Rasmus Oikarinen, better known as Bob G, has quietly carved out his own corner of UK garage from Malmö, Sweden. Geography, in his case, feels irrelevant. His records don’t sound like an imitation of British dance music – they sound like someone who has lived with it long enough to understand its pulse. With three releases already under Alec Falconer’s Ba Dum Tish-world – a platform for labels that has become a hub for contemporary garage revivalists – Bob G has proven that revival doesn’t have to mean repetition. His sound is steeped in 2-step swing, speed garage bounce, and those unmistakable UKG string stabs, but it never feels museum-like. There’s reverence, yes – but also movement. And then there’s the physical gesture: hand-made vinyl covers for the upcoming release. In a world of pre-save links and endless scrolling, that feels almost rebellious. Personal. Imperfect in the best way. The EP, “Worspace“, itself unfolds like a conversation between eras.
The opening track “Workspace” hits first – a proper garage banger built on a tight, punchy bassline that snaps against sentimental chords and sleazy male vocals. It’s nostalgic without sounding stuck in 1999, futuristic without trying too hard. That balance is rare.
The A2, namely “Tap” leans further into garage house territory. A nasty synth line cuts through the groove, riding a vibey bassline while a sax line lingers in the background – present but never tipping into cheese. It’s playful, confident, and clearly built for dancefloors that don’t take themselves too seriously.
Flip it over and the B1, “Big Things” takes a detour into early-2000s nu breaks territory – which, strangely enough, now feels retro. No-frills kick drum, generous drops, thick bass pressure. It carries that Drumatic Twins energy – the kind of track that makes you look up mid-set and grin.
“Someone” closes things in a different mood: minimal, hazy, after-hours. Just enough groove, just enough melody. The kind of tune that makes sense at 6am when conversations blur and nobody wants to go home yet.
What ties the “Workspace EP” together isn’t just stylistic range – it’s feel. Bob G understands that garage, at its core, is about tension, swing, and emotion. This isn’t cosplay revivalism. It’s continuation. A solid record from start to finish – and another reminder that the UKG story was never confined to one postcode.
Words by Pasha Pliskin
Torture the Artist 