Monolink live for Cercle & W Hotels

The brief for a Cercle set in the Maldives presumably reads: 'make it look and sound like a premium yoga advert.' Monolink, with his talent for melancholic tunes over four-four foundations, is the ideal candidate. We are vicariously barefoot on white sand, the definition of 'problematic fave' as we indulge in this expertly curated escapism. This live set from Gaatafushi Island is a pristine example of melodic techno with a deep house soul, cruising at a relaxed 119.7 BPM average. The key of choice is the evocative 12A, with modulations to 9A and 5A introducing subtle shades of introspection and light.

The energy profile—focused on a warm, sub-aquatic low-end (avg 0.56) and detailed mid-range melodies (avg 0.40)—creates a immersive, heady atmosphere that’s more about the journey than the drop. It’s the sound of blissful resignation. Monolink wisely leans on his own, formidable catalog. After the serene, scene-setting opener 'Otherside' by Tony Tinokerta, he rolls out deep cuts like 'The Prey' and 'Under Dark'.

The anthems are present too, with 'Father Ocean' and 'We Don't Sleep' arriving like old friends. For a genuine surprise, he drops a blissed-out, deep house reinterpretation of Dua Lipa's 'New Rules' via the Deepjack Remix, a move so cheekily effective you have to applaud. The inclusion of Scotts Maphuma's 'AMAPHUTHA' adds a fleeting, global touch of rhythm. The live journey is a perfectly paced sunset session: beginning with the ambient warmth of 'Otherside', building gently through his own vocal-led productions, finding a peak of communal sing-along energy, and finally winding down with the extended, 18-minute voyage of his closing track 'Falling', leaving us adrift in the best possible way.