Lewis James

When the 1985 crew takes over, you expect precision-engineered weight, and Lewis James delivered a drum & bass set that felt like a surgical strike. In a space where the bass is less heard and more felt in your molars, this was for the heads who communicate via a series of grimaces and nods. The vibe was intense, focused, a tunnel vision of amen breaks and sub-bass pressure. With an average BPM of 168.5 and a key structure leaning on 12A, this was high-velocity junglist business, all about momentum and texture.

The energy balance, with 64% in the low end, meant every kick drum and bassline swell was a physical event, while the mids carried the intricate drum programming and atmospheric pads. Despite only four tracks, this was a lesson in maximalism within a minimal framework, using long, evolving arrangements to build and release tension. The opening of his own 'Praying Out Loud' set a deep, vocal-led mood, a moment of soul before the storm. The true journey piece was Cephalonya's 'Antartica', a near-17-minute odyssey of icy synthscapes and relentless breaks that served as the immersive, peak-time centrepiece.

Closing with Buhbuh's 'Carbon', a track of brutalist, minimal drum & bass, provided a stark and satisfying conclusion. This full tracklist, though short, was a masterclass in the 'less is more' philosophy when each 'more' is so densely packed with detail.