Horsepower Productions
Encyclopedia
Horsepower Productions are an electronic music
duo
, initially a trio
, who released experimental garage
recordings, and helped pioneer the dubstep
genre.
The trio was closely associated with the influential Drum & Bass record label
No U Turn, and its UK garage
-oriented sister label Turn U On.
Garner has since collaborated on the seminal Fat Larry's Skank track, which has been remixed and reversioned many times by producers including Kode9
, as well as collaborating with Hatcha on a number of tracks, DJing at FWD>>, and releasing more straightforward dub as part of the duo Bill & Ben.
After a five year hiatus Garner returned to Horsepower with new collaborator Jay King, with a 12" Kingstep/Damn It in 2009 and an LP in November 2010 entitled Quest for the Sonic Bounty, both on Tempa.
in sound, but the mainly instrumental, dub versions which were often B-sides of these releases proved to be extremely influential; stripped-down, minimal
re-versions, with the emphasis on shuffled, intricate, crisp percussion and subbass.
Meanwhile, Horsepower Productions 12"s and other similarly minded music experimenting with the garage archetype were staples in Croydon
's Big Apple Records, a record shop
staffed and frequented by many artists later to become extremely influential in the dubstep and grime
genres. In 2002, as interest in the dubstep genre grew, Horsepower Productions released In Fine Style, a collection of earlier 12" releases on compact disc
accompanied by six new tracks in a double twelve-inch pack. The LP has been described as the "origin" or "birth" of dubstep.
The duo's influence was acknowledged by the inclusion of several Horsepower Productions tracks on Tempa's 2006 Roots of Dubstep compilation.
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
, initially a trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
, who released experimental garage
UK garage
UK garage is a genre of electronic dance music originating from the United Kingdom in the early-1990s. UK garage is a descendant of house music which originated in Chicago and New York, United States. UK garage usually features a distinctive syncopated 4/4 percussive rhythm with 'shuffling'...
recordings, and helped pioneer the dubstep
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in south London, England. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals"....
genre.
Lineup
The group was initially composed of Benny Ill (born Ben Garner), Lev Jnr, and Nasis, who left in late 2002, leaving Horsepower Productions to operate as a duo.The trio was closely associated with the influential Drum & Bass record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
No U Turn, and its UK garage
UK garage
UK garage is a genre of electronic dance music originating from the United Kingdom in the early-1990s. UK garage is a descendant of house music which originated in Chicago and New York, United States. UK garage usually features a distinctive syncopated 4/4 percussive rhythm with 'shuffling'...
-oriented sister label Turn U On.
Garner has since collaborated on the seminal Fat Larry's Skank track, which has been remixed and reversioned many times by producers including Kode9
Kode9
Kode9 is a London-based electronic music artist, DJ, and owner of the Hyperdub record label. An MC, The Spaceape, is a frequent collaborator...
, as well as collaborating with Hatcha on a number of tracks, DJing at FWD>>, and releasing more straightforward dub as part of the duo Bill & Ben.
After a five year hiatus Garner returned to Horsepower with new collaborator Jay King, with a 12" Kingstep/Damn It in 2009 and an LP in November 2010 entitled Quest for the Sonic Bounty, both on Tempa.
Sound
Early Horsepower releases were resolutely UK garageUK garage
UK garage is a genre of electronic dance music originating from the United Kingdom in the early-1990s. UK garage is a descendant of house music which originated in Chicago and New York, United States. UK garage usually features a distinctive syncopated 4/4 percussive rhythm with 'shuffling'...
in sound, but the mainly instrumental, dub versions which were often B-sides of these releases proved to be extremely influential; stripped-down, minimal
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
re-versions, with the emphasis on shuffled, intricate, crisp percussion and subbass.
Meanwhile, Horsepower Productions 12"s and other similarly minded music experimenting with the garage archetype were staples in Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
's Big Apple Records, a record shop
Record shop
A record shop or record store is an outlet that sells recorded music. Although vinyl records and audio cassettes are no longer sold in the majority of music stores, in favour of compact discs and home video recordings products, people in some countries, like the UK, still use the term "record...
staffed and frequented by many artists later to become extremely influential in the dubstep and grime
Grime (music)
Grime is a style of music that emerged from Bow, East London, England in the early 2000s, primarily as a development of UK garage, dancehall, and hip hop...
genres. In 2002, as interest in the dubstep genre grew, Horsepower Productions released In Fine Style, a collection of earlier 12" releases on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
accompanied by six new tracks in a double twelve-inch pack. The LP has been described as the "origin" or "birth" of dubstep.
The duo's influence was acknowledged by the inclusion of several Horsepower Productions tracks on Tempa's 2006 Roots of Dubstep compilation.
Discography
Studio albums- In Fine Style (2002)
- To the Rescue (2004)
- Quest for the Sonic Bounty (2010)