TuneLab
Ikonika b2b P Jam b2b Dexplicit b2b EMMA DJ set // Keep Hush live x Coyote Records
A four-way back-to-back featuring Ikonika, P Jam, Dexplicit, and EMMA? That's not a DJ set; that's a historical document of UK underground electronic music, a grime and UK funky summit hosted by Coyote Records. This Keep Hush live session is a chaotic, beautiful mess of spliced vocals, reloads, and sub-bass that reminds us why we fell in love with this sound in the first place. The vibe is competitive yet celebratory, a sonic playground where every DJ is trying to out-dig the others, resulting in a thrilling, unpredictable ride. Technically, it's fascinating for its consistency and texture. Locked at a steady 140 BPM, the set maintains a relentless, skippy rhythm throughout.
The harmonic palette often returns to the key of 12A, giving a sense of cohesion amidst the stylistic shifts. The energy is firmly rooted in the low-mid range, with those iconic grime bass synths and distorted kicks taking center stage, while high-end percussion and vocal samples dance around the edges. The mixing is raw and authentic, full of sudden cuts, acapella overlaps, and the occasional celebratory rewind, capturing the live, improvisational spirit of a true rave. The tracklist is a treasure trove of classics and obscurities. Opening with Dexplicit's own "Bullacake" is a statement of intent from one of grime's foundational producers.
Dropping Lethal Bizzle's "Pow! (Forward)" is an obligatory, roof-blowing moment. The inclusion of Plastikman's minimal techno classic "Cha" recontextualized in this setting is a stroke of genius, and Jammer's "Murkle Man" provides a dose of pure, unadulterated eski-beat nostalgia. The journey starts with the gritty synth of "Bullacake," reaches a frenzied peak with the chaos of "Pow!," and winds down into the deeper, atmospheric headspace of Djp's "Parallel Universes." This Ikonika b2b P Jam b2b Dexplicit b2b EMMA DJ set is a full tracklist love letter to the sound of London.