TuneLab
Hilit Kolet
Mixmag Lab IMS | AlphaTheta Takeover
Hilit Kolet’s set for the Mixmag Lab IMS AlphaTheta takeover is a house music masterclass that reminds us why we fell in love with the four-to-the-floor in the first place, a welcome antidote to over-complicated trend-chasing. The vibe is warm, direct, and muscular, all business in the best possible way, with a sound system doing justice to every vintage drum machine hit. This is straight-up, no-nonsense house and tech house, locked into a tight 130 BPM groove that doesn’t waver, perfect for sustained dancing. The key of 12A appears a staggering 15 times, providing a consistent, upbeat harmonic foundation that feels both classic and fresh.
The energy is powerfully low-end focused (0.64 avg), with punchy kicks and basslines holding the floor, while cleverly sampled vocals and synth stabs provide the mid-range color. Mixing is crisp and efficient, using quick cuts and loops to maintain momentum, showcasing a DJ in complete control of the groove. The tracklist is a joy: DJ Gregory’s ‘Damelo’ is a timeless, percussive house bomb that sets the tone perfectly. Andy Compton’s ‘That Acid Track’ is a deep, squelchy journey, and the double drop of Technotronic’s ‘Pump Up the Jam’ is a glorious, cheeky nod to rave history.
Gershon Jackson’s ‘Take It Easy’ gets a sublime Mike Dunn rerub, and Raphael Mader’s ‘Lucid Dream’ offers a more contemporary, melodic tech-house moment. The journey kicks off with the infectious rhythm of ‘Damelo’, peaks with the riotous nostalgia of ‘Pump Up the Jam’, and closes with the sophisticated, jazzy downtempo of Floating Points’ ‘Del Oro’.