TuneLab
METRONOMY in The Lab LDN
Metronomy's Summer '08 DJ set in The Lab LDN is exactly the kind of gloriously messy, genre-hopping nostalgia trip we needed—a reminder that before streaming algorithms, DJs just played songs they liked, even if it was AC/DC next to deep house. This is indie dance and eclectic electronica for people whose record collections are organized by mood, not BPM. The vibe is laid-back, slightly ironic, and full of smiling recognition as familiar riffs cut through the electronic haze. Technically, it's a charmingly loose affair, averaging 128 BPM and bouncing between Camelot keys 3B and 12A with a DIY spirit that prioritizes fun over flawless mixing.
The energy balance sits at 39.4% low, 58.1% mid, and 2.5% high, giving the set a warm, melodic center that lets guitar lines and synth hooks shine without overpowering bass. Joe Mount's mixing is enthusiastic rather than technical, with transitions that sometimes clang harmonically but always feel human and joyful. The harmonic arc is unpredictable, veering from the rock swagger of AC/DC's 'It's a Long Way to the Top' to the sleek electro of D'nox & Beckers' 'Serenade' with cheerful abandon. For the diggers, Polymath's 'Alpha Waves' is an eight-minute opener of ambient techno that sets a surprisingly meditative tone, while Metronomy's own 'Holiday' gets a welcome airing for a dose of indie-disco perfection.
Electro Blues' 'Deborah's Theme' is a forgotten gem of early '00s electroclash, and Axwell's 'Feel the Vibe' appears in its original, unabashedly euphoric form. D'nox & Beckers' 'Serenade' offers a moment of proper, driving progressive house, and the closing 'Mick Slow' is a bittersweet, downtempo comedown from the band's catalogue. The journey starts with the drifting 'Alpha Waves', peaks with the guitar-driven euphoria of AC/DC, and winds down with the hazy 'Mick Slow', a tracklist that feels like rifling through a friend's vinyl stash after one too many.