TuneLab
Ellen Allien
Le Jardin Suspendu in Paris, France for Cercle
Ellen Allien at Le Jardin Suspendu for Cercle is precisely the kind of set that fuels our obsessive tracklisting: a stunning location, a iconic DJ, and a blur of unreleased weapons. Perched above Paris, this is techno as architectural soundscaping. The vibe is cinematic and precise, with the music mirroring the suspended garden's tension between nature and structure. This is a masterclass in driving, minimal techno, locked into a hypnotic 132 BPM groove for nearly its entirety, with a tonal center firmly in 12A.
The energy is relentlessly forward-moving, with a powerful, rolling low-end (65% low energy) punctuated by sharp, metallic mid-range percussion and occasional high-end flares. Allien's mixing is surgical, creating a seamless, pulsating organism of sound. The crate digging reveals her impeccable taste. While shrouded in unknowns, the appearance of Reinhard Voigt's timeless "Supertiel" is a deep-cut treat for minimal purists.
Tracks like D.R, Giacomo Bisciarri & Mutehead's "Slave" and Amotik's "Solah" provide the relentless, rhythmic core, while Kostha & Elio Kenza's "Shoes" offers a moment of quirky, percussive funk. The surprise edit of Kungs' "Clap Your Hands" shows a playful, peak-time sensibility. The journey builds from a mysterious opener, finds a powerful, driving center with tracks like "Solah", and concludes in the expansive, 17-minute ambient drift of Aardy's "Another Time", letting the Parisian skyline absorb the echoes.