TuneLab
Carlita
at Cinecittà in Rome, Italy for Cercle
We've all been there: frantically pausing a Cercle stream to decipher the track ID floating through Cinecittà's cavernous soundstage. Carlita's set is another exercise in location envy, where the Roman film studios' grandeur almost—but not quite—distracts from the music. The vibe is golden-hour decadence, with shadows stretching across studio floors as the crowd sways in that perfect pre-nightfall haze. Technically, this is a masterclass in sleek, functional tech-house, anchored at a steady 124.8 BPM with a harmonic home base in 12A.
The energy profile is overwhelmingly low-end focused, building tension through percussive minimalism and subtle bassline mutations. Carlita's mixing is patient and precise, allowing each groove to fully imprint before introducing the next layer of melodic intrigue. Key shifts to 4B and 3B are handled with a light touch, maintaining the hypnotic flow without jarring modulations. The balance is all about the groove; highs are sparse, reserved for the occasional vocal snippet or hi-hat flourish that cuts through the dubby atmosphere.
For crate diggers, the selections are impeccable: Wallace's 'Papertrip' is a loopy, heads-down weapon, while Kim Ngân Media's 'Never Tried It' offers quirky, soulful depth. The inclusion of the Dixon Extension of Radio Slave's 'Wait A Minute' is a timeless builder, and Adam Port's edit of 'Senhor Doutor' is a joyous, carnivalesque curveball. Don't sleep on Chase's driving 'Obsession' or the psychedelic stroll of Macromism's 'The Walk'. The journey begins with an unknown, atmospheric opener, peaks with the funky swing of Mochakk's 'Da Fonk', and concludes with the epic, 14-minute cinematic sweep of her own 'Cinecittà' collaboration.