TuneLab
ROMARE in The Lab LDN
A Romare set is less a DJ performance and more a curated audio essay on the history of dance music, and this Lab LDN session is a PhD-level dissertation. We’re here for the deep cuts, the forgotten B-sides, and the connections only a true scholar of the craft can make. The vibe is intellectual but never pretentious, a room of nerds appreciating the lineage in a dimly lit booth. Technically, Romare operates in a sweet spot of 124 BPM, crafting a deep, percussive journey that leans into electronica and minimal house.
The key of 12A provides a bright, open foundation, but he frequently modulates into the more introspective 3B and 2A, creating a compelling push-and-pull between light and shadow. The energy is remarkably balanced between low and mid frequencies, resulting in a textured, detailed sound where every shaker, woodblock, and sampled phrase has its own space. His mixing is patient and layered, often letting tracks like Wilson Phoenix's 'Got My Man' play out in their nine-minute entirety to fully establish their mood. The digging is impeccable.
Starting with Iggy Pop's 'Mass Production' is a bold, post-punk-infused statement. Move D's elusive 'Untitled A1' is a grail for minimal heads, while Mark Broom's 'Break 97' is a timeless slice of UK techno funk. Franco BA's 'Cemento' and Bambook's 'Give It Up (Audiofly Remix)' showcase a global perspective on stripped-back groove. The journey is contemplative: it begins with the industrial-tinged rhythms of the opener, reaches a hypnotic, mid-set peak with the deep swing of 'Silicone Soul - Right On', and dissolves into the warm, hazy sunset of Caribou's 'Sun'.