Back in stock: Progressive House

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


Amsterdam based Patrice Baumel is a deep thinker with a unique signature sound. He has released on some of the most vital labels in the scene from Balance to Afterlife and has played every major club and festival in the world. He knows the Berlin scene inside out and now serves up his version of what it sounds like on his latest entry into the hallowed and long running Global Underground series. He runs his own HALO label and traverses the electronic spectrum from deep to melodic and back again here, always with a sense of control and storytelling of the sort that leaves crowds spellbound.

Review: Novaj Records presents its second vinyl release - 'Space Energy', an electrifying compilation EP inviting listeners on an interstellar journey through a wide array of sonic cosmologies, in good stead with the nascent trend of space-age acid house emergent of late. Lauching into the boundless realms of space, the likes of Donnie Cosmo's 'Venus Transit', MLink's 'Frequencia' and Sunaas' 'Flash Dancer' are all as enchanting as they are out-of-body-experience-inducing.

Review: In his previous work, and particularly on the Butter Sessions-released 2021 album 'Drinking From The Mirage', Western Australian producer Guy Contact has proved adept at evisiting the more melodious, hallucinatory and 'progressive' end of mid 1990s dance music. He continues that trend of his latest EP, which marks his debut for X-Kalay. Title track 'Out Of My Head (Into My Body)' sets the tone by channeling the spirit of Guerilla Records circa 1994 - all gentle, psychedelic acid lines, throbbing bass, shuffling beats, spacey chords and bubbly electronic motifs - before the Perth-based producer opts for a sunrise-ready breakbeat flex on the brilliant 'Sacred Mist'. Over on the reverse, 'Amygdala Tongue Wobble' is a trippy, trance-inducing treat complete with a spine-tingling breakdown, while 'Optimystic' is a warming, saucer-eyed downtempo treat. Loved-up lusciousness.

Review: After label owner TOBI's fantastic debut release late last year with his 'Arrival Of The Nila' EP, the artist now presents the IT Guys for their debut release on the same label. Featuring four hi-fi trance-house with notes of Italo and progressive, it's a sound on a slightly different tip to its predecessor, but just as impactful. Various moods are explored, from the more resolutely euphoric ('Double Trouble') to the muted and transitional ('Baile Delito').

Review: Olsvanger lays out his vision of tech house here on a superb EP for RAND Muzik that is a perfect mix of OG sounds and styles and new school thinking. It is a fat bassline that immediately gets your attention on 'Phantom Lady' - it brings real funk to the snappy drums and swirling cosmic pads. 'Lotusing' immediately flips the script with a mix of rough-assed broken beats and glistening pads full of optimism. The variety keeps on coming with lovely 90s house update 'Air Balunga' cruising along effortlessly and 'Rezo Mantra' offering far-sighted and elongated deep techno tripping. Brilliant EP with many great sounds.

Review: Your favourite lez-loonatics Roza & D. Tiff are back at it with the 'Tapestry Of Sound' Reloaded - revamped and ready to rock your local dancefloor. With three freaky sleek OG cuts from the dynamic duo, and a deliciously danceable remix from the progressive prince Olsvanger, you'd be a stupid boy to miss out on this one. Expect all the classique Step Ball Chain-isms & more; tongue-in-cheek techno; percussive paradise; and bass heavy bombs, with a few naughty noughties references for the 'true heads'.

Review: Tinlicker has been crafting some huge house music moments for several years now. The German duo has mostly done so on this label which is where they return for a new album This Is Not Out Universe ahead of a few much anticipated tour dates next year. This body and adventurous new album is just that - an album with a narrative that takes in several different, evocative, emotive and moving moods and grooves, features from the likes of Run Rivers and Tomas Oliver and is another successful work as a result.

Review: Guy J started Lost & Found over ten years ago under the guidance of Bedrock, but now stands proud on its own as a bastion of the prog house sound. This heavyweight compilation is a strong manifesto for the vibe of the label, and J himself takes up the mantle for the first disc with two of his trademark swirling epics. As well as the label boss, there are also notable entries from the likes of Guy Mantzur, Stereo Underground and Khen, who all demonstrate how much vitality there is in the prog scene right now.