Dekmantel returns to Amsterdam Bos for second instalment

Bringing with it generous amounts of talent per square inch, Dekmantel festival returns to the Amsterdam woods this year – and we'll be reporting from amid the trees...

Preview by Daniel Jones | 22 Jul 2014

Dekmantel began life as a series of tight night parties back in 2007, chopping and changing between Amsterdam hotspots like Trouw, Studio 80 and Paradiso. It morphed into a label in 2009 with DKMNTL001, a white label from the combined versatility of Juju & Jordash, which set the bar for other proprietors of leftfield house and darker techno to jump over. In the twenty-odd releases that have followed, 'Dam legend San Proper (listen below) has chimed in more than a few times, as has Joey Anderson and Vedomir – it's very much a family affair based on collective progression.

That progression led to a full-blown festival last year in the picturesque haze of Amsterdam Bos (Bos means forest in Dutch) which attracted more big names per square inch than most other European shindigs. Looking at the lineup for this year, we can expect more of the same: DJ Harvey gets a four hour berth for his high octane boogie antics; Lancashire’s favourite enigma Shackleton cuts loose directly before vital up-and-comer Rødhåd, while Jeff Mills and Robert Hood rep doomsday in Detroit.

What really sets Dekmantel apart is the wealth of tag-teams ready to slay at any available opportunity: Blawan gets together with both Pariah and Surgeon for some abrasive wonderment, first as Karenn, then Trade; the Hessle Audio crew are in full force with Ben UFO, Pearson Sound and Pangaea all present, and Juju & Jordash and Move D pool their talents as Magic Mountain High for an eagerly awaited live show. Finally, dub techno overlord Moritz von Oswald brings in his buddies Max Loderbauer and Vladislav Delay amid a lurking atmosphere of dense pulses and wanton echoes.

Elsewhere, there's the combined lateral thinking of Rick Wilhite, Moodymann, Theo Parrish and Marcellus Pittmann. Collectively known as 3 Chairs, their outfit spans the limits of jazz, funk, disco, techno and house, and is pretty much the Motor City’s electronic response to the The Travelling Wilburys – word.

The Skinny will be heading over to the festival 1-3 Aug, so check back on these pages just afterwards where we'll be carrying a full review of the weekend's activities – plus watch out for an upcoming DJ Chart from aforementioned Dekmantel stalwarts Juju & Jordash. 

Dekmantel festival, Amsterdam Bos, 1-3 Aug http://www.dekmantelfestival.com