UK Bass
An umbrella name for UK club styles that mix house, garage, grime and dubstep.
History
UK bass, also called bass music, appeared in the United Kingdom in the mid-2000s s1. It takes influence from house, grime, dubstep, future garage, R&B and UK funky s1. Artists began to blend these styles while keeping a focus on bass and percussion s1. The term is not one exact genre s1s2. Pitchfork writer Martin Clark said that trying to define it exactly is almost impossible s1. Dubstep producer Skream said in 2011 that 'UK bass' was a better name than dubstep for what many artists were making s1. The music had mainstream success in the late 2000s and early 2010s s1. James Blake, Benga, Burial, SBTRKT, Zomby and Skream were among the well-known names s1. The term is sometimes confused with bassline and with post-dubstep s1. It is also different from Miami bass, an American hip hop style s1. UK bass is mainly a press and club category s1.
Sound
- A focus on bass and percussion
- A mix of house, garage and dubstep ideas
- Sparse, modern arrangements
- A tempo around 140 beats per minute
- No single fixed sound
Key figures
- Skream — Dubstep producer who supported the term UK bass
- James Blake — Producer and singer linked to the sound
- SBTRKT — British producer in the UK bass scene
- Joker — Bristol producer of colourful bass music
Labels
- Hyperdub — London , 2004
- Hotflush Recordings — London , 2003
- Young Turks — London , 2006
Defining tracks
Connections
Sources
- UK bass — Wikipedia
- The Wire 300: Simon Reynolds on the Hardcore Continuum — The Wire