UK 2Step/Garage

[reflexon]

I used to be way into spinning this about six years ago. I was wondering if the genre is completely dead. I haven't shopped online in a while(years). Last time I did, I could not recognize the style anymore. It seemed like stuff the Wideboyz, Zoom and DBX, Dubaholics used to make died when acts like the streets started to change things. Maybe someone from the UK could let me know whats goin on. I've got a sh*tload of clasic tracks that I really don't spin anymore, but I still really enjoy them. I think Houston, or the US for that matter, was never ready for that sound.
Thanx

[kikumoto]

Hi, UK garage is still about, tho im not into it really,

However the 'Grime' genre which emerged mainly from artists coming from the south east London area has really exploded in the last couple of years, it is also known as 'Dubstep'. A lot of this stuff is quite dub reggae influenced in terms of textures, often quite dark, however often maintains that garagesque type rhythm.

Record labels for this include....

Road - Hyperdub - boka - planet mu

if you go to www.bleep.com, you can audition music from all these labels

Infact I just bought an album (debut for label and artist) from Hyperdub by a guy
called 'Burial' I personally think its fantastic, its like the soundtrack to London, pretty dark, but then I like that sort of thing!!!

hope this helps

[horseface]

I really like what's happening in Dubstep. Slowing things down to dub bpm and sounding dark and brutal. Lovely stuff.

Here are some Dubstep DJ mixes.

http://smokering.co.uk/main/dload.ph...egory&cat_id=6

I like things dark and dirty.

The interesting thing is that the genre, if it can be called a genre, is more about vibe than musical style. Lots of different bpms, lots of different sounds, but the vibe is the thing that's constant between tracks. This is what electronic has needed for a while, IMHO. Something that's a little more 'challenging' for DJs, but gives the end listener some nice variety.

[Tantrum The Cat]

Originally Posted by reflexon

I used to be way into spinning this about six years ago. I was wondering if the genre is completely dead. I haven't shopped online in a while(years). Last time I did, I could not recognize the style anymore. It seemed like stuff the Wideboyz, Zoom and DBX, Dubaholics used to make died when acts like the streets started to change things. Maybe someone from the UK could let me know whats goin on. I've got a sh*tload of clasic tracks that I really don't spin anymore, but I still really enjoy them. I think Houston, or the US for that matter, was never ready for that sound.
Thanx

I used to love love LOVE the 2-step - there were a handful of DJs here in Toronto who used to spin the hell out of that stuff. My understanding is that there are a handful of UK holdouts who are still doing early 2000s-styled stuff, but most people have moved on to either dubstep or grime, with a small sub-contingent who are rocking the Todd Edwards vocal-cutup sound.

[kikumoto]

Hey horseface, cheers for that mix link,

really enjoying em'

[horseface]

Originally Posted by kikumoto

Hey horseface, cheers for that mix link,

really enjoying em'

You're welcome!

#15 is my favorite so far. Such a great vibe to these. I hope this genre goes and goes and doesn't get too trendy.

[Reptil]

[reflexon]

Thanks for all the info!! Yeah, I dig the dubstep thing as well. Planet Mu rules! What artists are still making the 2000ish sound? The last thing I heard that resembled the old sound was Qualified(who is unbelievable). I have been considering putting all my records on disk and selling the lot of my collection. Do you guys think there is a market for extremely hard to find old 2-step records? Does anyone still spin those tunes.(I have about 120) I would be taking a huge loss since I bought most online from the UK, but it would be nice for an enthusiast to play them where people will apreciate them. I bought most of my tunes oversees when I went to school in Germany and then got my car stolen with all of my plates inside. I spent the next two years trying to replace them. Never found most of the white labels again.

[Reptil]

LOL, I did the same. sold a number to a local recordshop. Some other to local 2step DJs (they were mostly whitelabels). Stuff we never saw here. Kept the best myself (that's why I bought them)

There is a market, if they're nice tunes.

Sorry for your loss. Losing vinyl or machines with your patches etc. really sucks. Even more than gear.

[Reptil]

Originally Posted by horseface

You're welcome!

#15 is my favorite so far. Such a great vibe to these. I hope this genre goes and goes and doesn't get too trendy.

yep, number 15. I like that part in the middle, that "empty" part! Thanks.

LOL lots of oldskool sounds. I can pull my alpha juno out of the mothballs

[djui5]

I used to really like 2-step/garage about 5-6 years ago, but haven't listened to any of it in a long time. Very cool music though!