Adam Beyer WE2
Tomorrowland 2024
We find ourselves in the sleek, industrial embrace of a Drumcode-style techno bunker at Tomorrowland 2024, where Adam Beyer WE2 is here to administer a precise, functional dose of peak-time medicine. The lighting is stark, rhythmic strobes synced to every kick, a no-nonsense environment for deep concentration. This is driving, melodic techno, locked into a narrow BPM corridor averaging 136.7, with a tonal center frequently revolving around the dark, hypnotic 12A key.
The energy is overwhelmingly low-end focused, with that 0.75 low-energy average creating a subterranean pressure that pushes the room forward through sheer weight rather than melodic release. Beyer's mixing is surgical and efficient, using long blends and tool-like tracks to maintain a relentless, unchanging groove perfect for the committed dancefloor. The track selection is a lesson in contemporary techno curation: Massano's 'The Lights' is an absolute monster, a looping, atmospheric siren that defines the set's hypnotic mood.
His own 'Life Is' and 'Don't Go' serve as dependable, pounding functional tools from the label boss's arsenal. The inclusion of Mimmo Amerelli's 'Alla Consolle' adds a quirky, vocal-led Italian touch, while the closing switch to Gigi D'Agostino's 'Another Way' is a hilarious and brilliant nod to rave nostalgia. The set begins with the cheeky vocal sample of 'Alla Consolle', builds its relentless pressure through tracks like 'The Lights', and concludes with that unexpected, euphoric Tanzen mix, proving even the most serious techno heads have a soft spot for the classics.