UserReviews 3Approval 83%Soundoffs 21Album Ratings 1353Objectivity 70%Last Active 01-21-21 8:33 pmJoined 10-10-20Forum Posts 16Review Comments 3,782
| UKG in 2020
A brief history of UK Garage, followed by an overview of 2020 releases in the genre (>'-')> | | 1 |  | Tina Moore
Tina Moore
With origins in jungle and NY house, uk garage began to take prominence in the London underground in the mid-late 1990s. | | 2 |  | Sunship
Is This Real
Offering a slower, more accessible alternative to the dominance of jungle at the time, ukg would become a phenomenon in the underground and mainstream alike, spawning multiple waves of experimentation in house, techno, bass, and pop music. | | 3 |  | MJ Cole
Sincere
Borrowing heavily from the pioneering sounds of Timbaland, the skittering rhythms and 'chipmunk vocals' of ukg weigh on some listeners, and the scene's originally fashion focused, 'bling' culture and brushes with crime can lend a disjointed idea of what ukg ultimately represents. These stereotypes, of course, exist for a reason, but nonetheless present a limited view of a rich, varied musical and cultural movement. | | 4 |  | Horsepower Productions
In Fine Style
By the mid 2000s, marred by its own public image and pop decadence, the ukg bubble had burst. While 4x4 garage would continue to make a steady comeback, ukg as a singular phenomenon had wrapped. The pop and soul sensibilities were pulled away, grime and dubstep reigned. But like most genre “deaths,” this ultimately led to transformation... | | 5 |  | Pinch
Qawwali
As the dubstep scene in London was experiencing its golden age, Burial aka Will Bevan kept to the shadows, producing what many revere as a trend-setting genre masterpiece. “Untrue” would become something of a sleeper crossover hit, introducing a new generation of heads and amateurs alike to a unique blend of Hardcore UK sounds. | | 6 |  | Joy Orbison
Hyph Mngo/Wet Look
Ultimately, Burial's sophomore album would skew underground, and it wasn't until Disclosure dropped their debut and crossover smash hit “Settle” in 2013 that ukg would begin to heat up again in a major way. With pop artists like Aluna George and Jorja Smith going on to release successful singles featuring ukg production, and even more DJs on the circuit including garage tracks in their sets to positive response, it was undeniable that the genre was making a real comeback. | | 7 |  | Disclosure
Tenderly/Flow
Since the mid-late 2010s, there has been an explosion of digital and vinyl releases in the underground market, with a handful of veterans like Zed Bias, El-B, Wookie, and MJ Cole returning to the scene to join an ever-growing wave of up and comers. With a strong contingent of artists staying true to the original sound, as well as a variety of groups fusing garridge with other popular styles of dance music like acid, electro, tech-house, and microhouse, the tapestry of ukg is diverse and relevant. While 2019 was arguably the most exciting year for the genre, 2020 gave it a run for its money, aided partially by the fertile soil of Bandcamp Fridays.
-- | | 8 |  | Disclosure
Energy
https://youtu.be/qW8270sfsxM
Label: Island
Tags: Garage, Deep House, Pop
Disclosure's “Energy” was a bit of a mixed bag (if only because of its bloated tracklist), but the album nonetheless proved the brothers are still at the top of their game. They've continued toying with wonky hip-hop, acid, and deep house, but several tunes pay clear homage to their primary influences—MJ Cole even gets time to shine on his own with a remix! The album is a testament to the relevance of ukg as we continue into a new decade, as well as a fun, accessible place for curious newcomers. Do jumping jacks to “Douha (Mali, Mali)” | | 9 |  | El-B
Move It / Beach Groove / London Underground
https://el-b.bandcamp.com/track/beach-groove
Label: self-released
Tags: Garage House, Tribal House, 2-Step
Godfather of dubstep. Boss of steppin' ukg. There's little that can be said about this man that hasn't been said before. With a prolific career spanning multiple decades, you'd think El-B might rest on his laurels for a moment, but he seems as determined and powerful as ever. In addition to having at least one track or remix on virtually every ukg label in 2020, he's been steadily increasing the presence of his own Bandcamp page, putting out unreleased tunes, and contributing to DNR exclusives with new material. Cruise down the highway in your whip to “Beach Groove” | | 10 |  | Jeremy Sylvester
