TuneLab
Joseph Ray (D&B Set) at the Yacht Club
Anjunadeep Explorations 2023
Joseph Ray playing a drum & bass set at an Anjunadeep festival is the kind of beautiful, genre-defying surprise we live for, a reminder that even the most serene melodic house heads have a junglist heart. The vibe at the Yacht Club is one of controlled chaos, a collective release of pent-up energy through Amen breaks and sub-bass. This is a lesson in jungle and drum & bass history, averaging a furious 165.8 BPM and smartly navigating through keys like 12A and 3B to maintain musicality even at breakneck speed.
The energy is expertly split: 51% lows deliver the essential gut-punch subs, 37% mids handle the intricate breakbeats and rave stabs, and 11% highs add the necessary air and sheen to the chaos. Ray’s mixing is fast and respectful of the genre’s traditions, using quick cuts and double-drops to keep the pressure relentless. The tracklist is a classic digger’s dream: opening with Skanna’s timeless 'This Way' is a statement of intent, while dropping Goldie’s 'Inner City Life' is the kind of majestic, genre-defining moment that hushes a crowd.
'Super Sharp Shooter' by DJ Zinc is an absolute weapon of a rewinder, and closing with Omni Trio’s 'Soul of Darkness' offers a dark, intelligent finale. He starts with the iconic, atmospheric breaks of 'This Way', builds to an earth-shattering peak with anthems like 'Valley of the Shadows' and 'Chopper', and brings it all home with the moody, sophisticated rollers of 'Soul of Darkness'.