i_o - EDC Las Vegas Virtual Rave-A-Thon
Remember the pandemic raves? A bunch of us trapped in our flats, aggressively two-stepping by the microwave while some bloke played techno to an empty green screen. It was peak dystopian cosplay, pretending your living room was the Nevada desert while your cat judged your shuffle. Stripped-back digital darkness meets warehouse grit, broadcasting a relentless strobe simulation straight into the isolation bunkers of the world. Examining the i_o EDC Las Vegas Virtual Rave-A-Thon tracklist, the late producer locked in a driving 135 BPM tempo.
Favouring the minor tension of 7A and 3B Camelot keys, the energy arc is a steady, punishing climb into the dark. His mixing in this Techno live set is unapologetic and raw, utilizing sharp cuts to maximize the impact of every drop. The selection is a proper nod to the underground, bridging modern mainstage techno with industrial filth. Unearthing the chaotic "Phiom Enhah" by Rikhter proves his techno credentials, while throwing in a Gareth Wyn remix of Beyoncé’s "Broken-Hearted Girl" shows he was always having a laugh with the purists.
Kicking off with a mysterious, ominous Unknown opening track, the set immediately demands your attention. It reaches its zenith with his own blistering "Another Level", before abruptly shifting gears into the closing track, "Te vi de nuevo (feat. Niko)" by Jordan Seven. Rest in peace to a mad talent.