Que Sexy/Welcome to the Club
https://youtu.be/yx4Pauhrok8
Label: Madhouse
Tags: Garage House, Speed Garage, Deep House
With an emphasis on deep house and garage house, Kerri Chandler's Madhouse Records has been putting out authentic jams since the early '90s. A New York house pioneer and living legend, Kerri's own productions would have a singular influence on ukg and specifically speed garage in its formative years, with tracks like “Hallelujah” getting regular traction at underground ukg parties in the late '90s (pitched up, of course!). Kerri has continued producing and touring as well, but seems to be most focused on A&R for his various labels, and this 2020 Madhouse release continues his promotional run of top dance music... | | 11 | | Jeremy Sylvester
Que Sexy/Welcome to the Club
AKA Champagne Bubbler, Deep Cover Inc, Freak da Funk, Sly, Strickly Dubz...Jeremy Sylvester is the king of 4x4 garage, boasting one of the most prolific back catalogues of any dance genre. Smooth and sexy but always beefy, his tunes combine the sultry r&b stylings of 2-step with the chunky, swingin' rhythms of deep house and speed garage. Jeremy has been appealing to a broader market in recent years, and while some of his newer output doesn't bear the same golden fruit as his old skool offerings, he is still head and shoulders above his Beatport contemporaries. The man has not lost his touch, and for the most part his productions retain the 'je ne sais quo' that makes garage music completely hypnotizing
While “Que Sexy” is fun and groovy, its frenetic vocal dub styling begins to grate after a while--“Welcome To The Club” is the highlight here, with deep, soulful grooves and a rhythm section that commands the hips and shoulders. Do the worm to this track | | 12 |  | INSTINCT
INSTINCT x 0113
https://instinctrecs.bandcamp.com/album/instinct-x-0113
Label: INSTINCT
Tags: Dark Garage, Minimal, Dubstep
Paying homage to El-B's legendary GHOST label with a string of no nonsense 12s bearing little but the INSTINCT name, James Burnham aka Burnski aka INSTINCT is at the top of his game, managing several sub-labels all churning out tunes from some of the freshest names in left field bass, techno, electro, and ukg. Somehow he finds time to produce loads of of great music on top of that, and of the artists fusing ukg with contemporary minimal flavors, INSTINCT is the one experimenting the most. Label releases can range from heads down, steely speed garage and tech-house, to wacked out minimal cuts sauteed with electro, dubstep, and 2-step. Not all of it does the trick for me, but it's all amazing and well-engineered | | 13 |  | ZeroFG
DRB10
https://youtu.be/mZZfZwokRwk
https://www.discogs.com/ZeroFG-DRB10/release/15529138
Label: Dr Banana
Tags: Garage, 2-Step, Dubstep
Somewhat of a veteran in the modern ukg scene, Dr Banana has been around since 2016, pushing a combination of quality re-issues and re-presses while shining light on newer producers in the scene. Preferring quality over quantity, the label puts out just a handful of releases every year. ZeroFG's recent EP delivers the goods--here be five tracks of gorgeous 2-step and garage to “Get The Vibes Right” | | 14 |  | Pinder
Pinder 001
https://2pinderuk.bandcamp.com/album/pinder-001
Label: self-released
Tags: Breakbeat, 2-Step, Speed Garage
Nathan Pinder has an uncanny ability to capture the essence of garridge in his music. He's one of the newer players in the underground, but has wasted no time building a reputation in the scene with an impressive amount of label appearances. Pinder's music runs the gamut from bumpy Croydon 2-step to heads down speed garage to raucous bassline, all neatly produced and fresh
If you like your chunes RUDE look no further, Pinder's got your back | | 15 |  | Main Phase
Absolute Main Phase Vol. 2
https://mainphase.bandcamp.com/album/absolute-main-phase-vol-2
Label: self-released
Tags: Breakbeat, 2-Step, Dubstep
Main Phase is everywhere these days, and for good reason. He's proven himself an extremely competent producer, fusing limber 2-step with dubstep and breaks to satisfying result. Like many in the UKG revival, at times his over-reliance on chopped Jamaican vocal samples can come off as a feeble attempt to ground the music in context, but for the most part, Main Phase tracks still have that special something... Run tingz to these onez yeah | | 16 |  | DJOKO
Hooked EP
https://djoko.bandcamp.com/album/hooked-ep
Label: Shall Not Fade
Tags: Tech House, Speed Garage, Disco House, Minimal
