Kikelomo
Mixmag Lab London
The Mixmag Lab in London has seen its fair share of genre-fluid journeys, but Kikelomo's set is a reminder that the most satisfying trips often involve blatant, joyous melody. Forget the 'Pop' label—this is a masterfully paced progressive house narrative, the kind that has us all secretly hoping for a hands-in-the-air moment even if we're just listening at home. The vibe is pure London eclecticism: a room ready for anything, from soulful grooves to outright euphoria. Kikelomo navigates a wide BPM range, averaging 137.1, with a keen sense of drama and release.
The harmonic foundation is solidly in 12A for much of the ride, with shifts to 7A providing emotional lift. The energy profile is beautifully balanced, with mid-range frequencies (0.40 avg) carrying the melodic weight and enough high-end (0.18 avg) to keep things crisp and driving. This is mixing as storytelling. The crate digging here is exceptional.
Jhelisa's 'Friendly Pressure' is a sublime, soul-drenched opener that immediately disarms. Antoine Clamaran's 'Do the Funk (Do The Funk Dub)' is a peak-time weapon of pure, unadulterated groove. The inclusion of Moby's 'Natural Blues' in an extended mix alongside BLOND:ISH & Kiko Franco is a savvy, crowd-pleasing move, while Three Drives' 'Greece 2000 (Sander Van Dien Remix)' is a timeless trance-adjacent bomb deployed with perfect timing. The journey begins in deep, friendly pressure, builds through funky dub excursions and anthemic reinterpretations of classics, and lands with the undeniable, raw energy of Wildchild's 'Renegade Master' for a closing that sends everyone out buzzing.