TuneLab
DJ AKEE
Almaty | VIHOD Takeover
We’re deep in the Almaty night, victims of another VIHOD Takeover, and DJ AKEE’s set has left us with that familiar, maddening itch to name every groove. The basement is all concrete and sweat, a perfect cave for this tech house sermon. Technically, AKEE operates in the 131.3 BPM sweet spot, locking into the 12A Camelot key for nine tracks, which provides a hypnotic, harmonic backbone. The energy profile is telling: over 54% low-end ensures a physical, grounding thump, while mid-range melodies at 36% add colour without clutter.
His mixing is patient, with long blends that let percussive elements like in 'Mato Grosso - Thunder (Bangi Remix)' fully marinate, and key shifts to 7A and 8B are handled with a DJ’s subtle touch to maintain flow. The BPM range from 122 to 171 is navigated with care, avoiding abrupt spikes, instead using slower moments for tension before unleashing higher-energy bursts. In the dig, 'Heavy-K - Gunsong' is a six-minute epic of Afro-tech percussion, a brave, sustained build. 'Blaze - My Beat' is the timeless house injection we crave, while 'Liili - fool 4 u.' offers a softer, contemporary counterpoint.
The inclusion of both the Bangi and Marco Biondi remixes of 'Thunder' shows a curator’s mind, exploring a single idea’s range, and 'The Boss - Congo (D Max Mix)' adds a gritty, driving twist. The journey begins with the tribal call of 'The Boss - Conga', climbs to a peak with the relentless drive of 'Gunsong', and descends gracefully on the soulful, piano-house euphoria of 'Freemasons - Love On My Mind (Back to Philly Mix)'. A full tracklist for DJ AKEE’s VIHOD Takeover set is exactly the closure we need.