PATRICK TOPPING in The Lab LDN
Patrick Topping in The Lab LDN is a riotous lesson in how to make people lose their minds with the oldest tricks in the book: disco samples, 909 kicks, and undeniable funk. We are here for the grin, the point, the moment a classic vocal loop sends the room into a frenzy. The vibe is pure, unadulterated party, a masterfully engineered good time. This is tech house and disco house at its most effective, locked into a relentless 125 BPM and overwhelmingly centered on the 12A key for maximum harmonic compatibility and dance floor impact.
The energy balance is clever: a strong low-end (0.56) drives the four-to-the-floor engine, while a significant high-end presence (0.22) ensures all those classic vocals and cowbells cut through with pristine clarity. The mid-range (0.22) is reserved for the funky bass hooks and stabs that define Topping's sound. Mixing is punchy and direct, often using quick cuts and loop builds to maintain intensity. The tracklist is a savvy blend of obscurity and familiarity: Shunji Moriwaki's 'Nueva York' is a perfect, percussive opener, while Rockell's 'In a Dream' provides a euphoric, freestyle-flavored finale.
Salt-N-Pepa's 'Push It (Again)' remix is an absolute bombshell, and Epic Hunters' 'Boy Boy' is a loop-driven weapon. Luca Lozano & Mr. Ho's 'Different Circles' remix brings a raw, analogue vibe, and The Disco Boys' 'What You Want' remix is a prime slice of pumping house. It begins with the rhythmic tease of 'Nueva York', escalates to the peak-time chaos of 'Push It', and sends us off dreaming with the 90s nostalgia of 'In a Dream'—a tracklist designed for maximum serotonin release.