Various Artists Elevator Music: Vol. 1

Words: Shawn Reynaldo
Label: Fabric
XLR8R Rating: 9.5/10

2-step, grime, dubstep, bassline, funky... the family tree of UK garage never stops sprouting new branches. The latest mutation to sprout up—an intriguing combination of classic house, atmospheric dubstep, and percussion-led funky—doesn't even have a proper name, so Fabric has assembled this cheekily titled compilation. Pairing Untold's blown-out bass with Hot City's old-school rave flavor and Martyn's emotive restraint may seem unusual, but together they make sense—it's as though an entire crop of producers has stumbled into dubstep and UK urban music by accident; unrestrained by purist notions, they've infused the music with new energy and new sounds from across the electronic spectrum. Contributions from young guns Mosca, Shortstuff, and Hackman are especially strong, but the compilation is ace from start to finish.