TuneLab
BEN SIMS three-deck techno set in The Lab LDN
BEN SIMS with three decks in The Lab LDN? We knew we were in for a lesson in rhythmic punishment, and the man delivers a thesis on functional, peak-time hard techno. This is for those of us who believe a set should feel like a cardiovascular event. The lab transforms into a sweatbox of pure kinetic energy, where the only lighting needed is the glow from the mixer. Averaging a punishing 138.1 BPM and anchored in the 12A key, this is techno stripped back to its muscular, efficient core.
The BPM range is narrow, from 136 to 140, creating a turbine-like consistency that allows for intricate, multi-deck layering. The energy profile is overwhelmingly low-end focused (0.77), with Sims using mid and high frequencies as precise tools for accents and breaks, never letting the pressure drop for a second. His mixing is a technical marvel, weaving elements from tracks like Yoda Inc.'s 'Definitely (DJ Scot Project Remix)'—a trance-tinged bomb from the archives—with the raw, loop-based drive of Knuckleheadz's 'House Rocca'. The opener, Jeff Hax's 'Robotnik Compression (Davide Bossi Remix)', sets a gritty, mechanical tone.
Wet Musik's 'Misjah' provides an extended, hypnotic journey into minimalism, while the inclusion of trance classics like Rank 1's 'Airwave' and System F's 'Out of the Blue' showcases Sims' crate-digging depth and ability to cross-pollinate genres without losing intensity. Hackler & Kuch's 'Special K' and Cygnus X's 'Superstring (Rank 1 Remix)' are further evidence of his mastery over peak-time ammunition. The journey launches with 'Robotnik Compression', hits its brutalist peak during the relentless march of 'Misjah', and lands with the old-school hardcore breakbeats of Lennie De Ice's 'We Are I.E.', a nod to the roots that feels both nostalgic and utterly current.