TuneLab
Friend Within
for Toolroom Virtual Festival (April 24, 2021)
Friend Within for the Toolroom Virtual Festival—this is house music with a disco heartbeat, for those of us who believe a killer bassline and a cowbell can still save the world. The vibe is funky, upbeat, and slightly retro, a welcome escape from the four-on-the-floor monotony we sometimes endure. Locked at an average of 125.4 BPM, this set is a masterclass in groove-centric tech house, with a harmonic foundation heavily leaning on 12A for its open, uplifting feel. The energy is all about the low-end at 0.64, but the mids at 0.33 ensure plenty of rhythmic detail and melodic flickers.
Highs are almost negligible at 0.03, giving it a warm, analog sheen that's easy on the ears. Mixing is smooth and musical, with blends that highlight the funk in every selection. Franc Moody's 'Losing Touch' opens with its live-band swagger, immediately setting a joyous tone. Marc Marzenit's 'Perron' gets a sleek, driving remix from Wehbba, while Sam Gellaitry's 'Duo' offers a glitchy, modern counterpoint.
The M&S 'Salsoul Nugget' remixes are pure disco-house gold, with the 20th Anniversary Klub Mix serving as a perfect, extended finale. Heiko Laux's 'There There' provides a deeper, percussive interlude, and Tyler Hill's 'Better Believe' keeps the energy taut and forward-moving. Felix da Housecat's 'I Discover' is a sleeper hit of acidic, electro-tinged funk. It starts with the infectious groove of 'Losing Touch', builds through a tapestry of house and disco edits to a peak with those classic reworks, and closes on the endless groove of 'Salsoul Nugget'—a full tracklist for the groove connoisseurs.