TuneLab
Kelly Lee Owens
Mixmag Lab London
Kelly Lee Owens in the Mixmag Lab London is a reminder that 'techno' can be a broad church, one that happily houses the industrial rage of The Prodigy and the Eurodance cheese of Dr. Alban under one roof, as long as the rhythm is punishing enough. This is a hard techno and industrial-leaning excursion, a set that feels like it was recorded in a cathedral-sized factory after hours. The vibe is dark, cerebral, and physically demanding, with a crowd moving in unified, mechanistic jerks to the grid. Averaging a brisk 134.9 BPM with a wide range from 120 to 143, the energy is dictated by a massive low-end presence of 0.63, driving everything forward with industrial heft.
The key centers of 7A and 3B provide a minor-key, melancholic tension that cuts through the noise. Mids are present at 0.30 for melodic fragments, and highs at 0.07 are used sparingly for metallic sheen. The mixing is bold and direct, using dramatic BPM shifts and long, droning passages to build a sense of relentless progression. For tracklist sleuths, Alex Barrera's 'Top' is a minimal, driving opener that establishes the austere mood. The inclusion of The Prodigy's 'Firestarter' is a genius, brutal curveball, its breakbeats warped into a techno framework.
Demarkus Lewis's 'Body Tonic' offers a moment of deep, hypnotic release, while the Three Drives 'Greece 2000' rework is a surprisingly effective trance-to-techno conversion. Owens' own 'Melt!' is the sprawling, eleven-minute centerpiece, a masterclass in layered, psychedelic tension. The journey starts with the ominous pulse of 'Top,' reaches a furious peak with the chaos of 'Firestarter,' and ironically closes with the festive horns of 'Samba de Janeiro,' leaving us disoriented and exhilarated.