TuneLab
ASQUITH
ASQUITH flying the Lobster Theremin flag in The Lab LDN promises a certain kind of psychedelic, peak-time mischief. We're here for the melodic hooks and the subtle nods to trance's forgotten corners, all while pretending we're too cool for the big build-ups. The energy is building, lights are starting to strobe, and you can feel the collective lean into every rising arpeggio in this intimate booth setting. Averaging 129.8 BPM and firmly rooted in the euphoric 12A key, this is melodic techno with a progressive heart and a wry smile.
The low-end energy at 61% ensures a solid, four-to-the-floor foundation that locks the crowd in, while the mids and highs at 27% and 12% carry the melodic payload of pads and hooks. Key excursions into 8B and 10B introduce welcome tension and release, with the mixing being smooth and narrative-driven, using long, evolving blends that let tracks like Boris Brejcha's 'Ginger' fully unfurl their intricate, hypnotic patterns. It's a set that builds methodically, using repetition as a tool for transcendence. DJ Boring's 'Los Apson?' is a perfect, slightly off-kilter opener with its loopy charm.
Munfell Muzik's 'Eny' provides a driving, hypnotic loop, while the Daniel Bovie & Roy Rox remix of South Street Player's '(Who?) Keeps Changing Your Mind?' is a peak-time house weapon with a killer vocal sample. Cloud 9's 'Do You Want Me Baby (Original Club Mix)' is a classic piano-house injection of pure joy, and Samim's 'Heater (Tube & Berger Remix)' is a timeless, bass-driven groove. Pablo Say's 'Crescendo' and DJ Simi's 'Advanz T3' keep the energy taut and forward-moving with their precise, driving rhythms. From the quirky bounce of 'Los Apson?,' through the soaring, intricate climax of 'Ginger,' to the final, satisfying release of that same track as the closer, it's a beautifully circular melodic techno voyage that rewards close listening.