow up any sound system.

Review: The debut EP from The Set Records arrives as a vinyl-only offering, shunning digital realms in favour of pure analogue sound. This limited edition record shines a light on six standout artists - five from the UK and one Dutch - who've carved out their own corners of the deeper house spectrum. From the first groove, TSR001 pulls listeners into a nuanced exploration of house music's more intricate layers. Garage rhythms hum next to progressive beats, with each track offering its own distinct energy. It feels like a journey into the heart of a dancefloor before the lights come up - familiar yet full of surprises. What makes TSR001 especially exciting is how each artist brings something different to the table. There's a sense of variety that never strays too far from the EP's overarching vibe, which is smooth, sophisticated, and unmistakably underground. These are tracks for the heads, the DJs and anyone who knows the satisfaction of holding something rare and tangible in a digital world. The lack of digital presence ensures this isn't just a release but a coveted collectible. Collectors, be warned - missing this means missing out completely. V.A. TSR001 is here, it's elusive, and it's gone before you can press play twice.

Review: For all of the genre bending insanity of his early singles on Night Slugs, it's unlikely that anyone could have foreseen Jam City coming out with an album like this. Across ten tracks the producer delivering music that runs the gauntlet between Prince influenced funk that flickers like a burnt out neon sign, Chicago house that sounds like it was made in an echo chamber and Philly club that sounds like it was made for an athletics commercial. Despite its air of detached ADD hyperreality it's an album that's never cold, and never once looks down on the listener ... in short, absolutley essential.