'What Came Before' And Everything That Led Up To Now: Chase and Status - Live Report

Last night, legendary DJ/Producer duo took to the historic Koko Camden to showcase their new album ‘What Came Before’, but in the process of performing their new record and the nostalgic reminiscing, the duo firmly proved that the most important thing is what they’re still doing right now. In an excellent showcase of where they started and how they got to where they are now, the London-based duo began the set by reeling back the years starting with some serious Drum n Bass classics in ‘Original Nuttah’, and some of their well known songs in the form of ‘No Problem’ and ‘Blind Faith’ before the attention solely turned towards ‘What Came Before’.

The entire set had an incredibly constructed narrative, it really felt as though you were watching and listening to the duos journey in getting to where they are now. The set begun with the songs they used to mix in small clubs and house parties, through their previous bodies of work that saw them rise through the ranks, and following the trail all the way through to ‘What Came Before’, essentially detailing what came before, and how they got to where they are now. Chase and Status showcasing ‘What Came Before’ in its entirety was incredible, it didn’t matter whether you were upstairs, downstairs or in the middle terrace, the energy that flowed through the crowd emanating from the sensation of the incredible duo beaming out ‘What Came Before’ was a really special moment to observe.

‘What Came Before’ really is vintage Chase and Status, there are the classic Tribal vibes from their track with Takura, who previously featured on their iconic ‘No Problem’, whilst just like any Chase and Status album, features some of the best British rising talent. Performing live on the evening with Chase and Status were Pip Millett and Backroad Gee for their features on the album, Pip cutting a more somber tone, whilst Backroad Gee building on the Grime element that Chase and Status had established throughout their ‘London Bars’ project. Meanwhile, Unknown T also featured on the evening in their sublime collaboration showcasing how incredibly well Chase and Status drift from genre to genre, whilst always making it work. Each song off the album appeared to be almost a nod to there old music, just with extra added know-how that the duo have accumulated throughout their years in the industry. It was emphatic, and there appeared to be a genuine appreciation shared by all attending, just absolutely in awe of the journey the Chase and Status duo have been on, and the sensational music that they have gifted us over the course of their musical careers. What’s more on a side note, on the topic of the duo’s versatility, if there musical prowess wasn’t enough, those attending were encouraged to sample Saul’s slices of pizza, detailing even further that there really is nothing the two can not do.

All in all, the evening consisted of old school classics to that were thoroughly enjoyable, whilst the stage covering LED screen rolled through the years displaying previous album covers, whilst also text that detailed ‘What Came Before’. It was an incredible showcase of the new album, a project that is very much built on the memories of their journey, infused with modern elements of the electronic music scene and some seriously special features. If the crowd were excited by the old school classics, ‘What Came Before’ elevated the crowd to a whole new level, and proved exactly why Chase and Status have held their name so high throughout their whole career.

The energy present last night is the exact same energy that Chase and Status have transmitted throughout their prolific careers, and there aren’t enough superlatives to properly get across just how electric the London-based duo are. Each album release sees them propel their reputations to a whole different level. However, with that being said, through last nights performance - Chase and Status have perfectly embodied all their previous projects and transformed it into the beauty of ‘What Came Before’, placing a real landmark down on the electronic music scene and firmly placing themselves at the forefront of British culture once more.