UK Garage

Review: Is there a more positive, soulful and life-affirming dancefloor anthem out there than Roy Davis Jr and Peven Everett's 1996 jam "Gabriel"? As many will be aware, it has long been sought of as a classic, with soulful house, deep house, US and UK garage DJs all championing it back in the day. This white vinyl reissue boasts all of the mixes featured on the original 12". Perhaps the most famous version is the rolling, bass-heavy two-step flex of the "Live Garage" mix that opens side B, but there's plenty to set the pulse racing elsewhere. The driving, jazzy-but-stomping "Words To Give By" version has been annoyingly overlooked over the years, while the "Tambourine Dub" is deliciously sweaty and driving in the best possible way.

Review: Rhythm Vibe keep the old-skool garage house flavour alive and well on this absolutely essential drop from Herb Rhythm, riding the kind of uptempo 4x4 flex that joins the dots between the scene's house roots and the speed garage that came after. The A side kicks off with the impeccable 'Don't Go', which rides the same vocal sample as FCL's deep house burner 'Lets Go' from 2010. Ease Up George gets busy on a remix of the track which injects some classy dubby shimmers and 2-step flex into the scenario, and it really works. 'U Want Wot?' is another tight and bumping joint with rich chords and oodles of soul, while 'Who Knows (VIP Mix)' gets things swinging good and proper without getting losing the smoother vibe that hangs over the whole EP.

Review: Burnski's Instinct label is back and coming correct for the new year with another salvo of bassweight rudeness for the UKG revivalists. This various artists 12" welcomes Holloway back to the label with the technical, nuanced flair of 'Acme' and Ease Up George's eerie, nerve-jangling 2-stepper 'Wicked'. On the B-side, Daniele Temperilli brings an edgy, looped up energy to his wayward stepper 'Smog', while Raynor smooths things out with the refined, heads-down roller and dub techno-speckled 'Round Off'. Demonstrating the exciting new pathways the current wave of garage is opening up, this latest Instinct 12" is a must.

Review: The Practical Rhythm crew are back with a third vital new release here. It's another trip back to the old school days of 90s garage but with a sufficiently stylish modern update. Sky Joose & DJ Perception are two of the scene's finest players and both come through here with a new single each. Sky Joose's 'Skin Teeth' is a dry, stripped back and minimal cut with darkened bass that becomes even more naughty with the Interplanetary Criminal SPZL remix. Perception then brings some light to the EP with his 'Oh Yes', a soulful cut with a magic lead and loose, tumbling drums. DJ Jason then flips it with some smeared, reversed bass and skeletal perc.