Speed garage (occasionally known as plus-8) is a genre of

electronic dance music Electronic dance music (EDM), also referred to as dance music or club music, is a broad range of percussive electronic music genres originally made for nightclubs, raves, and List of electronic dance music festivals, festivals. It is generally ...

, associated with the

UK garage UK garage, abbreviated as UKG, is a genre of electronic dance music which originated in England in the early to mid-1990s. The genre was most clearly inspired by garage house and jungle production methods, but also incorporates elements from ...

scene, of which it is regarded as one of its subgenres.

Characteristics

Speed garage features sped-up NY garage 4-to-the-floor

rhythm Rhythm (from Greek , ''rhythmos'', "any regular recurring motion, symmetry") generally means a " movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions". This general meaning of regular r ...

s that are combined with

breakbeat Breakbeat is a broad type of electronic music that uses drum breaks, often sampled from early recordings of funk, jazz, and R&B. Breakbeats have been used in styles such as Florida breaks, hip-hop, jungle, drum and bass, big beat, breakbeat ...

Snare SNARE proteins – "Soluble NSF attachment protein, SNAP REceptors" – are a large protein family consisting of at least 24 members in yeasts and more than 60 members in mammalian and plant cells. The primary role of SNARE proteins is to m ...

s are placed as over the 2nd and the 4th kickdrums, so in other places of the drum pattern. Speed garage tunes have warped, heavy

bassline Bassline (also known as a bass line or bass part) is the term used in many styles of music, such as blues, jazz, funk, Dub music, dub and electronic music, electronic, traditional music, traditional, and classical music, for the low-pitched P ...

s, influenced by

jungle jungle is land covered with dense forest and tangled vegetation, usually in tropical climates. Application of the term has varied greatly during the past century. Etymology The word ''jungle'' originates from the Sanskrit word ''jaṅgala'' ...

and

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...

. Sweeping

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...

is typical for speed garage. It is also typical for speed garage tunes to have a breakdown. Speed garage tunes sometimes featured time-stretched vocals. As it is heavily influenced by

, speed garage makes heavy use of jungle and dub sound effects, such as gunshots and sirens. A widely regarded pioneer of the speed garage sound is

record producer A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job involves hands-on oversight of recording sessions; ensu ...

, DJ and

remix A remix, also sometimes called reorchestration or rework, is a piece of media which has been altered or contorted from its original state by adding, removing, or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, poem, or photograph ca ...

er Armand van Helden, whose Dark Garage remix of the

Sneaker Pimps Sneaker Pimps are an English electronic music band, formed in Hartlepool in 1994. They are best known for their debut album, '' Becoming X'' (1996), and its singles " 6 Underground" and " Spin Spin Sugar". The band takes its name from an articl ...

' " Spin Spin Sugar" in 1996 helped bring the style of speed garage into the mainstream arena.

Resurgence in the 2020s

In the early 2020s, speed garage experienced a notable resurgence within the UK music scene. This revival was marked by a renewed interest in the genre's distinctive basslines and energetic rhythms, leading to a fresh wave of productions and chart successes. A pivotal moment in this revival was the release of " B.O.T.A. (Baddest of Them All)" by Interplanetary Criminal and Eliza Rose in the summer of 2022. The track, featuring a Korg M1 organ bassline characteristic of speed garage, achieved the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart, underscoring the genre's renewed popularity. Interplanetary Criminal, a Manchester-based producer, has been instrumental in this resurgence. His work blends traditional speed garage elements with contemporary sounds, appealing to both longtime fans and new listeners. In April 2020, he released "Pride (Speed Garage Mix)", which showcased his commitment to revitalising the genre. Collaborations have also played a significant role in the genre's revival. In November 2024, Interplanetary Criminal teamed up with Sammy Virji to release "Damager", a track that fuses speed garage with donk influences, further highlighting the genre's evolving sound. This renewed interest in speed garage has been accompanied by a broader UK garage revival, with artists and producers drawing inspiration from the genre's classic sounds while infusing them with modern production techniques. The resurgence has been evident in clubs, festivals, and charts, indicating a vibrant and enduring appreciation for speed garage in contemporary music culture.

Notable songs/remixes

The following is a list of notable songs and official remixes which not only charted but were popular within the speed garage scene: *"Let's Groove" (1993) – George Morel *"Dancing for Heaven" (1995) / "Saved My Life" (1996) –

Todd Edwards Todd Edward Imperatrice (born December 9, 1972), known professionally as Todd Edwards, is an American garage house record producer, DJ, and singer. Nicknamed "The God" and known by various aliases throughout his career, he has been credited as ...

*" Sugar Is Sweeter (Armand's Drum 'n' Bass Mix)" (1996) / " Spin Spin Sugar (Armand's Dark Garage Mix)" (1997) / "

Digital Digital usually refers to something using discrete digits, often binary digits. Businesses *Digital bank, a form of financial institution *Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) or Digital, a computer company *Digital Research (DR or DRI), a software ...

(Armand Van Helden's Speed Garage Mix)" (1997) – Armand van Helden *" Gunman" (1997) / "

Kung-Fu Chinese martial arts, commonly referred to with umbrella terms kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (), are multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. These fighting styles are often classified according to c ...

" (1998) – 187 Lockdown *" Deeper" (1997) / " God Is a DJ (Serious Danger Remix)" (1998) – Serious Danger *"Hype Funk (Dub)" (1997) – Reach & Spin *" RipGroove" (1997) – Double 99 *"Vol. 1 (What You Want What You Need)" (1997) – Industry Standard *"I Refuse (What You Want)" (1997) – Somore featuring Damon Trueitt *"Oh Boy" (1997) – The Fabulous Baker Boys *"A London Thing" (1997) – Scott Garcia *" Something Goin' On (Loop Da Loop Uptown / Downtown Mix)" (1997) – Loop Da Loop *" Ripped in 2 Minutes" (1998) – A vs B *" Superstylin'" (2001) –

Groove Armada Groove Armada are an English electronic music duo, composed of Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. They achieved chart success with their singles " At the River", " I See You Baby" and " Superstylin'". The duo have released nine studio albums, four of ...

References

External links

Discogs listing for Spin Spin SugarSpeed Garage fans community
{{UK garage UK garage genres English styles of music Electronic dance music genres 1990s in music 1990s in British music