Kode9 / Various - DJ Kicks

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4...according to our Ant on Fri 18 Jun, 2010.

Hyperdub man Kode 9 serves up an immense 31 track mix selection of tunes that represents his recent DJ sets. It is seamlessly mixed with serious flow that really showcases his skills as a selector and proves just how deeply in touch he is with the London Underground dance music culture, taking in a lot of UK funky, fractured future garage, dubstep, dancehall and beyond. What is apparent to me from the mix is how the music has evolved and mutated into so many vibrant strains. From tropical house to more reggae inspired numbers its's thrilling to hear each transition into the next track. A lot of the tunes are heavily percussive which is really the driving force of the mix but there are plenty of liquid colourful synths, drops, hooks and breakdowns. With tracks from Lone, Aardvark Ikonika, Cooly G, DVA Ramadanman, Zomby, Digital Mystikz, Sticky, Terrah Danjah, The Bug, Mujava etc. You know you're in for a pleasant and ultra funky ride. I'm gonna give this a spin in the car I reckon. A sweet DJ mix for sure. Now where is the long rumored Burial 'DJ Kicks' mix???

In 2010 Kode9 resides ahead of the curve. Having cultivated one of the most sonically testing and unpredictable labels in bass music with his Hyperdub imprint, he stands as more than just a DJ to many an avid listener. With writing credits (his recently published book Sonic Warfare deeply explores the use of sound as a weapon) an impecable A&R record and an ample smattering of his own productions under his belt; he maintains the intrinsic need to be individual and his musical desires have made him stand out like a beacon of hope in the somewhat desolate setting of UK dance music.

“We’re all drowning in DJ mixes through this podcast mania that we are living through;” he reveals. “Everyone can be a DJ these days - which is great - but it certainly devalues the status of a DJ mix, and emphasizes the importance of selection. It’s great to do a mix for a change that will come on a CD and have a physical presence,” he continues. “I’m not against the speed of the internet, but I certainly prefer that this mix will leave a trace in the analog world and hopefully not just reside in that trebly little world of iPods and laptop speakers.”

“Very simply, [the mix is] just a snapshot of my DJ sets at the first half of 2010,” he says calmly. “It’s definitely not an exploration of my musical heritage, but it’s not all new either. It probably signifies something about my relationship to dubstep that the mix only has a few dubstep tunes in it, and is instead a mix of UK funky, broken beat, dubstep, grime and some R&B. Unfortunately, I fear some listeners, because of my background, will think that all the tracks are just mutations of dubstep.”

The mix is a rousing and danceable collection of tracks segued together by a DJ whose approach to his art is tried and tested. “The first and second halves [of the mix] are pretty typical of my sets over the last year,” Kode9 agrees. “The little ‘dream sequence’ in the middle... I only get to do that when the vibe feels right and people look capable of moving to more downbeat stuff instead of just standing around and nodding their heads.”

For Kode9 this rhythmically diverse mix has its own consistency to it - “even though the rhythm patterns keep shifting, and cycling discontinuously.” Cracking jokes about robotic DJs whose performances are stuck in the same drum pattern, key matched perfectly or rigid and predictable in their drops it’s obvious from talking to him that he holds the process of mixing 2 tracks together to produce a 3rd very close to his heart and his passion, growth as a selector and lust for rhythm characteristic of his club sets in claustrophobic basement venues has been captured perfectly on this mix.

“There is definitely a continuity from the UK garage I used to play, the dubstep and grime I play and the UK funky I play. It definitely has more air in it and space to breathe, but I also think a lot of the music around just now is a lot more colourful and doesn’t necessarily need vocals to stay interesting. In an alternate universe, the kind of R&B vocals I play in the middle of the mix would be on top of the more upbeat stuff I play, but I can’t find those tunes yet.”

TRACKLISTING:

1. Lone - Once In A While

2. Aardvarck - Revo

3. Kode9 - Blood Orange

4. Kode9 - You Don't Wash (Dub) (DJ-KiCKS)

5. Cooly G - Phat Si

6. Ill Blu - Bellion

7. Ikonika - Heston

8. Scratcha DVA - Jelly Roll

9. Mr Mageeka - Different Lekstrix

10. Grievous Angel - Move Down Low

11. Sticky feat. Natalie Storm - Look Pon Me

12. Sticky - Jumeirah Riddim Sequel

13. Mujava - Pleaze Mugwanti

14. DVA - Natty

15. Aardvaarck - Re Spoken (Nubian Mindz Released Mix)

16. Morgan Zarate feat. Sarah Ann Webb - M.A.B.

17. Rozzi Daime - Dirty Illusions

18. Zomby - Spiralz

19. Kode9 - It

20. J*DaVeY - Mr. Mister

21. Digital Mystikz - 2 Much Chat

22. Terror Danjah - Stiff

23. Digital Mystikz - Mountain Dread March

24. Zomby - Godzilla

25. Digital Mystikz - Mountain Dread March (Reprise)

26. Addison Groove - Footcrab

27. Kode9 vs. LD - Bad

28. Maddslinky - Cargo

29. Ramadanman - Work Them

30. Terror Danjah - Bruzin (VIP)

31. The Bug - Run (feat. Flo Dan)