TuneLab
OXIA
at Castelul Peleş in Romania for Cercle
OXIA playing a Cercle set at Castelul Peleș in Romania is the kind of booking that makes us simultaneously jealous and profoundly satisfied—of course the French tech-house stalwart gets a castle. The vibe is majestic and slightly surreal, with ornate architecture providing a stark contrast to the sleek, driving electronics. This is sophisticated, peak-time tech house with a melodic touch, designed for both dancing and admiring the scenery. Technically, it’s a dynamic ride averaging 125.7 BPM, frequently anchored in the energetic key of 12A but exploring related territories like 3B and 5A.
The energy balance is club-ready: a propulsive, four-to-the-floor low-end, funky or atmospheric mid-range elements, and crisp high-end percussion. The set builds and releases with expert timing, using breakdowns and buildups to maintain engagement across its lengthy runtime. For the diggers, opening with MK’s dub of '17' is a classy, deep house nod. The inclusion of 'All I Got' by Mašh, Adam Port & Keinemusik brings a contemporary, vocal-led tech-house groove, while CamelPhat’s 'Panic Room' is an undeniable, peak-time bomb.
Alain Grasselli’s 'Sonnenschiff' offers a hypnotic, minimal interlude, and Manoo’s remix of 'She Don’t Know' injects a soulful, disco-tinged flavour. The journey begins with the deep swing of '17,' climbs through the euphoric tension of tracks like 'Panic Room,' and lands with the extended, triumphant rework of OXIA’s own classic, 'Domino.'.