Karl "Tuff Enuff" Brown and Matt "Jam" Lamont were two of the most hyped producers in Britain during 1997, thanks to their seizure of the banner for speed-garage, the dance style based on classic garage music but with a multitude of inspiration from the ragga end of jungle/drum'n'bass. The two were both DJing garage nights at clubs like the Arches during 1996 when they met and gradually moved into production as well, using the Catch Productions studio to remix tracks from Rosie Gaines, En Vogue, Brand New Heavies, TJR and Kim English. Gaines' "Closer than Close" and TJR's "Just Gets Better" began to get pushed at clubs alongside other speed-garage anthems like Double 99's "RIP Groove" and remix productions by Americans Armand Van Helden and Todd Edwards. The Tuff Jam crew released their first compilation, the brilliant Underground Frequencies, Vol. 1, in late 1997. A second volume followed in 1998. ~ John Bush