UK Bass

UK Bass, also known as bassline or bass music, is a genre that emerged in the United Kingdom in the early 2000s. Drawing influences from dubstep, garage, grime, drum and bass, and other styles, UK Bass has quickly risen to become one of the most popular and diverse genres in electronic music today. The origins of UK Bass can be traced back to the 1990s, with the birth of UK garage. Combining elements of house, techno, and jungle, garage quickly became a sensation in the UK underground scene, with tracks like "Ripgroove" by Double 99 and "Gabriel" by Roy Davis Jr. gaining widespread popularity. As garage began to evolve, a new sound emerged, with deeper, darker basslines and a more minimalist approach. This sound became known as bassline, and it quickly caught on with the UK underground scene. With producers like DJ Q, T2, and Mr. V, bassline quickly became one of the most exciting and vibrant genres in the UK. At the same time, dubstep was also beginning to take shape in the UK. With its slow, bass-heavy rhythms and sparse, minimalist production, dubstep quickly became a sensation in the UK underground scene, with tracks like "Midnight Request Line" by Skream and "Anti War Dub" by Digital Mystikz gaining immense popularity. As dubstep began to evolve, it began to incorporate more elements of garage and bassline, leading to the emergence of a new sound that would come to be known as UK Bass. With producers like Burial, Benga, and Zed Bias leading the way, UK Bass quickly became one of the most exciting and innovative genres in electronic music. While UK Bass has always been diverse and eclectic, one of the defining features of the genre has been its focus on the low-end. Whether it's the deep, rumbling basslines of dubstep, the bouncy rhythms of bassline, or the classic 4x4 house beats of garage, UK Bass has always been about getting people moving and grooving on the dancefloor. Over the years, UK Bass has continued to evolve and grow, incorporating everything from grime and hip-hop to techno and house. It has become a truly global phenomenon, with producers and fans all over the world embracing the music and keeping the scene alive. Today, UK Bass is more exciting and vibrant than ever. With new artists like Mall Grab, Adesse Versions, and Conducta pushing the boundaries of the genre and keeping the scene fresh and innovative, UK Bass is sure to continue to be a major force in electronic music for years to come.

Burial: a defining figure in UK Bass, known for his atmospheric, haunting soundscapes and use of chopped up garage beats. His albums Untrue and Kindred are considered seminal works in the genre. Zomby: a prolific producer known for his eclectic range of influences, from jungle to dubstep to classic video game soundtracks. His album Where Were U in '92? is considered a classic of early 90s rave revivalism. Jamie xx: the producer and beatmaker behind indie darlings The xx, Jamie xx has also carved out a successful solo career in house-inflected UK Bass. His debut album In Colour features collaborations with many of the genre's biggest names. Joy Orbison: a relative newcomer to the scene, Joy Orbison quickly made a name for himself with his mesmerizing blend of garage and house rhythms. His singles "Hyph Mngo" and "Fever" are considered classics of the genre. Four Tet: a versatile producer known for his experiments in everything from folktronica to ambient techno, Four Tet has also dabbled in UK Bass. His remixes of tracks by Burial and Radiohead are both highly regarded. Skream: one of the pioneers of dubstep, Skream has since moved into more UK Bass-influenced territory. His recent releases on his own label IFEEL have explored everything from grime to garage to jungle. Pearson Sound: one of the leading lights of the post-dubstep scene, Pearson Sound's sparse, stripped-down tracks are marked by their intricate rhythms and attention to detail. His label Hessle Audio, co-founded with Ben UFO and Pangaea, has been at the forefront of UK Bass for over a decade. Mala: a founding member of pioneering dubstep collective DMZ, Mala has since moved into more international waters with his exploration of dub, reggae, and other bass-heavy sounds. His recent album Mirrors is a masterclass in live instrumentation and studio wizardry. SBTRKT: known for his enigmatic stage masks and elaborate live shows, SBTRKT fuses UK Bass with everything from R&B to indie rock. His self-titled debut album spawned the hit single "Wildfire," featuring vocals from Little Dragon's Yukimi Nagano. Mount Kimbie: the duo of Dominic Maker and Kai Campos blend glitchy electronics with acoustic instrumentation on their records, blurring the lines between UK Bass, post-rock, and avant-garde pop. Their album Crooks & Lovers is a modern classic of the genre.