The Hooked EP is a great example of how genre-shopping in today's underground can be used to incredible effect. DJOKO blends the shuffling, driving grooves of old skool tech house with disco, house, and modern minimal rhythms, topping it off with the trimmings and flavor of speed garage. The result is a very fun, dance friendly EP. Pretty sweet “Music Sounds Better With You” flip on the bandcamp exclusive bonus track... Do your dishes to these jams | | 17 |  | Holloway (UK)
Some Bad Days EP
https://shallnotfade.co.uk/album/some-bad-days-ep
Label: Timeisnow
Tags: 2-Step, Dubstep, Dark Garage
Sub-label of Shall Not Fade, Timeisnow recently rocked the scene with a string of nearly perfect 12s focusing on the darker sides of 2-step, dubstep, and speed garage. A particular highlight from this summer's releases, Holloway's “Some Bad Days EP” features one of the best bass programmers in the scene putting his chops on display. A lovely homage to Claro Intelecto's timeless classic “Peace of Mind (Electrosoul)” rounds this EP out as one of the most interesting ukg releases of the year | | 18 |  | Prescribe Da Vibe
I'm Here EP
https://prescribedavibe.bandcamp.com/album/im-here-ep
Label: Kiwi
Tags: 2-Step, Breakbeat
Conducta really took the underground by storm last year, beginning a steady run of releases on his own label with a mix titled “THE KIWI MANIFESTO.” Despite internal difficulties and scene in-fighting with some of the old guard, Kiwi has continued to put out their unique take on ukg without compromise. Overall, the catalogue is not for me, but there is gold to be mined—and honestly I still need to re-check more of their newer releases to form a better opinion
Prescribe Da Vibe's 2020 release is a standout in the catalogue, with tight drum programming and an impactful r&b ethos that measures up to greats like Sunship, MJ Cole, and Jeremy Sylvester. The tunes here are pumping, and likely engineered with DJs in mind, but at the same time their deepness and unfolding beauty make them just as appropriate for an intimate smoke sesh as the dance floor of a club | | 19 |  | Y U QT
Buff Traxx EP 2
https://youtu.be/gryCq-s7WEg
https://www.discogs.com/Y-U-QT-Buff-Traxx-EP-2/release/15931066
Label: Warehouse Rave
Tags: 2-Step, Garage
The Warehouse Rave label offers an array of future leaning hardcore sounds, focusing on jungle and drum 'n bass. Similar to the I'm Here EP, The Buff Trax EP 2 is a welcome splash of r&b color in the label's catalogue, bringing to mind the lovely vibes of Joy Orbison, BICEP, and even Submotion Orchestra. Play beach volleyball in Ibiza to “Sundae Gelato” | | 20 |  | Benny ill
Who, Me? / Acre Lane Skank
https://gd4ya.bandcamp.com/album/who-me-acre-lane-skank
Label: GD4YA
Tags: UK Techno, Speed Garage
Another old skool 2000s player that is getting space to shine in the contemporary scene, Benny iLL had a handful of appearances on some ukg labels in 2020, but his EP on GD4YA in October was easily the most interesting. A1 'Who, Me?' is the highlight, a steppin' take on uk techno that never wears out its welcome during a nearly 8 minute run time. And what's that I hear?! A golden-era rave whistle patch?! Use your Stairmaster to this tune
Honorable mention to El-B's quintessential summer release on this label in May: Brixton 2 Croydon
https://gd4ya.bandcamp.com/album/brixton-2-croydon-city-life-dusk-til-dawn-streatham-bop | | 21 |  | Pangaea
Like This
https://pangaeauk.bandcamp.com/album/like-this
Label: Hessel Audio
Tags: Progressive, UK Techno, Speed Garage
On the Full Mix, rave meets hands-in-the-air house meets electro house meets garage. An odd combination, but it works. Almost sounds like it could have been produced by Bob Sinclair, but that bass line is just too nasty. This one gets my vote for best sound engineering of the year, it's really beautiful and also just a huuuge cut. “Midnight Plane” is killer too | | 22 |  | Phone Traxxx
Volume 4
https://youtu.be/5qvTkpiYGmo
https://www.discogs.com/Phone-Traxxx-Volume-4/release/15054498
Label: Phone Traxxx
Tags: 2-Step, Breakbeat, Dubstep
Phone Traxx have been making waves with their cheeky, heavy take on 2-step and garage since 2018. Equally influenced by microhouse and drum n bass, these tunes hypnotize while approaching the music from a campy perspective | | 23 |  | Skee Mask
ISS005
https://iliantape.bandcamp.com/album/iss005-skee-mask-iss005
Label: ILIAN TAPE
Tags: Breakbeat, Electro, Jungle
