Adriatique
at Signal 2108 Alpe d'Huez in the Alps, France for Cercle
It's always a laugh seeing lads in £800 Moncler jackets trying to nod on beat while completely missing the kick drum at a ski resort. Digging through the Adriatique Signal 2108 Alpe d'Huez tracklist, it's obvious this Adriatique live set was designed for the alpine VIPs who think ordering bottle service is a personality trait. Still, with the sun setting over the snow-capped French Alps, the venue boasts a proper moody, cinematic vibe that perfectly matches the dark Rominimal aesthetic. Technically, the Swiss duo keeps it brooding and deliberate, sitting at an average 121.5 BPM.
They dominate the 12A key to create a tense, minor-chord atmosphere, using drawn-out, almost imperceptible mixes to slowly dial up the pressure. For the crate digger looking for deep cuts, the track selection is incredibly sharp. They drop massive, mind-bending tunes like 'Denis Horvat - Noise (feat. Lelah)' and a sublime Tale Of Us remix of Jean-Michel Jarre, showing exactly why they are masters of the genre.
The set's journey is a masterclass in slow-burn tension. Easing the shivering crowd in with the atmospheric opening track 'DJ Tennis - Gordon (Atmo Version)', they build a relentless, driving peak before throwing an absolute curveball, finishing with the nostalgic, hands-in-the-air closing track 'Fragma - Toca's Miracle (2008 Inpetto Extended Mix)'. A mad but brilliant finish.