As a drum & bass fan growing up, I loved hearing promo mixes, but there was always something about the live mix that appealed to me more. I remember cherishing one tape pack in particular, not just because guys like Andy C and Mampi Swift were dons on the decks, but because they'd capture the noise of the crowd in those recordings. Hearing firing drum & bass is cool, but seeing as so much of that sound really opens up when you're in the middle of the party, it's crucial to hear how people are reacting to tunes, either via chants with the MCs or when calling for rewinds. Some of my favorite mixes to this day are ones that come from those tape packs, and in that vein, this Gridlok mix is totally up my alley.
On August 2, Gridlok (along with MC Dino) headlined the main room for Timeless, and from what we're hearing in this recording, his two-hour set must've blown the roof off of the venue. Gridlok and Dino have been touring together for years (I specifically remember a dope string of events lined up in 2010 to support Gridlok's VOID album), and you can hear their years of experience together coming alive in this set. Most people talk shit on dnb MCs for spitting too much over the tracks; Dino knows when to hop on and get the crowd hyped or spit some mind-blowing lyrics, but he also knows when to let tracks breathe, and you can hear it throughout this recording. Gridlok, who's been a staple in the American drum & bass scene (but has racked in releases for Ram, Playaz, Commercial Suicide, and Subtitles, as well as the legendary Underfire imprint), brings the Project 51 heat on this one. Pure energy, this journey is one for the dnb heads that truly know. He doesn't stay stuck in the future, as the two-hour set time really allows Gridlok to expand, highlighting what a real drum & bass live experience should be.
There's no tracklist, but it really isn't about that: this is all about feeling. This'll have you going nuts in your seats, and probably make you want to find out when Gridlok hits your town in the near future. Trust we!
