Kimi De La Haye

Kimi De La Haye opens with Ambrosia's 'Inside Your Arms', and any notion of a reggae set is vaporized by 175 BPM of pure, unadulterated drum & bass pressure. This Keep Hush Live from Naarm (Melbourne) is a transatlantic link-up, a love letter to the dark, intelligent side of the genre. The vibe is that of a dedicated session, where every amen break is dissected and every Reese bassline is felt in the teeth. Technically, it's a high-velocity sprint averaging 175 BPM, using keys like 3B and 12A to maintain a moody, atmospheric depth amidst the speed.

The energy is well-balanced but with a strong low-end foundation, allowing the intricate mid-range drum programming and haunting high-end melodies to shine through the relentless pace. The mixing is fast and fluid, characteristic of jungle and drum & bass, weaving together classics and deeper cuts with precision. For the D&B archivists, it's a feast. Ambrosia's opener is liquid gold, while Renegade's 'Dark Soldier' is a timeless darkcore anthem.

MA2's 'Hearing Is Believing' is a minimal roller, Mask's 'Mad Professor' pays homage, and Krust's 'Guess' is a minimalist masterpiece. FU-Schnickens' 'Ring the Alarm' sampled over breaks is a hip-hop head's dream, Sound’s Master Live provides a classic interlude, and Capone's 'Friday' is a stone-cold jungle standard. The journey launches with the melodic rush of 'Inside Your Arms', builds to a fierce peak with the militant drive of 'Dark Soldier', and likely uses the rugged amens of 'Friday' or the atmospheric depth of Krust to see us out, a perfect circle from soul to darkness. A set that reminds us why we still chase this feeling.