TuneLab
Séxstasy
Mixmag Lab Goa
The search for a pure, unadulterated trance rush in 2024 often feels like archaeology, but Séxstasy’s Mixmag Lab Goa set is a full-scale excavation. This is for those of us who still believe a well-placed piano break and a soaring lead can be the pinnacle of human achievement. The vibe is pure late-night euphoria, all swirling lights and arms-in-the-air abandon. Technically, Séxstasy locks into a classic trance tempo, holding a tight lane between 128 and 130 BPM with an average of 129.5.
The harmonic framework is built on the uplifting, major-leaning key of 12A, with strategic forays into 7A and 3B to add depth and tension. The energy is heavily skewed towards a powerful, driving low-end, which gives the set its relentless forward motion, while the mid-range is carefully managed to let those iconic melodic hooks from tracks like Solee's 'Shanti' or Oelki's 'Galileo' cut through with crystalline clarity. The mixing is energetic and precise, favoring quick cuts and overlays to maintain intensity. As for highlights, the tracklist is a treasure trove.
Opening with the extended, hypnotic build of The Whiteliner's 'Yeahhh' remix is a statement of intent. Inertia's 'Vantage Point (Alternate Mix)' is a lesser-known progressive weapon, while Antoine Clamaran's 'Do the Funk (Dub)' provides a deliciously funky, old-school interlude. The peak-time bomb of Planet Soul's 'Set U Free (Fever Mix)' is deployed with devastating effectiveness. The journey is a classic arc: it kicks off with the pulsating intro, climbs to a hands-in-the-air crescendo around Robbie Rivera's 'It's Midnight', and comes in for a landing with the spaced-out, contemplative pads of Red Shift's 'This High'.