I Want Your Lovin’ by Ray Hurley – A Time Capsule of UK Garage Vibes
Man, if you’re into that late '90s UK Garage sound, I Want Your Lovin’ by Ray Hurley is one of those albums that just grabs you and doesn’t let go. Released in 1998 on Orange Recordings (shoutout to the label heads for keeping this scene alive), it’s a slice of electronic gold with Tony Brady working his magic behind the boards as engineer. It’s raw, vibey, and feels like stepping into a smoky London club where everyone knows the DJ is about to drop something special.
Let me tell ya, two tracks stuck with me big time: “I Want Your Lovin’ (Mix 1)” and “I Want Your Lovin’ (Mix 2).” Yeah, I know—same title, different vibes. But trust me, they hit differently. Mix 1 slaps hard right from the start. The beat kicks in like an old friend showing up unannounced but welcome. There’s this hypnotic bassline that worms its way into your brain, and before you know it, you’re nodding along like some kinda bobblehead doll. And the vocal sample? Oh man, it’s smooth as butter, looping over and over until you can’t help but feel like yeah, maybe he does want your lovin’.
Then there’s Mix 2—it flips the script entirely. Where Mix 1 feels urgent and in-your-face, Mix 2 takes its sweet time building up. It’s more atmospheric, almost dreamy, like floating through clouds while still hearing echoes of the dancefloor below. This version sneaks up on you, wrapping itself around your soul without you even realizing it. By the halfway mark, you’re fully submerged, lost in the groove. Honestly, I’ve replayed this track so many times I think my neighbors are sick of hearing it blast through my walls.
What makes this album stick isn’t just the music itself—it’s how it captures a moment in time. UK Garage wasn’t just a genre back then; it was a movement, a vibe, a whole culture. Listening to these mixes now feels like flipping through an old photo album. You remember the energy, the people, the nights that stretched into mornings. Hell, it almost feels nostalgic even if you weren’t there.
But here’s the kicker—the thing no one talks about. For all the love and lust in the lyrics, the real star of the show might actually be Tony Brady’s engineering chops. Without him, would these mixes have sounded so crisp? So sharp? Probably not. Dude deserves flowers for what he brought to the table.
So yeah, I Want Your Lovin’ isn’t perfect, but damn if it doesn’t make you feel alive. If you haven’t heard it yet, do yourself a favor and dive in. Just don’t blame me when you find yourself dancing alone in your kitchen at 2 AM.
