Tags: Soulful Garage

Review: Strictly Rhythm's 30th anniversary series of "Best Of" double-packs should be an essential purchase for all those looking to grab some high-grade U.S house from the 1990s and 2000s. As you'd expect, there's some genuine peak-time gold to be found on this second salvo in the series. After beginning with the bumping U.S garage richness of Barbara Tucker's gospel-flecked "Beautiful People", the set variously touches on glitchy deep house goodness (DJ T re-editing the "Full Effect" mix of Essence's "Moments In House"), stomping and muscular deep house (DJ Sneak), jazz-funk inspired house dreaminess (the original version of Wamdue's "King of My Castle") and ambidextrous dancefloor sweatiness (the Kenny Dope style breakbeats, heavy bass and woozy pads of Soul Fusion's "Basstone (Underground Network Mix)".

Review: Digital Tape Recordings take it al the way back to 1994 here with the timeless early garage sounds of Dub Essentials Part 1 from 24Hour Experience. It captures the essence of UKG at the time and was first released on the definitive Nice N Ripe label. It has a range of sounds from the soothing depths and soulful samples of 'Feeling's Mutual' to the more clipped and bouncy 'Deeper (5am mix)'. 'Scatter' then layer sup jumbled perc and US house styles with rich organ chords and 'Mantra' again keeps it deep and rather sleazy with some filthy bass. Last of all is the slinky sound of 'Gone Loopy' to round out a classic.