TuneLab
TIM ENGELHARDT live melodic set in The Lab NYC
The promise of a 'live melodic set' from Tim Engelhardt in The Lab NYC triggers our most earnest, synthesizer-worshipping instincts. This is for the purists who believe a chord progression can be a narrative all its own, performed in a stark, focused space where the machines are the real stars. The energy is one of intense concentration, both from the artist and the crowd, lit by the cool glow of LED screens and hardware units. This is a masterful exercise in melodic techno and progressive house, locked into a tight 122.5 BPM range and built upon a foundation of 12A and 5A, keys that facilitate lush, emotional modulations.
Engelhardt's live approach means transitions are often compositional, with elements introduced and faded with surgical precision to craft a continuously evolving soundscape. The balance is impeccable, with driving, resonant basslines supporting intricate mid-range melodies and crystalline high-end details. The track selection is a blend of contemporary anthems and deeper cuts. He boldly opens with a rework of The Weeknd's 'Take My Breath', instantly claiming the pop track for the underground.
Giovanni Molinaro's 'Otoponoz (Improved Mix)' is a hypnotic, driving loop masterpiece, while the classic piano of Marshall Jefferson & Solardo's 'Move Your Body' offers a moment of pure house joy. The peak arrives with the muscular, acidic thrust of Thomas Schumacher & Victor Ruiz's 'Apollo', which also serves as the powerful, resonant closing statement. The journey is a calculated emotional build from cinematic pop undertones to peak-time techno euphoria.