New releases this week: UK Garage

Review: Well Curated, which says it is "is a series of releases and parties that reflects the ethnomusicology of the last 50 years of music," deals in hand-stamped white labels which are pure bait to record-collecting nerds like us. The A-side on this one, 'Hip Love' from Falty DL was first put out by Ramp Recordings in 2011. It's a skeletal garage cut with shiny 2-step percussion and dusty drums topped with hooky r&b vocal samples, while the flipside joint is making its debut on wax. Yazzus's 'Ready Set SBTRKT!!' is pure hyperactive rave, breakbeat and techno madness with wild energy and neon colours.

Review: A Grand Don't Come for Free is a poignant narrative crafted by Mike Skinner, transcending typical hip-hop tropes with its intimate exploration of everyday life and relationships. Skinner's awkward yet charming delivery, paired with a minimalist musical backdrop, draws listeners into a story of loss, love and self-discovery. From the mundane to the profound, Skinner captures the essence of human experience with bare honesty and endearing intimacy, evoking both laughter and tears - quite literally in the case of its biggest hit, 'Dry Your Eyes'. With its focus on the minutiae of life and the importance of connection, A Grand Don't Come for Free remains a timeless and compelling album that is worth revisiting often and now is offered on a new reissued for 2024.