New releases last four weeks: UK Garage

Review: Following their 2022 collaboration Dissolve in the Rain, drum & bass favourite Calibre and Camden-born singer and producer Chelou reunite for a new series of genre-blurring tracks. Chelou's distinct style meshes effortlessly with Calibre's emotionally rich production here on two tunes that create melancholic, slow-burning vibes that feel both intimate and expansive. 'Doing It For You' is introspective thanks to the pad work while also riding on an irresistible broken beat rhythm. Then, 'No Man Is An Island Rework' is a silky smooth drum & bass sound with folky vocals making for a brilliant counterpoint.

Review: Dungen Meat duo Brawther and Tristan Da Cunha deal in heavyweight, no-nonsense house and that is embodied in their label Slabs, which focuses on the deeper side of things and now welcomes Dutch talent Job de Jong for a stylish brace of cuts. 'Like This' draws from all over - dubwise vocal samples, percussion from garage, kicks from house music and echo from dub. It's a physical, bouncy sound for energising the dance floor without ever resorting to gimmicks. On the flip, 'MB' pumps a garage-house vibe with dusty drum rotations and snares that flap in the wind. Add in bulbous organ lines and balmy pads and you have a nice neon heater.

Review: Roman Flugel's 2004 banger 'Geht's Noch?' is a cheeky electro anthem that became a schoolyard ringtone staple, and now it is back for its 21st anniversary on Running Back. The original was part of a Cocoon compilation and this reissue features remixes that pay homage to its playful mood. Luca Lozano's ' 'Gehts Garage Remix' introduces UK funky elements, Peder Mannerfelt's version builds dramatic tension around the iconic riff, and Aasthma delivers a colourful, anime-inspired take. EDM bigwig Steve Angello brings some signature oversized electro maximalism to his version.

Review: Gary "Gaz" returns with four more skewed UK garage cuts under the Steak Baked Garage Bakes banner, following hot on the heels of his first EP, not to mention an accompanying myth alleging a certain Greggs-pastry binging excess on the part of the artist. As ever, the music's as daft as it is deadly, with 'Gary Loves Garage' dialling in signature chordwork (emphasis is placed on the dominant seventh sharp ninth, an apparent harmonic staple of speed garage) with the sort of reverence that's turned Gaz into a kind of postcode-specific myth among local "deep garage dads". 'Gary Visits NYC (BA Premium Economy)' goes on to help us imagine a recent attempt at a trip that never quite happened, derailed by Wetherspoons and terminal confusion; finally, 'Gary's SP1200' is a wonky lament to gear forever just out of reach, while 'Gary's Pad Patterns' celebrates his most prized Zip disc like a sacred text.

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Burnski's Constant Sound is very nearly at 50 releases and not one of them has ever dipped below essential levels of quality. Kepler has been a regular contributor to this fine catalogue and returns with more of his shuffling, playful and charming garage cuts. 'Recall' manages to be both deep and driving, with cute chord stabs and a smart vocal sample that adds the r&b gloss. 'Flavour' has those old school stabs and filthy basslines and 'Loft Groove' is a bouncy, low-slung number with organic percussion. Closing out another high-grade offering is 'Don't Stop' which brings some dubby chords to a slick, punchy house rhythm. Pure class.

Review: Pilot is one of the many labels in the orbit of the irrepressible James 'Burnski' Burnham. Its next outing is from M High who perfectly slots into the label's classy minimal and tech sound world. Things open up with 'Same Routine' which is a turbocharged sound with frazzled bass and thumping kicks. 'On My Own Supply' has a touch of the old school to it with the unbridled joy of the dancing piano chords and big, bulky beats. 'Same Routine' then gets a space-tech rework from Wodda and Hatori's live Bass remix brings some lush cosmic synth swirls and bumping drums.

Review: After years spent offering up tasteful and quietly impressive singles and EPs - including outings on Ambassador's Reception, Tusk Wax, Nomada Recordsm Outplay and Omena - Piero Paolineli AKA Sofatalk is finally ready to drop his debut album, The Soul's Code, via Istanbul-based Oath. Described as "a patchwork of styles", the eight-track set sees the Italian producer combine live percussion and instrumentation with heavy basslines, punchy electronic beats and colourful synth sounds, while also doffing a cap to a multitude of interconnected styles (dub, broken beat, nu-jazz, deep house, jazz-funk and more). The plentiful highlights include heavyweight opener 'Complex Journey', the Nu Genea-esque Zopelar collaboration 'Out of Nowhere' and the warming and spacey broken house delight that is 'Dub Lush (feat Veezo)'.

Review: Sweet Female Attitude was the first all-female fronted garage act, and they also dropped one of the genre's most enduring classics. 'Flowers' is pure sunshine and party, from the holy vocals to the soulful bassline and nice raw drums. Her hit gets a subtle rework by Sunship before the Sunship vs Chunky remix flips out the vocal for live MC mic work. '8 Days A Week' then gets niofused with classic 90s basslines and 'DJ Play It (Sunship remix)' closes with more of that old school charm and r&b laced garage swagger.

Review: Velvet Velour (Liam Dodds) is the central name to propel London house and garage outing Oblique Recordings into brighter lights. After Espresso Bandini, Enrico Dragoni and Double Identity threw back to glaring future-past speed garage vibes on the label's last outing in 2023, now Eli Atala, MTTY and Velour join up for yet another frazzling fandango in the same style. From deep bass layers to sharp percussions, it's another knockout freshener from the cottage factory based in the big smoke.