Skee Mask is sort of a living legend at this point, and this release cements his underground dominance. The EP is filled with inverted, subterranean takes on dubstep and drum 'n bass. Both Skee Mask and the Zenker Brothers' label are more interested in electro, jungle, and left field techno, but both have captured the essence of hardcore UK dance music in a way that makes them deserving of a list spot. Listen to this EP while you're playing Doom
Honorable mention to Walton's 2020 Ilian release, particularly the track “Debris”
https://iliantape.bandcamp.com/album/itx017-walton-debris | | 24 |  | Brawther
cabinet 55
https://cabinetrecords.bandcamp.com/album/cabinet-55
Label: Cabinet Records
Tags: Minimal Techno, Microhouse, Garage, Deep House
Brawther has been putting out primarily deep house since the mid-late 2000s, with his 2010 Vol.1 EP as Paris Underground Trax (with Jeremy Underground Paris) being praised as a modern garage house classic. This 2020 Cabinet release showcases his ability to shift from moody and soulful to quirky and minimal, without losing the deep 'n dope vibe he's known for. While this one is more appropriately classified as microhouse or minimal techno, the overall attitude and drum programming (especially on 'Fairground') shows a clear garage house influence--it's pretty jazzy too! | | 25 |  | Peaky & Pinder
PBR003
https://youtu.be/hf7o7v62_kY
https://www.discogs.com/Peaky-and-Pinder-PBR003/release/15327821
Label: Peaky Beats
Tags: 2-Step, Bassline, Acid, Electro
Peaky is one of the silliest producers in the game right now. His productions revere the mid 90s, chunky 'n bumpy South London sound originally heralded by the likes of D.E.A. Project and TJ Cases. Preferring cartoon samples to r&b chops, Peaky Beats has been pumping out peaky tunes since he hit the ground running with the eponymous label in 2019 (with a Fergie – Delicious edit, no less!). The way he and Pinder play off each other's style on this collab creates an undeniable spark. The EP isn't perfect, but I really hope these two make music together again | | 26 |  | DJ Deller & Heritage
2 Steppers LTD
https://plastikpeople.bandcamp.com/album/dj-deller-heritage-2-steppers-ltd-white-label-vinyl-limited-run
Label: Plastik People Recordings; September 2020
Tags: 2-Step, Breakbeat
Quietly operating out of New Mexico, label head Marc Cotterell has been remastering, repressing, and reissuing unreleased material and stone cold classics alike under the PPR name, such as Jeremy Sylvester's “Body Grooving EP” (under the MF Project pseudonym), and Alias' “Who's Story.” Plastik People is a platform for new artists as well, with Marc Cotterrell contributing a number of originals and remixes but ultimately shining the light on up-and-comers like DJ Perception, Soul Mass Transit System, and Highrise aka Dwarde. On this sneak peak of 2 Steppers LTD, a lesser-known DJ Deller tune is repressed, joined by newcomer Heritage on the flip. Connect your computer to the internet with Heritage's “Dial Up” playing in the background | | 27 |  | Sky Joose / Perception
Practical Rhythms Vol. 3
https://practicalrhythms.bandcamp.com/album/skin-teeth-o-yes
Label: Practical Rhythms
Tags: 2-Step, Garage, Breakbeat
Both Sky Joose and DJ Perception have had staple releases the last couple of years, the former being an old skool 90s cat with an already impressive catalogue, the latter being a newer name, and also the head of the extremely promising Moodswing record label. This split sees both producers shining, with remixes from two other big names in the modern scene as well: Interplanetary Criminal, and D Jason aka Soul Mass Transit System. Oh, and did I mention it's mastered by the master Mike Millrain himself? Swoon | | 28 |  | T.Williams & James Jacob
Caviar
https://todaytomorrowrecords.com/album/caviar
Label: Today, Tomorrow Records
Tags: Garage House, Deep House
TTR is a small but growing label pushing utilitarian, mid-tempo garage house and 2-step. While the collab on track 1 of this release is a likely dance floor bomb, the clubbier tendencies can drag it down on home listening. Individually, the two producers settle into their groove a bit better, with more memorable offerings. James Jacob's tune 'Trip' is the highlight, a beautiful fusion of almost-dub-techno-deep house with that classic garage house swing and attitude | | 29 |  | Al Wootton
Operator
https://alwootton.bandcamp.com/track/operator
Label: TRULE
Tags: UK Funky
