TuneLab
Shanti Celeste
Boiler Room x Dommune x Technics: A Celebration of 50 Years of the SL-1200
Watching Shanti Celeste command a pair of Technics for a 50th-anniversary celebration is like witnessing a master artisan at work. There's a palpable reverence for the craft in the air, a quiet focus amidst the chaos. The vibe in the Dommune studio is intimate and precise, a clinic in deep, atmospheric house. This set is a profound exploration of texture and groove, operating at a steady 130 BPM and almost exclusively living in the hypnotic 12A Camelot key.
The energy is overwhelmingly concentrated in the low-end, creating a deep, pulsating foundation that allows every hi-hat, every subtle melody, to ring with crystal clarity. Celeste's mixing is economical and deeply musical, using long blends to let the tracks' internal rhythms converse. Her selections are impeccable: 'Ricky Sinz - Riders' is a perfect, mood-setting opener with its warm bass and shuffling rhythm. 'Riva Starr - Feel It' introduces a tougher, funkier edge without breaking the spell.
'Quazar - La Sirena' is a breathtakingly beautiful, aquatic deep house cut, and 'Huerta - Tatra Motokov' is an extended, minimalist journey that showcases her patience. 'The Poison Control Centre - Avior' is a lesser-known gem of driving, melodic house. The journey is a deep dive: it begins with the subtle propulsion of 'Riders', reaches a textured peak with 'La Sirena', and concludes with the soulful, rolling grooves of 'G.Roy & Roc Beezy - Always Something (Burning Bridges Remix)'.