TuneLab
DĀM-FUNK funk & disco vinyl set in The Lab NYC
When DāM-FUNK wheels his vinyl into The Lab NYC, we know we’re in for a history lesson delivered with effortless cool, not a lecture. The vibe is a basement party where the dress code is pure funk, the air thick with the scent of vinyl dust and good times. This is a masterful funk and disco set, not electronica, with a dynamic BPM range from 115 to 130 averaging 123, all held together by the foundational key of 12A. The energy is overwhelmingly in the low-end (0.65 avg), that fat, warm bassline and kick drum holding court, while melodic hooks and string stabs dance in the mid-range. The mixing is smooth and musical, prioritizing the song’s natural flow over technical trickery—this is a set for dancing, not analyzing.
The selections are pure gold. Tom Hooker’s ‘Talk With Your Body’ is a perfect, kitschy Italo-disco opener. Moonbooter’s ‘sequenzer 9 (dark night studio mix)’ adds a moody, electronic edge. The journey to Luca Lozano & Mr. Ho’s ‘Different Circles (Nicson Remix)’ as the closer is a modern, acidic twist on the theme.
Highlighting the legendary Frankie Knuckles’ ‘Baby Wants To Ride’ in its epic 19-minute glory is a act of reverence, while Taana Gardner’s ‘When You Touch Me (MAW Full Edit)’ is simply one of the greatest disco records ever pressed. The tracklist builds from pure disco joy into deeper, more experimental grooves. It starts with the infectious bounce of ‘Talk With Your Body’, peaks with the timeless majesty of the Frankie Knuckles epic, and winds down with the sleek, modern funk of ‘Different Circles’.