Dem2 exclusive UK garage mix

Occasionally  I pack up my pride and joy, aka my garage vinyl, and head for Dalston to play at hilarious two-step party Days Like That and its sister act, 90s night Why So Serious? 

The next Days Like That is on Friday 30 April at The Russian Bar. Playing this month are classic garage headliners Dem2, Ray Hurley and the brilliantly wicked DJ Scott Garcia, who dropped a most megatronic set last time.

You like a blog, don't you? Good. Then go check out Days like That's new stomping ground, dayslikethatgarage.blogspot.com 

To celebrate the blog launch, they're giving away a sultry garage mix by Dem2. Download it now now now!  

So Solid: the return?

UK garage crew So Solid are back.

Ten years ago this impossibly large London collective started permeating the garage scene with hit after hit: 'Oh No' (I'm talking the original mix), '21 Seconds' and - don't cringe - 'Bound 4 da Reload'.

Now they've returned with a new single, 'Since You Went Away', which hits the charts in January.

'I feel like a gifted brother. Not a lot of people get a second chance,' says Mega Man in the intro to this (dare I say it) catchy RnB track, co-starring Lisa Maffia and Romeo. It seems the crew are hedging their bets elsewhere for this one though, with a video that couldn't be more US-try-hard if it, er, tried.

Still, it's nice to hear Mega's smooth tones again - even if this is a bit pop for my tastes.

Make your own mind up: