TuneLab
EDC Live - EDC Las Vegas 2016: John Askew
circuitGROUNDS hosted by Dreamstate
For the trance faithful huddled at the Dreamstate-hosted circuitGROUNDS in 2016, John Askew delivered a set of pure, unadulterated power. This is the sound of lasers cutting through the night sky, of communal arms raised during every soaring break, and of forgetting you have a day job on Monday. Askew’s style is driving, tech-tinged trance, operating at a brisk 144 BPM average and utilizing keys like 12A and 4A to build a relentless, harmonic ascent.
The energy is expertly layered, with a strong mid-range presence (36.53%) carrying the melodic arpeggios and pads over a solid low-end bedrock (55.29%). It's a mixing style that favors long, tension-building blends where every filter sweep feels monumental. The tracklist is a treasure trove: Marco V's 'Godd' is a timeless, driving opener, while Askew's own 13-minute epic 'Supersonic' is the undeniable centerpiece, a masterclass in peak-time trance construction.
The inclusion of Ferry Corsten & Giuseppe Ottaviani's 'Drum's a Weapon' adds a percussive, modern edge, and the cheeky drop of The Prodigy's 'Voodoo People' reminds us of trance's ravier roots. The journey is a classic arc, from the ominous intro of 'Godd,' through the euphoric peak of 'Supersonic,' to the melodic resolution of WGM's 'Dance Harmonia.'.