TuneLab
Cassius
Château de Champs sur Marne in France for Cercle
Only Cassius could make a French château feel like the coolest underground disco in Paris, circa 1999. This Cercle set is a masterclass in effortless, funky house, reminding us that dance music can be both sophisticated and utterly joyous without taking itself too seriously. The vibe is chic and sun-drenched, all historic architecture and a crowd moving with a laid-back, infectious groove. Technically, it's a tight, groovy loop around 122.5 BPM, dominated by the uplifting key of 12A.
The energy is all in the swing—the low-end is buoyant and bass-heavy, the mids are packed with filtered disco samples and soulful vocals, and the highs add just enough sparkle. The mixing is smooth and musical, letting tracks breathe and build their own momentum. The crate-digging here is exceptional: Macromism's 'The Walk' is a deep, percussive opener, while the Catz 'n Dogz remix of Marlena Shaw's 'Woman of the Ghetto' is a timeless lesson in soulful house. Shadow Child's 'The DBG' gets a relentless tech-house makeover from Mark Broom, and dropping Daft Punk's 'Burnin'' is the kind of cheeky, legendary move we live for.
The extended play of CamelPhat's 'Night After Night' remix shows a patient, building style, and Son of 8's 'Party Time' is exactly as fun as it sounds. The journey starts with the iconic synth stabs of 'I <3 U So,' weaves through peak-time funk, and lands in the deep, dubby waters of Tanya Louise's 'Deep in You' for a marathon, 21-minute cool-down that feels earned.