By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – London, The electronic music landscape is frequently defined by cycles of hibernation and sudden, explosive activity. For Felix Manuel, the London-based producer and virtuoso turntablist known as Djrum, the last two years have represented a period of unprecedented creative velocity. Since his return to the forefront of the scene in late 2024, Manuel has operated at a pace that suggests a dam has finally burst, releasing a series of works that have redefined the boundaries between club-focused rhythms and cinematic sound design. This prolific streak, which began with the critically acclaimed Meaning’s Edge EP, is now reaching a definitive milestone as Manuel joins the ranks of the legendary DJ-Kicks series. Scheduled for release on October 16 through the venerable !K7 Records, the mix serves as both a culmination of his recent efforts and a complex roadmap of his artistic DNA.
The announcement of a Djrum DJ-Kicks installment arrives at a time when Manuel’s reputation has never been higher. Following the initial impact of Meaning’s Edge, he quickly solidified his standing with the release of Under Tangled Silence, an album that many critics hailed as a masterclass in atmospheric tension and polyrhythmic complexity. His output did not stop there; a string of high-profile remixes and the recent I Wander EP have kept his name at the center of the conversation regarding the future of British electronic music. By securing a spot in the DJ-Kicks lineage—a series that has hosted icons ranging from Moodymann to Mount Kimbie—Manuel is being recognized not just as a producer of individual tracks, but as a curator capable of weaving disparate sonic threads into a cohesive, albeit challenging, narrative.
The methodology behind this specific mix is as intricate as the music Manuel produces. According to press materials from !K7, the Djrum DJ-Kicks was not assembled through standard digital beat-matching or simple software sequencing. Instead, Manuel returned to his roots as a vinyl enthusiast and technical DJ. He recorded the foundation of the album by mixing physical records live, capturing the tactile energy and occasional imperfections that come with analog performance. However, the process did not end at the turntables. Manuel then took these live recordings into post-production, meticulously "chopping" and reconfiguring the audio to create a hybrid experience that exists somewhere between a traditional DJ set and a studio-composed soundscape.
This "bumpy" approach, as Manuel describes it, is central to his creative philosophy. "I like things to be a bit bumpy," he noted in a recent statement, "to have ups and downs and f*ck with expectations!" This desire to subvert the listener’s comfort zone is evident in the sprawling 33-track selection, which traverses an immense stylistic range. The mix does not merely move from one techno track to another; it leaps between field recordings, avant-garde jazz, post-punk, and aggressive breakcore, often within the span of a few minutes. This unpredictability is what has made Djrum a standout figure in a contemporary scene that sometimes leans too heavily on genre-purism.
At the heart of the mix are four brand-new original tracks from Djrum himself, which act as the structural pillars of the journey. One of these, titled "Psychic Video," has been released ahead of the full album, offering a glimpse into the current state of Manuel’s sound design. The track is a quintessential Djrum production: it balances a sense of ethereal beauty with a gritty, propulsive rhythmic undercurrent. The other three originals—"Turning," "Leave Me Alone," and the penultimate "To Do What to Do"—ensure that the mix feels like a primary document of his own evolution rather than just a collection of other people’s music.
The guest list for the mix is equally impressive, featuring several "exclusive" contributions from heavyweights of the experimental electronic world. Skee Mask, the Ilian Tape mainstay known for his intricate breakbeats and ambient textures, provides a new track titled "Flip," while the veteran producer Clark contributes "Clonk Dual." These exclusives are not merely filler; they represent the mutual respect Manuel commands among his peers. The inclusion of Venetian Snares’ "Miss Balaton" brings a touch of frantic, IDM-inflected chaos to the proceedings, contrasting sharply with the more meditative moments found elsewhere in the tracklist.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the DJ-Kicks selection is the way Manuel incorporates non-electronic influences. The inclusion of The Raincoats’ "Only Loved at Night" is a significant "curveball" that highlights his appreciation for the raw, emotional honesty of post-punk. By placing a deep cut from a seminal 1970s/80s all-female punk band alongside modern electronic producers, Manuel forces the listener to find the hidden connections between these seemingly unrelated worlds. Similarly, the presence of Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids’ "Traponga" injects a sense of spiritual jazz and cosmic exploration into the mix, further broadening its scope.
Field recordings also play a crucial role in the atmospheric grounding of the album. Chris Watson, a founding member of the industrial pioneers Cabaret Voltaire and a world-renowned sound recordist, has four separate contributions scattered throughout the mix. These tracks—ranging from "Glastonbury Ocean Soundscape" to "Adult Cheetah Resting by Baobab Tree"—act as sonic palate cleansers and transitional devices. They pull the listener out of the club environment and into the natural world, reinforcing the "bumpy" and unpredictable nature of the journey Manuel has curated.
The inclusion of the late Susumu Yokota’s "Fearful Dream" is another nod to the history of ambient and experimental techno. Yokota, a Japanese master of texture and melody, fits perfectly into the Djrum aesthetic, which often prioritizes mood and emotional resonance over simple dancefloor utility. This reverence for the past is balanced by the inclusion of contemporary innovators like the Indonesian collective Uwalmassa and the boundary-pushing sound artist upsammy. Each track, from Lino Capra Vaccina’s "Antico Adagio" to A.fruit’s "Measures of Dispersion," feels like a carefully chosen piece of a larger puzzle.
As the mix nears its conclusion, it moves through the haunting "Causalities" by the enigmatic |||||||||||||||||||| and the rhythmic rituals of Mark’s "Incantation for the Protection of JC." The final stretch features Djrum’s own "To Do What to Do," before closing with the Sileni Remix of Actual Proof’s "Maybe We’ll Stay." This ending suggests a sense of resolution, though the journey to get there is intentionally jagged and multifaceted.
The timing of this release is particularly poignant given Manuel’s recent critical sweep. His work on Under Tangled Silence and the track "Three Foxes Chasing Each Other" earned him significant accolades, appearing prominently in year-end retrospectives for 2025. This DJ-Kicks installment feels like the closing of a chapter—a way for Manuel to document the influences and techniques that have fueled his recent burst of creativity before he moves on to his next metamorphosis.
For !K7 Records, the addition of Djrum to the DJ-Kicks roster reinforces the series’ commitment to high-concept curation. Since its inception in 1995, the series has sought to provide a platform for DJs to express their full musical identity, often stepping away from the constraints of their usual club sets. In Felix Manuel, they have found an artist whose very identity is built on the refusal to be constrained. His mix is a testament to the idea that the best electronic music is often that which looks outward, drawing strength from the fringes of jazz, classical, punk, and the natural world.
As October 16 approaches, the anticipation for the full release of Djrum DJ-Kicks continues to build within the electronic community. It is more than just a mix; it is a complex, multi-layered artifact from an artist at the height of his powers. By blending the raw energy of live vinyl mixing with the precision of modern post-production, Manuel has created a listening experience that demands attention and rewards repeat visits. In a world of predictable playlists and algorithmic recommendations, Djrum’s "bumpy" ride is a necessary reminder of the power of human curation and the enduring thrill of the unexpected.
