Speed Garage

Speed Garage is a music genre that originated in the early 1990s in the UK. Its sound is characterized by a combination of house, garage, and techno genres, with increased tempo and heavy basslines. Speed Garage emerged at a time when mainstream house music was becoming more commercial and losing its underground appeal. The genre started in London, where DJs began to experiment with the BPM of garage tracks, incorporating faster beats and heavy basslines. One of the earliest forms of Speed Garage is thought to have originated from a London club called The End. DJ Harvey and Matthew Roberts are credited with pioneering the genre at The End, where they played a mix of hardcore house and garage with faster beats. In the late 1990s, Speed Garage gained widespread popularity across Europe and North America. The sound began to develop into a more polished and commercial sound, with mainstream artists like MJ Cole and DJ EZ bringing the genre to a wider audience. The emergence of the UK Garage scene led to a fusion of Speed Garage and garage music, resulting in a hybrid sound that became popular in clubs across the UK. The distinctive bass-driven sound of Speed Garage was partly due to the use of the Roland TB-303 synthesizer, which produced a distinctive squelch sound that became a defining feature of the genre. The use of breakbeats, samples and loops was also a key component of the genre. In the US, the genre was known as "New York 2-Step" and was characterized by a heavier rhythm section and a more soulful sound. Artists such as Armand Van Helden, Todd Terry, and George Morel are credited with popularizing the genre in the US. The popularity of Speed Garage began to wane in the early 2000s as new genres like dubstep, grime and minimal techno emerged. While the genre has largely fallen out of the mainstream, Speed Garage is still popular in underground clubs across the UK and Europe. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the Speed Garage genre, with a new generation of artists experimenting with the sound and incorporating it into their music. The genre has also been reinterpreted through remixes and mashups, with artists like Kanye West and Rihanna sampling tracks from the genre.

Armand van Helden: One of the pioneers of speed garage, Armand van Helden has been a significant influence on the sound since the early 1990s. His remixes and productions have been widely revered as some of the best in the genre, with tracks like "U Don't Know Me" becoming classics. DJ EZ: Known for his fast-paced mixing and technical ability, DJ EZ helped popularize speed garage through his legendary radio shows and club sets. His landmark "Pure Garage" mix series put the spotlight on the genre at the turn of the millennium. MJ Cole: A classically trained pianist, MJ Cole brought a more melodic, soulful edge to speed garage with tracks like "Sincere" and "Crazy Love". His haunting, atmospheric sound has been an enduring influence on UK garage and beyond. Tuff Jam: As one of the main production and DJ duos in the speed garage scene, Tuff Jam helped define the sound with their raw, bass-heavy tracks and standout remixes. They were also responsible for the early incarnation of the "Underground Garage" radio show. Todd Edwards: A master of chopped-up vocal samples and eclectic production techniques, Todd Edwards is considered a key figure in the development of speed garage. His music has been embraced by fans of house, garage, and electronic music in general. Double 99: Best known for their club hit "Ripgroove", Double 99 were a duo of DJs and producers who helped establish the funky, bass-heavy sound of speed garage. Their crisp drums, catchy hooks, and driving energy made them a mainstay in UK clubs. Wookie: A versatile producer and remixer, Wookie brought a deep, soulful sound to speed garage with tracks like "Scrappy" and "Battle". His collaborations with MJ Cole and other artists pushed the boundaries of the genre. DJ Luck & MC Neat: MC Neat's smooth flow and DJ Luck's crisp beats made them a beloved duo in the speed garage scene. Their tracks like "A Little Bit of Luck" and "Master Blaster" became UK chart hits and helped bring the sound to the mainstream. Stanton Warriors: While not strictly speed garage, the Stanton Warriors' innovative fusion of breakbeats, bass music, and garage influences made them leading figures in the UK dance music scene in the 2000s and 2010s. Their remixes and productions have been mainstays in clubs around the world. Artful Dodger: Alongside Craig David, Artful Dodger were responsible for some of the most popular and enduring anthems of the UK garage era, including "Re-Rewind" and "Movin' Too Fast". Their fusion of speed garage with R&B, hip-hop, and pop elements helped make the sound accessible to a wider audience.

