LB aka LABAT
Mixmag Lab London
Nothing prepares you for the whiplash of a set that contorts Tiësto's 2004 trance vocal into the same space as a Playboi Carti leak, and for that, we must thank LB aka LABAT. This Mixmag Lab London live set is a glorious, chaotic tribute to the art of the genre-blend, for those of us whose Spotify Wrapped is a psychiatric evaluation. The vibe is pure London basement eclecticism, where a 2 Unlimited sample is just as valid as a Kanye acapella. Technically, it's a rollercoaster, with a BPM average of 136.4 masking a wild 94-174 range, all held together by a surprising amount of harmonic mixing centered on keys like 12A and 8B.
The energy is more dynamic than most (0.08 high), allowing for sudden breaks and explosive drops. LABAT's style is collage-like, using tracks as components rather than linear progressions. The tracklist is a treasure trove: Distant Sun - Machine lernt provides a sleek, modern electro foundation, while the Electro Blues Jet Set Mix of Deborah's Theme is a forgotten, funky gem. Dropping the full Extended mix of 2 Unlimited - No Limit is a commitment to chaos we deeply respect, and weaving in Kanye West - God Breathed as the closer is a bold, atmospheric power move.
The 14-minute odyssey of Golub - Galaxy Next Door serves as the experimental, psychedelic core. The journey defies convention: it kicks off with the gritty, percussive MGL - Paye, finds its surreal peak in the sprawling 'Galaxy Next Door,' and lands, somehow gracefully, in the choral ambience of 'God Breathed.' A full tracklist for the terminally curious.