TuneLab
MAGNIFIED artist RINZEN in The Lab LA
We all know the drill: the lights go down, the smoke machine hisses, and we await the first ominous pad of a melodic techno odyssey. RINZEN's set for The Lab LA delivers this cathedral-sized atmosphere with aplomb. The vibe is cinematic and shadowy, all dramatic lighting and focused silhouettes. Technically, this is a journey through progressive and melodic techno, with a wide BPM range from 122 to 143 settling around a 124.8 average, and key modulations from 3B to 12A creating a palpable sense of narrative ascent. The energy balance (low 0.57, mid 0.36) supports a structure of long, tension-building passages and soaring releases, with mixing that is patient and textural, allowing each track's story to fully unfold.
The crate digging is top-tier. The opener, Dubspeeka's 'Lyssa', is a masterstroke of brooding, atmospheric tension. Adriatique's 'Studies In Dance Theory' is a quintessential, hypnotic workout from a modern powerhouse. The inclusion of the Maceo Plex remix of Röyksopp's 'Sordid Affair' is a genius-level emotional pivot. Rinzen's own 'Forbidden City' serves as a majestic, fitting finale.
Other highlights include the driving rhythm of Nic Fanciulli & Black Circle's 'Blessed' and the subtle beauty of Pretty Pink's 'Gazer'. The journey is epic in scope: launching from the dark depths of 'Lyssa', climbing through the melodic crescendos of tracks like 'Studies In Dance Theory', hitting a transcendent peak with 'Sordid Affair', and concluding with the personal statement of 'Forbidden City'. A magnum opus of melodic techno.