Since releasing his last album in 2006, Kode9 has kept busy helping launch the careers of others on his Hyperdub label, including dubstep mainstay Burial. Having worked behind the scenes and eventually published an academic tome Sonic Warfare: Sound, Affect, and the Ecology of Fear in 2009, the man also known as Steve Goodman has made his comeback with a highly-anticipated chapter in the DJ Kicks series put out by !K7.

Refreshing the ears after years, the mixtape flaunts a mellowed-out, synthesised blend of ragga, dubstep and drum & bass. The tracklist’s impressive line-up boasts Kode9 as well as Digital Mystikz, Ikonika, Aardvaarck and Zomby. The spaced-out, futuristic sounds of this compilation act as a counterpoint to the grime that DJs like Caspa and Rusko have brought to the genre.

Unlike the patchwork feel of some other compilations, Kode9 works the tracks together in a thoughtful manner, launching the album with Lone’s upbeat ragga tune Once in a While. The seamless transitions give the mix an avant-garde feel, with a smattering of bumping body-movers courtesy of Ikonika’s Heston and Grievous Angel’s_ Move Down Low_. Bits of juicy dancehall then enter the mix, led by Sticky, the mastermind behind Look Pon Me and Jumeirah Riddim Sequel.

The diverse sounds continue to course, closing with a suite of UK DJs – Digital Mystikz, Addison Groove and Ramadanman – in the final stretch. Each producer is known for melding dubstep and house elements, and their bumping basslines leave you grateful you don’t have to fly all the way to London for a Kode9 fix. This section is where the album really excels, giving listeners the sense there is an actual DJ behind the mix, commanding the filters and subtle effects.

This latest DJ Kicks is an all-encompassing set from Kode9. It expresses his masterful song selection, as well as his ability to work the equipment with a keen ear. This album is definitely worth your money, and some.

DJ Kicks: Kode9 is out now on !K7 through Inertia.