Operator label head Al Wootton comes correct on every release, and this one is no exception. An incredibly solid and varied 4 track EP of dub, 2-step, breaks, and minimal. Al's music is effortlessly fresh, stylish, and interesting
His 2020 “Snake Dance E.P.” on Livity Sound is excellent as well, and more abstract:
https://alwootton.bandcamp.com/album/snake-dance-e-p | | 30 |  | Clubroot
Surface Tension: II
https://lodubs.bandcamp.com/album/clubroot-surface-tension-ii
Label: LoDubs Records
Tags: Dubstep, 2-Step
Just a couple of years after Burial reinvigorated UKG with “Untrue,” Clubroot stepped onto the scene with his self-titled debut in 2009. Inspired by Burial's soulful approach, Clubroot pulled away the r&b inflections but retained the slinky atmospheres, crafting a very solid sub-bass heavy Dubstep album that focused on mood and roots without clobbering its listener over the head. After his third release in 2012, it seemed that Clubroot had put away his wubs, but he has returned! On Surface Tension: II (part of a four part series with IV dropping December 21 of this year), Clubroot continues to fuse his trademark sound with breaks, while still maintaining a great balance between the skittering rhythms of 2-step and the darker, lurching sounds of dubstep. Lucid dream to these tunes | | 31 |  | Sir Hiss
Keygen/Anatolian Heartland
https://wychmusic.bandcamp.com/album/wych004-sir-hiss-keygen-out-now
Label: Wych
Tags: Grime, Lofi Hip-Hop, 2-Step
Tasty, downtempo tracks that sound like Three 6 got stuck in a Vaporwave chamber. Listen to this on the way back from the rave, or with your morning cup of coffee | | 32 |  | Burial
Chemz / Dolphinz
https://youtu.be/vGEy1nBUBuE
Label: Hyperdub
Tags: Jungle, 2-Step
EP technically hasn't dropped but I'm adding anyway because it is pretty dang gooood. First section of "Chemz" is the highlight personally--a speedy, shuffling belter with some nice breaks, but the whole thing is great. Excited for Dolphinz | |
normaloctagon
12.25.20 | Long Live UKG | ChoccyPhilly
12.25.20 | Dude, sick list. All the classic names here.
Now do UKF 2020 next | Avagantamos
12.25.20 | RIP Pimp C | Sinternet
12.26.20 | some great picks here (although how the hell you gonna not mention ripgroove smh)
good list though bro | zakalwe
12.26.20 | Let’s face it, if you went to a garage night at any club in the UK from the 90s to the mid 2000s it was absolutely fucking shit and full of total strokers. | normaloctagon
12.26.20 | choccy there's some uk funky in here fsho, i took kind of a liberal approach plus the lines are so blurred in some cases : )
haha sint too true, and thank ya kindly, tried to keep things skewed towards 2020 tunes and not write a dang ol book report but there are some glaring historical omissions eg double 99, roy davis jr, noodles, dem 2 | normaloctagon
12.26.20 | and lol zak i would pay literally any amount of $ to see you at a UKG brunch back in the day drinking a mimosa. was hoping you'd stop by and pay your respects here ; ) | NeroCorleone
12.26.20 | RIP Pimp C [2] | Colton
12.26.20 | Now do MGK in 2020 | Ryus
12.26.20 | niice. clubroot and skee mask rules. pangaea was alright too. ill check some stuff here | Drifter
12.26.20 | Friendlyyyy
Pressureeee | Cygnatti
12.26.20 | RIP Pimp C
also this seems interesting | Mort.
12.26.20 | 'Let’s face it, if you went to a garage night at any club in the UK from the 90s to the mid 2000s it was absolutely fucking shit and full of total strokers.'
Let's face it, if you went to a [genre] night at any club in the uk from then til oblivion, it was and will be absolutely fucking shit and full of total strokers
| Sinternet
12.26.20 | clubs are fun if you're not an unsociable pillock | Demon of the Fall
12.26.20 | I really dig Skee Mask so maybe I should check some of these. Nice list man, I’m mostly ignorant where this is concerned. | normaloctagon
12.27.20 | demon try 4, 5, 13, 17, 30
defo check the honorable mention on 29. i feel that you will dig Livity Sound in general | normaloctagon
12.27.20 | the Infiltrate sub-label run by INSTINCT will also be a hit for skee mask fans | parksungjoon
12.30.20 | feature this u wankers | Ryus
12.30.20 | 4 real where's deviant | parksungjoon
12.30.20 | he dropped in to review the burial comp and then sodded off for another 5 years | normaloctagon
12.31.20 | one more bump b4 the new year - added burial's chemz
here's to gr8 trax in 2021 | ShitsofRain
01.18.21 | yeah man
bump & grind | normaloctagon
01.18.21 | aye cheers man |
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