Show Notes
Laksa's (@laksauk) contribution to techno is as vital as it is hard to define. The London-based Bristolian never sits still in one stylistic niche and is as likely to ramp up the techno as he is slow then down. His meticulously designed grooves have come on tasteful labels like Hessle Audio, Timedance and Ilian Tape, always with a focus on dance floor dynamics. Further creative outlets come in the form of the re:lax label, club night and NTS show he runs with with re:ni. Most recently he has cooked up the WONDA EP which includes a vocal collaboration with Nyege Nyege-affiliated Phelimuncasi
The podcast he serves up for us is, in his own words, "a mix of hype and hypnotism" and it includes some tasty unreleased music from the man himself as well as the likes of Ma Sha, Siu Mata, Erik Luebs and Crespi Drum Syndicate. The 90 minutes are as wide-ranging as you might expect with bass-heavy grooves, trance-inducing synths, broken techno workouts and tribal rhythmic explorations all making sure both head and body are catered for in style.
More from Dekmantel Mix Series Archive 1-500
skyra is one of the local artists who has put Georgia's underground scene firmly on the map. His regular appearances at Tbilisi's cult Bassiani club have been key to that, and in August, he will showcase exactly what he's all about when he plays live for us at Selectors with Hamatsuki: deep but driving house music that's bathed in lush melodics but never short on low-end power. Next year, he has plenty of music coming up, including a release on Unforeseen with Hamatsuki.
Our next mix comes from Montreal’s enigmatic DJ Frog. Dusty loops and crushed grooves are the highlight of this Doo Records mainstay. Her selections and productions flutter between the minimalist zones of house and dubby techno. It takes in a whole host of unreleased material from Cheeks, Hashman DJ and sometime studio collaborator SnP 500 and stays resolutely buried in swampy sonics and swirling dub undercurrents. Subtlety is key to how moods are built up, then fade away. There are no big moments, just a slow teasing of tension that grows ever more irresistible.
Proud champions of community and inclusivity, Lakuti and Tama Sumo are long-time Dekmantel favourites and true underground bastions. Deep diggers and lifelong collectors, the iconic Panorama Bar dup built a reputation for sets where pretty much anything goes, as long as it has soul. And the way they mix it, with a rare instinct that pull their crowds in deep is what makes them one of the most revered back-to-back duos in the scene. This week’s mix is yet more evidence of that: over 80 minutes, they blend old and new. Rooted in house but shaped by global travels, it moves through soul-soaked broken beat, classic US depths and Afro rhythms – always carried by an emotional rawness that resonates. A masterclass in both selection and flow from two of the best.
South Africa's DJ Lag is to gqom what Frankie Knuckles is to house. An early pioneer of the raw, minimal and bass-heavy electronic style since the 2010s, he has gone on to popularise it around the world with a wealth of solo EPs and high-profile collabs. Last year, he dropped his second album, The Rebellion, which ushered in a new era that embraced Afro tech, amapiano, drill and hip-hop, all having previously worked with the likes of Beyoncé and Tyla.
Michelle emerged from the Uruguayan underground back in 2018. Since then, she's explored the sort of sounds that have made her homeland such a creative hotbed: stripped-back techno, electro and early tech house all collide in her tracks on the likes of My Own Jupiter, CABARET Recordings and, most recently, Element Of Impact. Though designed purely for dancing, they're rich with intriguing textural contrasts between steely metal surfaces, wonky acid lines and sultry synths.