TuneLab
Shaun Moses
Mixmag Lab Goa
Shaun Moses taking over the Mixmag Lab Goa decks feels like being invited into a meticulously curated vinyl collection where emotional resonance trumps brute force every time. Opening with Jean-Jacques Goldman's 'Puisque tu pars'—a French pop ballad, for heaven's sake—is the kind of confident, left-field move that makes us sit up and pay attention to this melodic house journey. The vibe is intimate, sunset-over-Goa warmth, all soft lighting and head-nodding appreciation rather than frenetic dancing. Technically, this set is a study in gradual escalation, with a BPM average of 123.3 that creeps up from 90 to 125, allowing each track to breathe.
The key center often rests in 5A, giving it a melancholic, introspective feel, with shifts to 12A and 2A adding brightness and tension. The energy profile is beautifully balanced at 0.48 low and 0.47 mid, meaning the basslines are warm and present but never overpowering, while melodic elements and vocals float effortlessly in the mid-range. Moses' mixing is smooth and harmonic, focusing on long blends that let the emotion of each track sink in. Standout picks from this crate dig include Gil Berg's 'Marine 9' (Dimitris Kalfas Remix), a deep, aquatic groover that sets the tone early, and Tellur's 'Zenith' with its soaring, progressive house arcs.
The cheeky inclusion of Motel77's 'Dirty Dancer' (Nozz Remix) adds a funky, tech-house edge, while Space Food's 'Stomper' provides a driving, percussive interlude. The highlight, of course, is the rework of Tinlicker & Robert Miles' 'Children', a trance classic given a modern, melodic house treatment that feels both nostalgic and fresh. The journey from the poignant pop opener through the deep house explorations to the closing grace of Dijei Nagai's 'Finding Grace' is a testament to Moses' ability to craft a set that feels like a coherent, emotional narrative rather than just a sequence of bangers.