TuneLab
Hernán Cattáneo
at Cercle Festival 2022 (A380 Stage)
Hernán Cattáneo on the A380 Stage at Cercle Festival 2022 is the progressive house equivalent of a veteran pilot taking you on a transcontinental flight at sunset—you know you're in safe hands, and the view is impeccable. The vibe is festival-scale intimacy, with that distinctive Cercle sheen making every laser cut through the twilight as the crowd sways in unified anticipation. Cattáneo's technique is legendary for a reason: this set hums at a consistent 123.8 BPM, harmonically orbiting the bright, optimistic key of 12A, with modulations into 5A and 8B adding emotional shade. The energy is low-end focused, around 60%, allowing those signature long, blending transitions to build intricate narratives where three tracks might overlap, creating a sense of perpetual motion.
It's a mixing style that demands attention, rewarding those of us who listen for the subtle shifts in bass weight and melodic phrasing. The crate digging here is a deep dive into modern progressive house. Husa & Zeyada's 'On My Own' gets the Cattáneo & Vasami remix, a driving, emotive weapon. Clyve's 'Lights at Night' is a shimmering gem, while the inclusion of CamelPhat & Elderbrook's 'Cola' (Mousse T.'s Glitterbox Mix) is a clever, soulful twist on a classic.
Calvin Harris & Sam Smith's 'Promises' (Sonny Fodera Remix) shows a pop sensibility done right, Jonatas C's 'Jack' offers percussive muscle, and Berni Turletti's 'Prana Vayu' provides atmospheric breathing room. The journey from the enigmatic opener builds through these layers, peaking with the melodic tension of tracks like Juliane Wolf's 'Far Away,' before gently touching down with Fabio Martoglio's 'Flying Apples,' a closing track that feels like a soft landing after a long, beautiful flight. This full tracklist is a masterclass in journey-building.