TuneLab
Manikin
Perth | The Vault Takeover
A drum & bass takeover in Perth's The Vault sounds like the kind of niche, passionate event we live for, and Manikin's set is a textbook example of the genre's emotional and technical range. Picture a dark, packed room where the air moves with the sub-bass, and every drop is met with a roar. This is 176 BPM science, locked primarily into the 12A key, with forays into 6B and 3A for melodic contrast.
The energy is, predictably, dominated by low-end (76.2%), providing the relentless engine for intricate breakbeats and soaring pads. Manikin's mixing is precise and energetic, using quick cuts and double-drops to maintain fever-pitch intensity, while harmonic shifts provide brief respites before plunging back into the fray. The opening 'Rudimental - Ram Pam' is a clever, accessible entry point with its festival-sized vocals.
Koherent's 'Mercurial' represents the deeper, more cerebral side of neurofunk, while GLXY & Sustance's 'Fine Lines' is a stunning liquid roller, all warmth and soul. Crystal Clear & Amoss's 'Earthquake' is a brutalist, sub-heavy weapon for the heads, and his own remix of 'Hindsight' shows a producer's touch. The set launches with the vocal-led energy of 'Rudimental - Ram Pam', reaches a peak with the atmospheric depth of 'GLXY & Sustance - Fine Lines', and closes with the serene, almost ambient flutter of 'Surrounds by InternetCity - Little Birdie'.