TuneLab
Kettama
Mixmag Lab London
Of course Kettama opens with a trance classic in the Mixmag Lab; it's the audio equivalent of a cheeky wink before the proper pummeling begins. We're here because we heard the rumours about a Vengaboys edit in a techno set and needed to verify it with our own ears, like forensic scientists at a crime scene of pure joy. The Lab is all concrete and sweat, with strobes that feel like they're interrogating your soul for any remaining serotonin. Technically, this is a masterclass in peak-time pressure, averaging a relentless 137.7 BPM and largely anchored in the driving, minor-leaning 12A key.
The energy arc is a steep climb from euphoric nostalgia into raw, percussive force, with Kettama's mixing favoring quick, punchy transitions that keep the floor in a state of perpetual motion. The low-end is a constant, tectonic presence, while the mids and highs are deployed like precision strikes—this isn't subtle, it's surgical. For crate diggers, the set is a treasure trove of 'how did he get away with that?'. The Rank 1 remix of Cygnus X's 'Superstring' is the perfect Trojan horse, while Tiësto's 'Love Comes Again' is a heartstring-yanking detour that shouldn't work but absolutely does.
Cohen & Deluxe's 'Just Kick! (Carl Cox Mix)' is a timeless warehouse weapon, and Kettama's own 'Saint Laurent' is the arrogant, bass-heavy peak that defines the modern hard techno sound. The journey is perfectly brazen: it starts with trance-tinged hope via 'Superstring', peaks with the unapologetic thump of 'Saint Laurent', and lets us down gently with the atmospheric dub of Orion Syndicate's 'Reality'.