They are finally here! Zefer’s iconic tracks anticipated in his fabulous Intro To NUKG mix have finally become of public domain to the delight of all Garage fans and, more generally, of those who are always looking for a good dose of beats to dance to. With this double release, consisting of ‘Be With Me’ and ‘Garden’ (and accompanied by two remixes by The Phat Controlla and Hamdi) Zefer confirms his place in my team of favorite producers and as one of the leading names in the UKG scene.
‘Be With Me’ is simply the perfect opening track. I don’t mean just for this EP, but in general for any mix or DJ set that aspires to start with a bang. As a matter of fact, after the first 27 seconds of warm-up, Zefer delivers what is one of the most infectious basslines of the year. The way it kicks in completely out of nowhere instead of anticipated by a canonical build-up drives me crazy every single time. I always find myself slapping an imaginary bass regardless of where I am while I’m listening to the song, in the shower, on the bus, at work. After such an iconic start, the rest of the track lives up to the expectation bringing two zappy piano-driven drops which, together with the pitched voice loop and tight groove, confirm ‘Be With Me’ as a killer party starter. With his remix, The Phat Controlla completely twists the atmosphere, turning the track into a strict club banger. The heavy kick and especially the lethal wobbling, raucous bassline stomps without mercy and I’m ready to bet it will cause heavy damages on the dancefloor when played live.
‘Garden’ is another shimmering summer banger. Despite being a more slow starter than the previous track, when things take off we face another undeniable triumph of high-energy vibes. The bassline is extremely on point in this second single too, but ‘Garden’ wins you over with its memorable, catchy vocals and chord progression. To the punchy and crisp groove of ‘Be With Me’, in this case Zefer has wisely preferred a more velvety solution. This choice makes ‘Garden’ extremely radio-friendly and suitable for crossovers in DJ sets and playlists outside the Garage circuit. Hamdi’s remix brings the vocal-chopping game to the extreme. In this case, the exuberant atmospheres of the original are replaced by a more introspective and minimalist interpretation. Hamdi definitely pulls the brakes slowing down the pace, setting what I describe as a “3am afterparty mood.” If ‘Be With Me’ was the ultimate opening track, this remix of ‘Garden’ can easily become your new favorite closing piece.
Stream ‘Be With Me’ and ‘Garden’ below or on your favorite platform here.