1. "Ripgroove" - Double 99 2. "Dooms Night" - Azzido da Bass 3. "Body Groove" - Architechs feat. Nana 4. "Garage Girls" - Lonyo 5. "My Love" - Kele Le Roc 6. "Sweet Like Chocolate" - Shanks & Bigfoot 7. "I'm Sorry" - The Artful Dodger feat. Craig David 8. "Flowers" - Sweet Female Attitude 9. "Movin' Too Fast" - Artful Dodger feat. Romina Johnson 10. "Sambuca" - Wideboys feat. Dennis G 11. "A Little Bit Of Luck" - DJ Luck & MC Neat 12. "Imagine" - Shola Ama 13. "21 Seconds" - So Solid Crew 14. "Sorry" - Monsta Boy feat. Denzie 15. "Enough Is Enough" - Y-Tribe feat. Elizabeth Troy 16. "Battle" - Wookie feat. Lain 17. "Something In Your Eyes" - Ed Case feat. Shelley Nelson 18. "I Wanna Be U" - Chocolate Puma 19. "Hyper! Hyper!" - Scott Garcia feat. MC Styles 20. "The Bouncer" - Kicks Like A Mule 21. "Booo!" - Sticky feat. Ms. Dynamite 22. "Gabriel" - Roy Davis Jr. feat. Peven Everett 23. "Rewind" - Artful Dodger feat. Craig David 24. "Master Blaster 2000" - DJ Luck & MC Neat feat. JJ 25. "Love Bug" - Ramsey & Fen feat. Lynsey Moore

There have been several books written on the subject of Speed Garage, offering a comprehensive analysis of the genre's origins, evolution, and cultural impact. One such book is David Toop's "Ocean of Sound: Aether Talk, Ambient Sound and Imaginary Worlds." The book explores the rise of Speed Garage, among other genres, and analyzes the cultural significance of the music. Toop writes: "Speed Garage was a mutant child with a voracious appetite for sub-musics, from early house and techno to reggae and jungle. It synthesized everything it fed on and spat out a hyperkinetic, pirate-radio-friendly sound that was music of the moment, reflecting changes in urban life and club culture." Another book worth mentioning is "UK Garage: The Oral History" by author and journalist Ewen Spencer. The book features interviews with some of the key figures in the UK garage scene, including DJs, producers, promoters, and fans. The book provides an intimate account of the genre's development, from its underground beginnings to its mainstream success. As Spencer notes: "Speed Garage was a genre that was all about pushing boundaries. Musically, it was like nothing else that had come before it, and it had a real sense of energy and excitement that drove people to the dancefloor." In addition to these books, several notable quotes have been made about Speed Garage over the years. One such quote is from DJ EZ, who was one of the pioneers of the genre. In an interview with Red Bull Music Academy, he said: "Speed Garage was all about the energy. It was about keeping the crowd hyped up and dancing all night. We were always pushing the boundaries, trying new things, and experimenting with different sounds." Another notable quote comes from journalist Simon Reynolds, who wrote extensively about Speed Garage in his book "Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture." He notes: "Speed Garage was always about the groove. It was all about finding that perfect beat that would make people move. It was a genre that was unafraid to take risks, and that's what made it so exciting."

The late 1990s were a period of heightened activity in the UK’s dance music industry. This period saw the establishment of several key record labels, DJs, and clubs that were instrumental in the growth of Speed Garage. The genre was heavily influenced by the UK Garage scene, which was becoming increasingly popular at this time. UK Garage was a sub-genre of Garage House music that originated in the mid-1990s in the United Kingdom. The emergence of technology, particularly the introduction of affordable computers, was also key to the growth of the Speed Garage genre. The production of Speed Garage was somewhat DIY, with many producers using affordable, off-the-shelf music software to produce their tracks. This allowed for the construction and deconstruction of tracks, with various samples being manipulated to create entirely new sounds. The emergence of new production software and developments in the manipulation of audio further contributed to the growth of Speed Garage. Several notable record labels emerged during this period and contributed to the growth of Speed Garage. One of the key labels in this genre was Nice ‘n’ Ripe Records, which was founded by British producer Mike Millrain in 1993. The label released several influential Speed Garage tracks, and many of its producers went on to become key figures in the development of the genre. Other notable figures in the Speed Garage scene included journalists and music critics. Melody Maker’s Nick Kent was one of the leading music critics at the time and was influential in helping to promote and popularize Speed Garage to a wider audience. Other prominent music critics and journalists who played a role in the growth of the genre included Matt Black, DJ Paulette, and Michael Dog. The cultural context also played a role in the growth of the Speed Garage genre. The 1990s was a period of multiculturalism, which provided a rich environment for the rise of new musical styles. Speed Garage was particularly popular among younger, multicultural audiences who were seeking new and innovative musical experiences. Many young people from different cultural backgrounds found common ground in the beats and rhythms of the genre.