1. "Dubstep Gun" - Chrispy 2. "Midnight Request Line" - Skream 3. "Night" - Benga & Coki 4. "I Can't Stop" - Flux Pavilion 5. "Never Be Like You" - Flume ft. Kai (Disclosure Remix) 6. "Sweet Shop" - Doctor P 7. "Hold On" - Rusko ft. Amber Coffman 8. "Pulse X" - Youngstar 9. "Higher Ground" - TNGHT 10. "Cockney Thug" - Rusko 11. "Original Nuttah" - Shy FX ft. UK Apache 12. "Tarantula" - Pendulum ft. DJ Fresh, Spyda & Tenor Fly 13. "Gold Dust" - DJ Fresh 14. "Voscillate" - Flux Pavilion 15. "Get Busy" - Mr. Vegas (Shift K3Y Remix) 16. "Fighting Fire" - Breakage ft. Jess Mills 17. "Flava" - Chase & Status ft. Jenna G 18. "In for the Kill" - La Roux (Skream Remix) 19. "Cracks" - Freestylers ft. Belle Humble (Flux Pavilion Remix) 20. "Falling" - The Bug ft. Flowdan 21. "Something About You" - Hayden James (Odesza Remix) 22. "Talk to Me" - George Fitzgerald ft. Lawrence Hart 23. "Hyperreal" - Flume ft. Kučka 24. "One Thing" - San Holo (Grant Remix) 25. "Lush Life" - Zara Larsson (Icarus Remix)

A book worth mentioning is Bass, Mids, Tops: An Oral History of Sound System Culture by Joe Muggs and Brian David Stevens. This book features interviews with DJs, sound engineers, and other key figures in the UK sound system culture. It explores the history of sound system culture in the UK and how it has influenced the development of UK Bass music. One notable quote from the book is: "Sound systems are the best tool for educating people about bass culture. They're how we first learned about it ourselves, and they're the best way to educate people about its importance." This quote highlights the importance of sound systems in the evolution of UK Bass music and how they have been instrumental in spreading the word about the genre. In addition to books, there have been many articles and reviews written about UK Bass music over the years. One such article is "An Introduction to UK Bass Music" by Alex Macpherson, which was published by The Guardian in 2011. Macpherson discusses the fusion of dubstep, grime, and garage that became known as UK Bass music and the impact it has had on electronic music in general. One of the key quotes from the article is: "Despite its diversity, UK Bass does share certain key elements: depth and weight in the bass, intricate rhythms in the percussion, and fragmented snippets of vocal and instrumental samples." This quote highlights the signature sound of UK Bass music and what sets it apart from other electronic genres. Another notable review is the Pitchfork review of Burial's 2007 album, Untrue. The album is considered a seminal record in the UK Bass genre, and Pitchfork's review praised it as a "fully formed masterpiece of production, arrangement, and songwriting." The review also explores the album's use of melancholic samples and its influence on the wider electronic music landscape.

One of the external conditions that contributed to the emergence of UK Bass is the rise of urban music scenes in the UK. Genres such as grime and garage had gained a strong following in London and other urban centers in the early 2000s. These scenes helped foster a sense of community and a DIY ethos that would later influence UK Bass producers and fans. The popularity of these genres also helped lay the groundwork for the emergence of new hybrid styles of club music. Technological advances in music production also played a crucial role in the development of UK Bass. The rise of digital audio workstations (DAWs) allowed producers to create complex rhythms and manipulate sound in ways that were not possible with traditional hardware-based production methods. This, combined with the availability of free or cheap production software, made it possible for young producers to experiment with different sounds and techniques without needing access to expensive equipment. The influence of dubstep, a genre that emerged in London in the early 2000s, cannot be overstated when discussing the social and cultural context of UK Bass. Dubstep's emphasis on sub-bass frequencies, syncopated rhythms, and dark atmospheres provided a blueprint for UK Bass producers to work from. Dubstep also helped to break down genre barriers and create space for new styles of bass-driven club music. Notable record labels such as Hyperdub and Night Slugs also contributed to the growth of UK Bass. These labels provided a platform for new and emerging producers to showcase their work, helping to cultivate a sense of community around the genre. Hyperdub, in particular, played a significant role in popularizing dubstep in the UK and internationally, releasing groundbreaking albums from acts such as Burial and Kode9. Finally, the role of music journalists and bloggers cannot be overlooked when discussing the social and cultural context of UK Bass. Online music publications such as Pitchfork, Resident Advisor, and FACT helped to bring attention to new and emerging artists, providing a valuable source of exposure for producers in a genre that was not yet widely known.