TuneLab
Awakenings Festival 2018 Saturday - Live set SHDW & Obscure Shape
Area Y
Awakenings Festival at Area Y on a Saturday afternoon is where we go to test our stamina, and SHDW & Obscure Shape's live set is the audio equivalent of being strapped to a rocket. The vibe is industrial and uncompromising, with stark lighting casting long shadows over a sea of nodding heads, all locked into that 136 BPM grid. This is hard techno at its most precise, with a BPM average of 136.4 and a relentless focus on low-energy frequencies (avg_low 0.78) that vibrate through your teeth.
Camelot key 12A dominates, providing a hypnotic foundation, while 3B and 8B introduce minor tonal shifts that add depth without disrupting the flow. The mixing is seamless and linear, building tension through layered percussion and sudden breakdowns, with the energy arc a steady ascent into controlled frenzy. Notable tracks include the opening Tom Hades remix of 'Arrange.1', a brutalist slab of techno that sets the tone, and Venice's 'Venezia' with its haunting instrumental club mix.
The deep cut of Naive's 'Looking 4 Happiness' gets a pooper scooper extended treatment for added grit, while Michele Garavini's 'Different Prospective' offers a melodic respite. The peak moment is undoubtedly New Order's 'Confusion' reconstructed by Pump Panel, a classic rave anthem reborn for the modern floor, and Mario Più's 'Serendipity' brings a trancey euphoria. From that fierce opener, the set builds to that 'Confusion' climax, and closes with the cheeky Exit Eee remix of Paffendorf's 'Terminator 2' theme, because why not end with a cinematic bang?.