Back catalogue: Progressive House

Review: Nicola Facchineri's Prog EP on Twig is a masterclass in hypnotic, groove-centric electronic music, demonstrating the label's knack for crafting compelling club tracks. Each cut on this EP reinforces Twig's reputation for pushing boundaries while keeping it grounded in dancefloor practicality. The opener, 'Lighter Cubes', immediately sets the tone with its spacey atmosphere and mesmerizing bleeps. The track's subtle melodic elements weave through a tapestry of electro sounds, creating a suspenseful build that's perfect for those crucial moments in a set when you need to heighten the tension. 'Juggle' shifts gears with a deeper groove, featuring a blend of bass and acidic synths. Its understated yet infectious rhythm makes it a standout, effortlessly blending subtlety with impact. On the flip side, 'Climbing' lives up to its name with a relentless build-up that turns the dancefloor into a dynamic playground. The track's chuggy bass and intricate drum patterns keep the energy high, demonstrating Facchineri's skill in maintaining momentum. The final track, 'Right Way', wraps things up with a touch of acid and a cool, spacey melody. Its bleepy, synth-driven vibe ensures it fits comfortably into any set, bringing a satisfying conclusion to the EP. Prog EP affirms Twig's status as a go-to label for quality deep club tracks, adding yet another gem to their impressive roster.

Review: Francesco Farfa's iconic 1991 club EP is reimagined three decades later here with fresh remixes by four of Berlin's top DJs and producers. Their various different takes make for a versatile selection of dancefloor tools crafted by DJs, for DJs, ensuring it fits a variety of occasions. The A-side features Trent's deep, big-room darkness, complemented by Juan Ramos' trancey rework which mixes in key elements from the original. On the B-side, E-talking delivers an uplifting progressive remix while Hamsa strips it down for a more minimalist, enhanced version of Farfa's classic theme. A must-have selection of reworks here.

Review: Francesco Farfa's Learn To Fly delivers a seamless blend of deep house and electronic intricacies. The opener, 'Peace Treaty #1,' sets the tone with a smooth, rolling rhythm that gradually builds into an engaging groove. 'Feel The Run' follows, layering atmospheric synths over a punchy bassline, drawing the listener further into its hypnotic world. The track progression on Side 2 is notable, with 'Fly To Sub-Conscious' guiding the mood into more introspective territory, while the 'File' series offers varying shades of darker, more experimental textures. Farfa's production shines with every track, maintaining a balance of groove and explorationiperfect for both the dancefloor and home listening.

Review: Fata Morgana reissue is here and is a standout progressive house record originally released in 1993. Certainly, a key release from an era when the genre was dominating the electronic club scene. This 12" features four versions of the track, each adding its own nuance to the original's hypnotic groove. Each mix is meticulously crafted, showcasing the complex, layered sound that would define late 90s and early 00s progressive house. Transmigration Records continues its excellent work with this reissue, reminding listeners why Ulterior Motives is often cited as a lesser known gem in the genre.

Review: Fabrizio Fattore brings a lush world of sound to the fore on his new EP for Mule Musiq. It mixes up early, soul-drenched Detroit techno championed by the likes of Derrick May with jazzy melodies that would make John Beltran proud. 'Deep Blue is a sophisticated symphony of melodic and cosmic techno that will lift you off your feet. 'Passengers To Mars' is more lo-fi but still has a driving sense of groove and serene synth craft that is rich in emotion. 'Moon Temple' shuts down with more melancholic melodies but no less elegance in the craft.

Review: Fio Fa is back in his own label Sunset Drifters with four well-crafted and progressive cuts. 'Strengthen My Delusions' opens up the Delusions EP with twitchy electronics whipping about a steely arrangement with potent bass. 'The Wrong Side Of Doubt' has a winky lead taking centre stage over well programmed and crisp drums and hits and 'Partys Over' on the flip then layers up more future-retro sounds and slivery synth lines with a more moody low end and some sleazy vocals. Last but not least is the rather more serene and cosmically minded 'Another Epiphany' which cruises on acid-laced prog beats.

Review: As you will well know if you are reading this, prog house is back and it has been for ages. As always with any revival, there is good stuff and weak stuff. This EP is very much the corner from Forces of Nature, with authentic 90s soundscapes mixing up lush ambient synth designs, dreamy Italo drums and real musical depth. 'Jupiter' is super smooth and seductive as it cruises at high altitude, then 'Tripping' is a downbeat workout and 'The Bomb' takes you to the heavens on gorgeous melodies while the bass plunges low. 'In Your Mind' is perfectly comedown music to close the EP in style.

Review: Belarusian producer Four Walls is back - this time around he finds himself on the new Ultraworld Records imprint from DJ Craft. This one kicks off with the lush prog house and silky synth arps of 'Mind Charger' which soon takes you to the stars. 'Metamorphosis' is a more raw-edged and acid-laced techno stomper for peak time action and 'Summer Nights' is a bubbling, elastic tapestry of new age overtones, thudding kicks, and trance-tinged pads. A remix by Toronto-based Pletnev adds another dimension to this club-ready EP.

