TuneLab
Ryan Murgatroyd live house set in The Lab Johannesburg
Another day, another existential crisis soundtracked by a soaring piano line—welcome to the deep end of melodic house, where we willingly drown in emotion. Ryan Murgatroyd’s live set from The Lab Johannesburg is precisely the kind of warm, thoughtful hug we queue for when the world outside feels too sharp. The vibe is that of a curated, intimate space; low lighting, focused faces, and a sound system doing justice to every pad and vocal.
Technically, this is a masterclass in mid-energy propulsion, locking into a steady 120-122 BPM lane with a harmonic heart in 7A. The energy profile—dominated by the mid-range—creates a rolling, immersive blanket of sound, with Murgatroyd using extended blends to let tracks like Sven Dohse’s 'You're Welcome' breathe for nearly fourteen minutes. There’s a beautiful tension in the low-end restraint, allowing the melodies to carry the narrative without ever tipping into saccharine territory.
Our crate-digging ears pricked up at the inclusion of Ultra Funkular Sound’s 'Into the Blue,' a shimmering progressive gem, and Feri’s moody 'Midnight Secrets.' The bold play of Robert Miles’s 'One and One' in its club version is a risk that pays off, bridging generations, while Murgatroyd’s own 'Bantwana's Piano' offers a personal, anchoring moment. The journey is clear and heartfelt: it begins with the ethereal call of Tinlicker & Solomon Grey’s 'Choir To The Wild,' builds through the cosmic release of Cosmic Gate & CMD/CTRL’s 'Need a Little Love,' and finally exhales with the gentle, pulsating close of Outrun Vital’s 'heartbeat.' A full tracklist for the wistful souls among us.