ITOA

The launch party for a new Exit Records LP is always a signal for the drum & bass faithful to gather, and ITOA's set is a thrilling reminder of why the genre remains so vital—it's as much about soul as it is about speed. The vibe is a head-nodding, sub-bass communion, where complex rhythms are dissected with glee. Technically, this is high-velocity jungle and drum & bass, operating at a blistering average BPM of 159.1 and frequently harmonizing in the tense, energetic key of 7A. The energy balance is fascinating, with a huge 0.72 low-end average providing a warm, enveloping pressure that makes the intricate breaks and soulful samples in the mid-range pop with clarity.

The mixing is fast and fluid, a necessity at this tempo, layering amen breaks and vocal snippets with surgical precision. The tracklist is a beautiful mix of the classic and the curiously modern. Opening with Jessy Lanza's 'It Means I Love You' is a stroke of genius, filtering pop sensibilities through a jungle lens. J-Majik's classic 'Love Is Not a Game' gets a deserved, extended airing, a timeless vocal anthem.

The inclusion of RP BOO's footwork cut 'Chi-Town Ghetto Christmas' shows a keen ear for rhythmic kinship across genres, and ITOA's own 'B 2the B' solidifies the producer's place in the lineage. The true closing surprise, Shreya Ghoshal's Bollywood number 'Chaka Chak', is the kind of joyous, cross-cultural flip that makes you remember why we do this. The set rockets from the ethereal opener, builds to a peak with the soaring emotion of 'Love Is Not a Game', and lands with the celebratory chaos of 'Chaka Chak'.