Review: In the write-up for this admirable label debut by newcomer Framboisier, Gestalt has promised "a new kind of club sound" based on the foundations of "tech and hardgroove". So what does that mean in practice? Well, title track 'Buffout Trax' is a brilliantly bouncy and breathless affair, where rave-igniting riffs, bassline house style organ bass motifs and UK garage samples ride a beefed-up house groove. 'Orbit Reflex' sees the producer lean more into glassy-eyed rave-era nostalgia - all stabbing bleep techno style bass, hybrid techno-house beats and fizzing melodic motifs - while 'Flex-o-matic' is a more rolling concoction that puts retro-futurist fun at the top of the agenda. Closing cut 'Holodisk Data', meanwhile, is an all-action fusion of past and present dancefloor tropes with extra lashings of TB-303 psychdelia and nods to early progressive house.

Review: Sascha Funke is a long time master of the deep who arrives on the always tastefully diverse Running Back label headed up so expertly by Gerd Janson. He brings a slightly different look here with the wonky, twitchy and tech infused rhythmic stomp of 'Reality'. There is more melody on display on 'Fantasy' with its ever rising synth loops glowing bright with a celestial hue and on the flip-side 'Puzzle' pairs some subtly joyous piano chord stabs over prickly disco-tech beats with molten arps underneath. 'Halle Weissensee' then closes down with a nice stiff and rave ready house sound, snappy beats and tight bass.

Review: Where dub and ambient house meets tense techno, Sascha Funk has us covered. The prolific Berlin DJ and producer has here created a monument to a nearly lost cultural artefact: the Germina Speeder, the only skateboard made in East Germany before reunification in 1986. Known for their unwieldy quality - likely the result of technical limitations faced by the chocolate factory improperly tasked with making them - the title track on this record rolls much more smoothly than the Speeder, its trucks comparatively loosened and boardside waxed. But most skateboards out there would likely pair well with this glorious, wind-in-your-hair dance EP; 'Bo Knows' and 'Master Mind' are easy-rolling, manual cascaders of equal calibre.

Review: In the past few years Tom Ferreira has swiftly established his Fasme project as a strident voice in the field of emotionally-charged electro. Following a string of singles for labels like Craigie Knowes, Dream Ticket and Feel My Bicep, he's now delivering his debut album to Analogical Force. Bloom should hugely appeal to those who crave heart-swooning melodic lines in the midst of their snappy machine rhythms, but there's a full spectrum of moods explored as Ferreira glides from the staccato Moroder pulse of 'Pursuit' to the playful acid strut of 'Comete'. Throughout, the feels are placed front and centre of this instantly endearing record from a fast-rising talent.

Review: Floating Points' new album, Cascade on Ninja Tune pushes the cult producer's sound into all new territories. The eight tracks, each up to eight minutes long, allow his to explore sounds and grooves in full form while a subtle homage to Manchester runs through the album. Tracks like 'Afflecks Palace' featuring harp melodies and electronic bleeps, and 'Key 103,' named after a beloved local radio station, is another delight. Nearly a decade after his debut Elaenia, Floating Points has masterfully integrated his experimental ventures beyond club music into these expressive dance floor creations and remains in a class of one as a result.

Review: The fifth Flaoting Points album Cascade is a culmination of creative evolution. In late 2022, Shepherd found himself in the California desert, crafting a new sonic journey via his acclaimed Promises, where he ventured into airy dreamscapes with saxophonist Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra, earning a Mercury Prize nomination and a sold-out Hollywood Bowl show in 2023. With Cascade, Shepherd returns to his electronic roots, craving the pulse-racing communion of the dancefloor. This album serves as a sequel to Crush, diving deeper into ravey, experimental realms, unexplored due to lockdown cancellations. Tracks draw inspiration from Manchester's record shops and California's desert landscapes, blending Buchla rhythms and glitching melodies. Shepherd's journey, from orchestral collaborations to laptop productions, underscores his relentless pursuit of innovation.

Review: Floating Points, also known as Sam Shepherd, returns with a new album that pushes his sound even further into exciting new territories. This album, consisting of eight tracks, offers expansive explorations of sounds and grooves, with each piece allowed to develop and evolve over up to eight minutes. Nearly a decade after his acclaimed debut Elaenia, Shepherd continues to blend his experimental inclinations with dancefloor appeal, a fusion that has become a hallmark of his style. Cascade is conceived as a follow-up to Shepherd's rave-reviewed second studio album, Crush from 2019. While Crush introduced listeners to Shepherd's more introspective side, Cascade aims to bring the traditional Floating Points experience back to the dancefloor. Bursting with Buchla rhythms and glitching melodies, it should be more in line with his dance singles. Shepherd describes the album as a continuation, which is reflected in the vibrant artwork by Akiko Nakayamaia colourful sleeve with fluid imagery that mirrors the album's dynamic soundscapes. The album's evocative title, Cascade, suggests movement, beauty and pressure, themes that resonate throughout its paces.