TuneLab
Kessler electro & breaks set in The Lab LDN
We've all had enough of polite four-on-the-floor; sometimes the soul demands the skitter and crunch of proper breaks. Kessler's electro & breaks set in The Lab LDN is a clinic in rhythmic disobedience for those of us who think a kick drum should sometimes take a back seat to a amen. The vibe is that of a converted basement, all concrete and cable spaghetti, where the air moves only when the sub-bass does. Technically, this is a masterclass in percussive programming, riding an average BPM of 140.5 with a harmonic base camped firmly in 12A.
The energy arc is a steady climb from electro's gritty foreplay into breakbeat's full-throated release, with Kessler using the dominant low-end energy (0.71 avg) as a foundation for intricate mid-range percussion work. The mixing is surgical, layering kicks and snares with a producer's ear for space, while key modulations are rare, letting rhythm dictate the flow. For crate diggers, James Shinra's 'Gritti' is the perfect, snarling opener, while Locked Club's 'Doschitai' is pure dancefloor pandemonium. Claro Intelecto's 'Tone' is a deep, hypnotic gem from the Modern Love archives, and Skream's 'You Know, Right?' is a welcome bassline throwback.
Don't sleep on Cameo Blush's 'Murky Waters' for its atmospheric pressure or M1n0t0r's 'Jericho' for its relentless drive. The journey begins with the industrial thump of 'Gritti', finds its emotional peak in the sprawling, vocal-led 'Give Me Love' by Fracture, and crashes out on the chaotic energy of 'Doschitai'—a full tracklist for the rhythmically devout.