Dennis Quin
SLABS 006 EP

You're hardly going to believe this, but Ebullience is yet another new label from Burnski. The tireless Brit already heads up the likes of Instinct, Pilot and Constant Sound and makes music under various guises for all of them as well as recruiting plenty of interesting and like-minded producers for their own releases. This one kicks off with Bedfordshire's Danny Snowden, who brings the vibes across four cuts of minimal, garage and tech. 'Sky Is The Limit' is a feel-good and sunny cruiser, 'It's Not Over' has 90s soul and depth and 'Stick To What You Know' comes with retro-future basslines and big pianos. 'Ri Thum' shuts down with some timeless US garage that is always going to get the 'floor going.

Plastik People Collections dropped this one back in 2019, and it became an instant classic that soon sold out. It has since rocketed in price on the second-hand markets, so thankfully, the label is reissuing it this summer. Cultured Pearls's 'Mother Earth' is effortlessly cool garage-house with bumpy drums and expressive piano jams perfect for outdoor dancing. Night Society's 'You Turn Me On' has an authentic US edge and hot and humid groove with passionate vocal cries, then JJ Can's 'I Don't Know Why' is a dubby and low-slung deep garage sound with chopped vocals and a timeless appeal. Three vital cuts that will be huge all over again this year.

Picture a world without Garys. Picture a world without a Garage. Not a pleasant thought? That’s where Gary’s Garage comes in.He’s got the Gary. He’s got the Garage (but not the UK Garage, though).Since 1950, there’s been a sharp decline in babies being named Gary. Garys are becoming a rare breed. That’s why Gary’s Garage was born – to release a garage record so pure and joyous, it’ll inspire parents everywhere to name their newborn “Gary,” bringing the name back to its rightful place.Inspired by a faxed in reaction sheet to Azuli Records in 1999, Gary has graced us with 4 fresh tracks of Gazza Garage to form the Not Enough Garys EP. First up, I’ve Taken (Too Many Garys) — a chunky, bass-driven anthem that hits like a Greggs sausage roll on a summer’s day. Evoking memories of the 0171-dialling code, it’s pure stodge.Next, Gary’s Ballad finds Gary in a reflective mood, lamenting the loss of the UK high street institution, Woolworths. Side 2 cranks up the GAZ with Gary’s Garage (Is A Good Garage), bringing back memories of some questionable nights in Streatham in the early 2000s.We close out with Nigel Garage, where Gaz digs out his Emu SP1200 and ramps up the BPM for maximum impact. Just kidding — Gary can’t afford an SP1200.

That man Burnski is back like he is seemingly every single week with yet more on-point new beats. He assumes his Instinct alias for another superb album of club-ready tech, minimal, garage and house concoctions that do everything right. Whether nodding to the old school with big piano joy ('Want You'), going for the late night afters ('Atmosphere), keeping it deep ('Right Time') or rewiring your brain with manic nu-jungle workouts ('Dreaming'), these are expertly designed tracks that are guaranteed to make an impact all summer and beyond. For the record, the gun finger synths and shuffling low-end hustle of his in demand hit 'Go' might be our favourite amongst many.

The hardcore house heads at Dungeon Meat have assembled another funky slab of waxy deliciousness to tuck into and this time it's a various artists affair. Mance serves up the starter, 'In A World Of,' which is rock solid cut with a physical low end but infused with real soul warmth. Timmy P's 'Utter Filth' is another muscular house workout with an elastic bassline and trippy lead. Pimp C's 'Where My Bitches' is a sleazy and ghetto-tinged pumper and Jesse Merlin brings some warped low ends and twitchy synth menace to the prowling rhythms of closer 'Do The Umm'. Essential tackle.

London's Luke Dean makes big moves again, this time on the emerging Reliance label. He's someone with a healthy reverence for garage pioneers like MJ Cole and Todd Edwards and brings that to his own house perspective. To date, he's landed on the likes of MicroHertz and neXup recz and played everywhere from fabric to Circo Loco. This latest EP is a bold and club-ready slab with garage and house combined into muscular rhythms with smart samples and hooky pads. 'Coast2coast' is the one for us - a tight, bouncy cut with a nod to the old school that is going to be pure bait for dancers.