TuneLab
EDC Live - EDC Las Vegas 2016: Astrix b2b Ace Ventura
circuitGROUNDS hosted by Dreamstate
A sunrise slot at EDC Las Vegas's Dreamstate, with two of psytrance's most reliable architects going back-to-back. The expectation is for serotonin-depleting, full-frequency immersion, and they do not disappoint. circuitGROUNDS is a geometric wonderland of lasers, the air thick with vapour and collective anticipation of the next triplet fill. This is pure, unadulterated psytrance, averaging 139.7 BPM but capable of wild swings up to 171 BPM for peak moments.
The key of 12A is the dark, psychedelic home base, with excursions into 8B and 5B introducing brighter, melodic phases. Energy distribution is classic: a solid, rolling bassline (45% avg low) supports complex, swirling mid-range arpeggios and scintillating high-end details. Mixing is fast and fluid, often overlaying tracks for minutes to create dense, layered soundscapes. Astrix's own 'Genetic Lottery' with LOUD is a modern monster of razor-sharp leads.
The Astrix remix of Audiomatic & Vaishiyas's 'Exchange' delves into progressive psy depths. Dropping the Rank 1 remix of Cygnus X's 'Superstring' is nostalgic genius, bridging trance and psy. Juno Reactor's 'Conquistador' gets a tribal, stomping Astrix treatment, and 'Bungee Jump' with Captain Hook is a dizzying highlight. From an unknown opener, they navigate psychedelic landscapes, peak with 'Bungee Jump', and close on the hypnotic grooves of MiNNiM's 'HOLD ME'.