TuneLab
Melanin
Keep Hush Live Berlin: Kikelomo Takeover
Melanin’s set at the Kikelomo takeover in Berlin is for those of us who believe a dancefloor should feel like a time-traveling teleporter, vaulting between breakbeat, jungle, and techno without breaking a sweat. The vibe is ecstatic and historical, a room of heads recognizing every classic sample and twisted amen. Operating at a fierce average of 149.7 BPM, the journey is a harmonic rollercoaster, though it frequently finds a home in the unifying key of 12A. The energy is profoundly low-end dominant (0.78 average), a sub-bass foundation that allows the mid-range breaks and high-end synth stabs to cut through with surgical precision.
The mixing is fast and fearless, tying together disparate eras with harmonic savvy and sheer momentum. The crate digging is exceptional: 'Switch - Hilltop View' opens with that iconic, skippy UK funky rhythm. 'SHERELLE - JUNGLE TEKNAH' is a modern breakbeat manifesto. 'LTJ Bukem - Atlantis (I Need You)' is a breathtaking dive into atmospheric drum & bass, while 'Sara Landry - Rupture' slams the set into hard techno territory.
'µ-Ziq - Iggy's Song' and 'CLIPZ - Again' add layers of nostalgic melody and contemporary rap energy. It begins with the future-funk of 'Hilltop View', peaks with the brutalist ecstasy of 'JUNGLE TEKNAH', and closes on a sly, smooth note with the 'Black Market Slow Ride' edit of 'Ginuwine - Pony'.