TuneLab
MARCO FARAONE rolling techno set in The Lab NYC
Marco Faraone’s ‘rolling techno’ set for The Lab NYC is exactly what it promises: a lesson in sustained, hypnotic pressure where the funk is embedded deep within the machinery. This is techno for the heads who still want to swing their hips, not just nod their heads. The vibe is industrial yet groovy, a confined space where the basslines wrap around you like a thick, warm fog. Operating at a disciplined 122.5 BPM average, Faraone spends most of his time in the 12A key, using its stability to build layers of percussive detail and subtle melodic shifts. The energy is firmly rooted in the low-end (0.631 avg), creating that signature ‘rolling’ sensation—a continuous, undulating wave of sound.
The mid-range (0.265 avg) carries the rhythmic funk and textural elements, while strategic use of high-end (0.103 avg) on tracks like GUAN’s ‘Steel Mirror’ adds necessary bite and definition. The mixing is smooth and relentless, each transition feeling like a natural evolution of the last groove. His track picks are a showcase of modern techno’s breadth. He opens with the deep, vocal-tinged drive of Wh0 & Kideko’s ‘Soul Searcher’. Madness Ba’s ‘Anywhere’ and LEON & Shaf Huse’s ‘Can’t Truss’ are masterclasses in percussive, tribal-influenced techno.
Leo Woelfel’s ‘The Storyteller’ offers a moment of atmospheric depth, while Dave Storm’s ‘Happy Endz’ remix brings a brighter, almost proggy melody. The UMEK & Mike Vale remix of Mason’s ‘Exceeder’ is a brilliantly updated take on a mid-00s bomb, guaranteed to trigger mass recognition. The journey begins with the soulful search of the opener, builds through intricate rhythmic workouts, and lands on the spacious, atmospheric conclusion of Jonathon Ritzmann & Marius Krickow’s ‘Orbit’.