TuneLab
DJ DEEON ghetto house set in The Lab LDN
The term 'ghetto house' might conjure images of raw, unvarnished Chicago basements, and Deeon delivers exactly that with a mischievous glint in his eye. This isn't about subtlety; it's about the primal, booty-shaking command of a 909 kick and a pitched-up vocal sample. The Lab LDN transforms into a sweatbox where the only acceptable response is to move, preferably with a lowered center of gravity. Deeon drives the tempo up into a mean, functional 133 BPM average, a speed that turns every track into a urgent directive. The key of 12A dominates, providing a stark, open canvas for the minimalist, percussive aggression.
His style is direct and punchy, with mixes that prioritize the slam of a new drum pattern over smooth transitions. The energy is overwhelmingly concentrated in the low-end thump and mid-range synth stabs, with high-end elements used sparingly as punctuation. It's a physical, almost confrontational approach to DJing that leaves no room for contemplation. The tracklist is a treasure trove of Chicago archaeology and its descendants. He kicks off with the sleek, modern bounce of Moon Boots' 'Juanita (Mark Broom Remix)', a clever bait-and-switch.
Then, the real business begins: Lil' Louis & The World's 'French Kiss' is deployed in its full, undulating, nine-minute glory, a masterclass in tension. Jody Finch's 'Jack Your Big Booty' is pure, unadulterated ghetto house doctrine, while DJ Slugo's 'Wouldn't You Like To Be a Hoe Too' is the kind of hilariously raw track that defines the genre's charm. Even the inclusion of Pat Metheny's 'Electric Counterpoint' feels like a witty, high-brow interlude before the next bass drop. The journey is a rollercoaster of raw energy: starting with the deceptive polish of 'Juanita', diving into the deep, hypnotic peak of 'French Kiss', and finally coming down through the experimental textures of Dyad's 'Illumine'. A set that proudly wears its Chicago stripes on its sleeve.