TuneLab
Stones Taro DJs a Bass Set live from Kyoto, Japan
Keep Hush Live
When a set opens with the orchestral despair of Kendrick Lamar's 'United In Grief', you know you're not in for a standard-issue club workout. Stones Taro's 'Bass Set' live from Kyoto for Keep Hush is a beautifully meandering journey through broken beat, soul, and bass music, curated for the heads who appreciate the spaces between the drops. The vibe is that of a late-night living room session that accidentally turns into a full-blown party, all hazy smoke and nodding heads. Technically, it's a lesson in dynamic range, with a wide BPM spread from 130 to 162 but anchored at a groovy 138.9 average, and the harmonic center often rests in the moody, atmospheric key of 12A.
The energy is overwhelmingly low-end focused at 0.63, creating a deep, subby bedrock that allows for soulful vocals and jazzy chords to float effortlessly on top. The mixing is thoughtful and blends genres with a curator's confidence rather than a DJ's urgency. The crate digging here is exceptional. Following Kendrick with the timeless Chicago house of Cajmere's 'Brighter Days' is a masterstroke.
Throwing Ja Loopman's dancehall-tinged 'Ghost Town' against The Specials' original is pure genius, and Soul Mass Transit System's 'Blocked' brings a fierce UK rap energy. The inclusion of Dos Minutos's 'Carta a E.T.' is a delightful, punky left-field surprise that few would dare. The journey is a emotional and rhythmic rollercoaster: from the introspective opening of 'United In Grief', through the soulful peak of 'Brighter Days', and finally landing in the raw, jacking house warmth of DJ Deller's 'Romantic (2001)'.