TuneLab
Monika Kruse
Montparnasse Tower Observation Deck in Paris, France for Cercle
Monika Kruse playing from the Montparnasse Tower Observation Deck is a quintessential Cercle paradox: playing often-underground tech house from one of Paris's most tourist-heavy spots. The vibe is surreal, with dancers silhouetted against a 360-degree cityscape, creating a bubble of focused energy high above the chaos. Kruse delivers a set of driving, accessible tech house with eclectic flair, averaging 126.9 BPM and heavily favoring the anthemic, open quality of key 12A, supplemented by 7A for added groove. The energy balance is percussive and mid-forward, with pounding kicks and catchy loops designed for maximum dancefloor impact, yet she avoids cheap tricks.
Her track selection is joyfully un-snobby, a reminder that fun is allowed. For the diggers, the Benny Benassi Remix of Marina and The Diamonds' 'Primadonna' is a glorious, guilty-pleasure injection of pop-turned-techno. Eric Prydz's 'Niton' gets a workout for its iconic lead line, while Veerus's 'Phase' represents purist, loopy techno. The Dixon Rework of EDE's 'Do My Thing' is a deeper, more sophisticated cut, and the sheer audacity of dropping Pitbull's 'Fireball' (feat.
John Ryan) is something we can only respect. She kicks off with an unknown opener that establishes a rhythmic pulse, takes us on a ride through these diverse weapons, and brings it all home with the immersive, 13-minute journey of Jon Hopkins' 'Everything Connected,' a closing track that provides the cerebral depth the earlier bangers might have promised.