TuneLab
ANNIE MAC in The Lab LDN 2017
Annie Mac's 2017 Lab LDN set is a time capsule from a moment when 'house' could mean anything from soulful disco edits to left-field techno, and we were all better for it. The vibe is that of a perfectly curated house party, just as the sun comes up and the conversation turns profound. This is a masterfully balanced house and tech-house narrative, averaging 127.7 BPM and weaving between the melancholic 3B and the uplifting 12A keys with intuitive grace. The energy skews low (59%), giving the mix a deep, warm foundation that allows melodic elements and vocals to shine brightly.
The mid-range provides the funk and groove, evident in tracks like Solee's 'Shanti', while strategic high-end hits keep the energy dynamic. Mac's mixing is storytelling in motion: patient, harmonic, and always with an eye on emotional resonance rather than mere floor-filling. The track selection is a dizzying highlight reel: the dusty, soulful swing of Romanthony's 'Bring U Up (Jasper James Remix)' is a perfect opener. KAYTRANADA's 'LITE SPOTS' is flipped into a house context with brilliant results, and Eric Prydz's 'Opus' in Four Tet's remix form is a breathtaking, left-field centerpiece.
Karizma's 'Work It Out' is a deep house masterclass that never gets old. The journey starts with the soulful invitation of 'Bring U Up', builds to the euphoric, breakbeat-driven peak of the Bicep remix of 'Lovelee Dae', and gently descends with that same track's warm, analog embrace.