Chaos in the CBD

Chaos in the CBD, comprised of New Zealand-born brothers Ben and Louis Helliker-Hales, represents the pinnacle of the 2010s deep house revival. Their sound identity is built on a foundation of '90s Chicago and Detroit house, filtered through a contemporary London lens.

They are particularly noted for their integration of live-sounding jazz elements, such as saxophone and trumpet, which are often treated with heavy reverb to create a sense of vast, nocturnal space. Their career arc saw them move from Auckland to London, where they became central figures in the Peckham electronic scene alongside Bradley Zero and the Rhythm Section label. Critically, they are lauded for their 'timeless' approach, eschewing fleeting trends in favor of high-fidelity analog textures and soulful, melodic depth. They occupy a unique cultural position as 'DJ's DJs' who maintain a massive crossover appeal due to the inherent musicality and emotional resonance of their productions. Their influence can be heard in the rise of 'lo-fi' and 'jazz-house' sub-movements, though they maintain a higher production standard than many of their peers.