TuneLab
Ash Scholem
Tbilisi | Left Bank Takeover
There's a certain brand of melodic, driving electronics that feels tailor-made for those endless Eastern European nights, and Ash Scholem's set for the Left Bank Takeover in Tbilisi is a textbook example—euphoric but never saccharine, powerful but never brutal. The vibe is a sleek, modern club where lasers cut through smoke and every synth lead feels earned. This is a masterclass in peak-time progressive and melodic techno, maintaining a steady, hypnotic average BPM of 136.2 and largely revolving around the anthemic, emotional key of 12A. The energy is perfectly balanced for dancefloor immersion, with a strong low-end at 0.59 providing drive, while the melodic elements in the mid and high ranges are given room to breathe and elevate.
The mixing is long, smooth, and designed to create a continuous, wave-like flow. The tracklist reads like a who's who of smart, crowd-pleasing electronics with depth. Opening with Chico Rose's 'Pom' sets a vibrant, groovy tone. Dropping Fragma's 'Toca's Miracle' is a calculated, nostalgic weapon that never fails, while Elderbrook's 'Capricorn (Skream Remix)' adds a contemporary, bass-heavy twist.
The inclusion of Jeff Mills' 'Inner Life' shows a respect for techno fundamentals, and Layo & Bushwacka!'s 'Love Story' provides a moment of classic, hands-in-the-air breakbeat drama. The journey is a meticulously crafted ascent: it starts with the funky pulse of 'Pom', climbs to a trance-tinged peak with the arpeggiated rush of Eelke Kleijn's 'Transmission', and descends into the raw, acidic chatter of Lex Boy's 'Acid Bad Trip' for a gritty, satisfying close.