Live Techno Album straight from the floor - Dave Mech - Berlin Seite - out June 26th

The Dutch producer and music coach captures the raw energy of his live Techno performance on his upcoming album "Berlin Seite". During Sonar Dave Mech is headlining The Analogue Minds Night by Technics and Union Audio at Detroit Club in Barcelona on June 16th

The core idea behind "Berlin Seite" is old school: capture the raw, unfiltered energy of a live techno performance in a dark club night oozing of energy. Every track on the 10‐track digital album and the 4‐track vinyl EP is a slice taken straight from a night on the floor. The dance floors were all packed and the crowd’s and my connected energy fed straight into the machines through both the club's system and onto the recordings.

Instead of polishing the recordings in a studio afterward, I left the grooves exactly as they were captured (with small parts looped to extend intro and outro): imperfect, breathing, and full of the spontaneous decisions that happen when you’re connecting with a crowd in that unique moment. You’ll probably sometimes hear elements from one track bleed into another, little motifs that reappear here and there accross songs. It mirrors how a live performance evolves, with ideas looping back and morphing into something new.

Where the album title “Berlin Seite” originated from: “Berlin Seite” isn’t just a clever wordplay; it’s a literal reference to a sample that has haunted my productions for years. In this old “Sample & Jam” video I recorded I recorded an elevator's voice in Berlin that announces in German, “The door will open on the other side.” Watch "Dave Mech sampling Berlin"

While messing about with the sample, I accidentally chopped that phrase at the exact point where it sounds like the voice says “Berlin Seite” in a nice rhythmic way. I pitched it down and the result I've been using ever since. Especially while performing in Berlin I used it to start my sets with as it seemed like a fun novalty. It seemed like, even pitched down, it would be easy to recognise to locals. Even if it wasn't, I'm sure whenever they step into that elevator, the light bulb will flash in their minds.

That snippet lives in the first three tracks of the digital album and on the vinyl A1 track. It even doubles as a bassline in one of the pieces which is a reminder that a single sound can really become anything.

What You Hear: Beyond the opening three-part track, the other tracks weave together dub‐infused vibes with Detroit‐style groove, and an uptempo feel that feels both nostalgic and forward‐moving. The flow is deliberately loose; the tracks transition quite naturally I'd say, echoing how a live performance would evolve over a night.

Upcoming Shows

• June 11 - Depot - OXI - Berlin
• June 16 - Analogue Minds by Technics & Union Audio - Detroit Club - BCN
• June 18 - Union Audio Live Showcase (Off Sonar)- CutOff Store - BCN
• June 27 - Open Forms - Utrecht
• July 30 - ATR - About Blank - Berlin
• Oct 16 - ATR - About Blank - Berlin (as Control // Modify)
• Dec 12 - ATR - About Blank - Berlin

to be continued

Tracklistings

01. Berlin Seite Part 1 (Live at Oxi Berlin)

02. Berlin Seite Part 2 (Live at Oxi Berlin)

03. Berlin Seite Part 3 (Live)

04. Roots (Live at Oxi Berlin)

05. Inner City (Live @ Oxi Berlin)

06. Concrete Jungle (Live at Aeden Berlin)

07. Sledgehammer (Live at Aeden Berlin)

08. Off into the Woods (Live at Oxi Berlin)

09. Deep into Woods (Live at Oxi Berlin)

10. In Between (Live at Oxi Berlin)

Vinyl EP

A1. Berlin Seite Part 3 (Live)

A2. Roots (Live at Oxi Berlin)

B1. Concrete Jungle (Live at Aeden Berlin)

B2. Sledgehammer (Live at Aeden Berlin)