By Dwayne | December 7th, 2011
In a recent Radio 1 special on future garage, DJ Rob da Bank referred to it as “future garage,” “post-dubstep,” “ambient garage,” and “bass” in less than two hours.
For this seemingly nameless London centred genre, 2011 has been a great year. Artists like Jamie xx have made huge headlines, with productions for the likes of Drake and Gil Scott-Heron, the Boiler Room has become one of the most successful broadcasts on the Internet, and labels such as Glasgow’s Numbers continue to go from strength to strength.
On the back of such a successful year, it has inevitably been difficult for us to pick just ten tracks. But after a lot of thinking, um-ing and arr-ing, deleting and re-adding, we present Indie Shuffle’s Best Future Garage Songs of 2011!
Listen to more Best of 2011 playlists here.
"Jacques Green - Another Girl"
As I alluded to in the introduction, this music tends to come out of London, with honorable mentions for Manchester, Bristol, Sheffield, and Leeds. However, it has also become hugely popular in Canada, home to Jacques Greene. His track has the R&B samples and the 2-step drum patterns, but what this one is missing is deep bass. However, it's not just another R&B sample -- it's one of the best you've ever heard -- and that's why "Another Girl" will tear up clubs and headphones for a long time!
Download from: soundcloud.com (External Link)
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
"SBTRKT - Wildfire"
Download SBTRKT - Wildfire
Of all the artists on this list, SBTRKT has got to be the man who has made biggest waves. From his acclaimed debut album to being sampled by Drake, it seems that there is little the masked producer can't do. Oozing bass and with the beautiful vocals of Little Dragon's Yukimi Nagano, this song was always sure to take off, but few would have expected it to reach the heights it did -- becoming one of the years most memorable tracks and propelling SBTRKT to stardom.
Download from: soundcloud.com (External Link)
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
"Jamie xx & Gil Scott-Heron - I'll Take Care Of You"
Before Rihanna, Drake, or Florence + the Machine, there was Jamie xx. The man behind The xx's immaculate productions is also at the epicentre of the current bass music scene, and although there was a plethora of his music to chose from, we chose this one -- partly because of the beautiful interplay between the the poignant xx-style chords and Scott-Heron's soulful voice, and partly to remind fans of Drake et al that this is where it came from!
Download from: soundcloud.com (External Link)
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
"Koreless - MTI"
First introduced to the world by the one and only Gilles Peterson, 2011 has been a great year for Koreless, who has gone from being a relative nobody to the forefront of the bass scene. Based in Glasgow, the 19 year old's productions are a hybrid of 2-step garage and a whole bunch of other things, taking the melancholy atmosphere of the likes of Burial and turning up the bass a few notches. His breakthrough track was "MTI," a beautifully textured song of heartbroken vocal samples and cleverly placed spaces, all carried by a deep, brooding sub bass.
Download from: soundcloud.com (External Link)
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
"Burial - Stolen Dog"
Although the legendary Burial has not released a new album this year, we've had an EP and collaborations with Four Tet, Thom Yorke, and Massive Attack. Of all the material he put out, our favorite is a solo work. "Stolen Dog" is a six minute track that pushes all the buttons that only Burial can push. It was also rather memorably mixed in with Sisqo's classic "Thong Song", which you can check out here.
Download from: soundcloud.com (External Link)
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
"Dark Sky - Neon (125 BPM)"
With "Neon," Dark Sky shows that sometimes more is less. A hugely simple little riff is all it takes to get this one going, and once again the house stylings cross over into garage making sure this one packs a punch. With a bunch of acclaimed remixes and tracks that stick in the mind like this one, 2012 looks set to be a big year for this young London trio.
Download from: pitchfork.com (External Link)
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
"Mosca - Bax"
While a lot of the tracks on this list are probably best listened to through headphones, Mosca's "Bax" is a definite club track. Classic house pianos soon get the head nodding, and there's plenty of bass. Mosca's productions are inspired by baseline and grime, and it shows. Stepping away from the ambient direction chosen by the likes of James Blake, Mosca takes garage and 2-step back to their roots as genres meant for the club. "Bax" is one of the most intelligent dance songs we've heard in a long while; it will be sure to be killing dance floors around the world for years to come.
Download from: indieshuffle.com
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
"Julio Bashmore - Battle For Middle You"
"Battle For Middle You" is the dance anthem of the year, building to a huge crescendo and then a bass-filled drop that will have even the least enthusiastic raver dancing like there's no tomorrow. Bashmore's trademark energy and Chicago house stylings once again shine through, as does his dedication to deep, deep bass. If he -- or anyone -- can make a track as good as this again next year, we'll be very happy indeed.
Download from: prettymuchamazing.com (External Link)
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
"Shlohmo - Seriously"
Whether or not this quite fits here, it's one of my favorite tracks of 2011. Shlohmo's debut EP, Bad Vibes, takes a whole range of sounds, incorporating aspects from dubstep, ambient, and hip hop, quickly propelling him to the forefront of the L.A. beat scene. "Seriously" is a poignant, melancholic effort which immerses the listener in it's relaxing soundscape.
Download from: pitchfork.com (External Link)
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).