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.
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1:21:01
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1:21:01
Dekmantel Mix 496 - DJ LAG
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.
He played Dekmantel Festival back in 2022 and now makes an overdue entry into our mix series with a widescreen showcase of his musical world, including some unreleased tracks from himself. It's Afro-centric but roams from silky smooth and deep jams to crisp metallic steppers via warped dub, always with an empowering energy that makes you puff your chest and put your best foot forward.
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1:00:23
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1:00:23
Dekmantel Mix 495 - Michelle (live)
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.
Michelle only plays live, so this week’s mix is a raw, unfiltered one-hour transmission pulled straight from her machines. It’s a rugged ride that grinds through industrial tech, shadowy broken beats and deeper techno. The energy is relentless and the tension is palpable, as if intergalactic warfare lurks just out of sight. The pounding rhythms, strobe-lit grit and sweat-soaked intensity make this a masterclass in pressure and release that's alive, dangerous and keeps you right on the edge.
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1:00:21
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Dekmantel Mix 494 - Oblig
London-based Oblig's (@djoblig) sound is closely intertwined with the rich DNA of UK club culture. Bass, garage, grime and techno all influence his robust rhythms, whether he's going dark at 140 bpm or hypnotising with sleek techno. His label Obligated Records and regular shows on Rinse FM are extensions of that, as are his razor-sharp DJ sets across the world.
Hot on the heels of Volume 2 of his label's latest compilation, he's put together an hour mix that smudges the lines between his go-to genres. The selections are punchy and uptempo while twisting through mysterious late-night grime, kinetic club cuts and pneumatic bass workouts, all with a constant low-end pressure that keeps lips curled and heads nodding.
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57:21
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Dekmantel Mix 493 - Philippa Pacho
@philippapacho is like a musical Swiss knife: she has exactly the right tool for every occasion, from warm-ups to peak time to wonky afters. It was a long residency at Under Bron in her native Stockholm that equipped her with those skills, and since moving to Berlin, she's gone on to make her mark across Europe playing all forms of techno. Late last year, Pacho launched her own label Phorum Records as a further extension of her sound, and she also curates tracks and parties under the Positive Source banner.
This August, Pacho joins us at Amsterdamse Bos for Dekmantel 2025 but first serves up this deeply cerebral trip into Millsian techno. It's a high-speed selection of sleek and synth-laced sounds rich in narrative, be that mind-melting urgency, more dark and moody undercurrents or a sense of cosmic unknown. Utterly timeless and effortless classic, this is techno in its most futuristic form.
Brasil