Speed Garage
UK garage with a house four-to-the-floor and a heavy, warped jungle bass.
History
Speed garage is a form of UK garage that began in London in the mid-1990s s1. The name was first heard widely in early 1997 s1. It describes New York garage house played faster, at about 130 beats per minute s1. The sound was developed first by American producers such as Todd Edwards and Armand Van Helden s1. Van Helden's remix of CJ Bolland's 'Sugar is Sweeter' is often called the first true speed garage record s1. Speed garage mixes sped-up garage rhythms with breakbeats s1. Snares fall in unusual places in the drum pattern s1. It uses warped, heavy basslines influenced by jungle and reggae s1. Sweeping bass and breakdowns are common s1. It often uses jungle and dub effects such as gunshots and sirens s1. The style reached its commercial peak in 1997 and 1998 s1. Double 99's 'Ripgroove' was one of its biggest records s2. Speed garage was a direct forerunner of 2-step garage and bassline s1.
Sound
- A four-to-the-floor kick at about 135 beats per minute
- Warped, sweeping basslines
- Snares in unusual places
- Jungle and dub sound effects
- Time-stretched vocal samples
Key figures
- Armand Van Helden — American producer often credited with the first speed garage record
- Todd Edwards — American producer whose garage sound shaped the style
- Double 99 — British act behind 'Ripgroove'
- 187 Lockdown — British speed garage act
Labels
- Ice Cream Records — London , 1996
- Satellite Records — London , 1995
- Skint Records — Brighton , 1995
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: UK Garage , Garage House , Jungle
Led to: 2-Step Garage , Bassline
Sources
- Speed garage — Wikipedia
- A history of speed garage — Toucan Music