Awakenings ADE 2018
Adam Beyer
Ah, ADE. The annual pilgrimage where music execs in black turtlenecks pretend they aren't exhausted by day two, nodding rhythmically at the back of the VIP while discussing synergy. Meanwhile, the front row is a sweaty mess of techno purists aggressively gatekeeping the kick drum. The Gashouder is a massive, metallic cathedral of sound, with fireworks raining down from the roof as the driving bass shakes your ribcage.
Unpacking the Adam Beyer Awakenings ADE 2018 tracklist, the Drumcode boss sits comfortably at a chugging 128 BPM. Heavily utilizing the 12A and 3B Camelot keys, he builds a massive, rolling energy arc that feels like a freight train. His mixing in this Techno live set is seamless and muscular, layering thick low-end frequencies with absolute precision. The selection is a masterclass in big-room techno supremacy.
He pulls out heavy hitters like Veerus' "Hypnosis", but the real curveball is dropping Antoine Clamaran's "Do the Funk (Do The Funk Dub)"—a groovy nod to his roots that catches the trainspotters entirely off guard. Setting the mood instantly, the set launches with the rumbling opening track "Space Buffet" by Morphlab. It’s a relentless climb through peak-time stompers like Pablo Say’s "Crescendo", finally winding down with the atmospheric, pulsing closing track "Sintesi (Original)" by Alex Dolby. A proper shift.