UK Garage / 2 Step Recommendations Best Of 2013

Review: Disclosure's breakthrough UKG anthem gets the treatment from some of electronic music's most forward-thinking players. The result is a collection of four disparate visions, each one highlighting different strengths of the original. Those looking for instant floor-fuelling power should jump on Baauer's bashy blend. Those interested in a softer, deeper rub should study Toro Y Moi's remix. Those keen on a chugging, chop-slapping jack attack will be delighted to hear Bicep's take while Flume wins the prize for the most abstract twist by way of sharp rhythm cuts and warped processed synth flourishes.

Review: Released back in August, "Kool FM" was Four Tet's ode to pirate radio and laid down a suitable primer for what to expect from his LP Beautiful Rewind. After the single comes the remix! If you've taken a walk through the content farm, listened to the Hessle Rinse show or seen a Four Tet DJ set in recent months you should be more than familiar with both remixes here. The first remix from Hyperdub and Butterz lad Champion is an exercise in simple dancefloor mathematics, implementing the kind of deranged bass line that destroys crowds and demands rewinds. A recent interview with Container revealed the U.S. noise/techno experimentalist to be a big fan of Frak and you can certainly hear their influence on his accompanying remix of "Kool FM" which retains mere remnants of Hebden's original - the distortion from the 2:30 mark onwards is particularly edifying.

Review: It's fair to there's currently nobody in the business making proper garage with the same flair that DJ Q currently does, and his new single, entitled "Trust Again", featuring the vocal talents of Brit School alumnus Louise Williams, is possibly his most classicist piece of 90s-leaning garage to date. Those who heard the producer's excellent vinyl-only track "Brandy & Coke" last year will know what to expect - strong vocals, clipped 2-step rhythms and razor-sharp production. Serious remixes are included too, with the first remix in some time from Karl 'Tuff Enuff' Brown, member of the old school garage outfit Tuff Jam, a bassline remix from DJ Q collaborator TS7, and a 4×4 mix from DJ Q himself.