New releases last four weeks: UK Garage

Review: Neat contemporary UKG taking after the classics. Ba Dum Tish once more welcomes producer Bob G for 15 minutes' worth of well-layered 2-step and 4x4, in the form of 'Happenings'. The buzzsaw on the front cover might echo the influence of Blow's 'Cutter' on the then contemporary sound of UKG in its original 90s heyday; meanwhile, sonically, the likes of 'Happenings' and 'Soothing' bring fruit-driven strings and sweet-attacked rims n' knocks to the table and 'Unclosed' and 'Off Switch' present further experiments in the realms of flat beats and speed garage, the former working in a restless acid line and the latter bringing in a touch of speed's essential laggard swing.

Review: Mr G is of course an untouchable producer of dubby house and techno rollers. Whether or not he is the inspiration for the title of this EP we do not know but it's a fittingly good one either way. Dewey Decimal is the man in control and opens with a naughty garage cut with filthy low ends. 'Cha Ching' is another killer cut with sensuous sax notes over turbocharged bass and prickly, percussive drums with a cheeky two-step swagger. 'Wag21' brings some smart r&b vocal samples to another raw, hard hitting garage house groove and 'Treat Me Right' closes out one of the best EPs we've heard in a while with some busty drum loops and dirty bassline brilliance.

Review: Scott Diaz taps into some old school garage class with this new EP on Pirate Cutxz, but never is it too slavish to the OG sound. Instead, he brings fresh ideas and modern production skills to four characterful cuts. 'Holdtight' opens in bunch fashion with big drums and busy chords dancing about next to yelps and sustained pads. 'So Hot' is a more subtle 2-stepper with a ducking and diving groove bathed in warm synth work and natty bass notes. 'Ikigai' shuts down with some 90s organ chords and sleazy, shuffling speed-garage style drums and well-deployed vocal samples. Effective stuff.

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: 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: We're told that Silent Cubes is a veteran producer working under a new alias and here he betrays that experience with an EO high on atmospherics and mood across three original UKG gems. These killer tracks draw inspiration from garage legends like Clubroot, Sorrow, and Congi, as well as deep house icons such as Chez Damier and Mr. Fingers. The result is a deep, evocative exploration of Garage's immediacy and MOY, who is known for blending IDM, old skool, and acid, delivers a standout remix of 'The Stream' on Side B of this limited-edition vinyl.

Review: Z Records proudly presents volume 3 in its 90s house and garage compilation series, this time presented by Jeremy Underground, a man who should need no introduction when it comes to all things house and garage. Underground (assuming that is his real surname) shares his third house selector's compilation on this one, digging deep, deep inside his record collection, making a spectacle of his ability to decide, to delimit, to include, to exclude, to tastefully separate sonic wheat from chaff. As has become obviated by this series, some of these knocky 2-steppers - these garagey housers - are to here be released on one flavor filled CD & vinyl compilation. So attune your ears to its private exclusivist 2-step grooves; avariciously launch your energies at the attainment of mid-2020s UK garage DJ royalty, till your forefingers and thumbs bleed from all the spindle pinching.

Review: Jeremy Underground loves a compilation project. He has done them for his own My Love Is Underground label as well as the superb Beauty: A Journey Through Jeremy Underground's Collection which came back in 2017 for Favourite Recordings. Now he reverts to his roots once more and digs deep for 90s garage and house, often from the US. His tastefully selected sounds come on Z Records as part of this multi-part 90's House & Garage series with plenty of key names from the genre's golden era all present and correct. This is a fine collection that will up your own house credentials no end.

Review: Renowned for his extensive record collection and deep knowledge of house and garage, Jeremy Underground brings his passion to Vol. 3 of Z Records's 90's House & Garage compilation series. It features tracks that are either unreleased or newly digitised from original DAT tapes and vinyl. This edition comes on double vinyl with four sides of glorious grooves, each one of them carefully selected and professionally treated to reflect the golden era of house, taking in rare gems and remixes from Kerri Chandler, Murk, 95 North, and more. Vital stuff.

Review: Deeper States Volume 2 is another installment of fresh sounds from producers who have come through a competition that set them to making proper deep hose with a specified sample library. Across four sides of wax, there are some mighty fine cuts here such as the deep garage inflections of Enrico Dragoni, some Motor City vibes from Scott Andrews, the deepest of dub techno workouts from Montreal courtesy of Dealin', soul-drenched late-night cruisers from Khalid Ali on 'Elevate' and some nice bubbly vocal vibes from Dublin don Oscide with his 'Free Your Mind.' This is another hugely effective and stylish EP from the Interweaved community.