Back in stock: Progressive House

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve, record slightly warped***


The 39 Orbits pair of Nick Annies and Twink put out only two releases and they were back in 1993. In the years since though, they have become real digger's delights that now fetch high prices on the second-hand market if and when copies come up. But not anymore - Cosmic Soup has assembled this welcome 180g 12" which features tracks from those original records as well as one previously unreleased cut. 'Mercury' is pure dreamy post-rave prog house, as is the slightly more direct 'Outer Limits.' 'After Life' is high-speed house with lush synth work and 'Orbit's Theme' gets more deep and inwardly reflective.

Review: Diesco & Vince Void pay homage to the early 90s golden era of house music while channelling the spirit of progressive, Euro house and classic rave on this new four tracker. Each piece captures the warmth and euphoria of that formative time while pushing the sound into fresh contemporary territory. With a clear reverence for the past, 'El Tigre' opens with some big rave horns and lush prog beats a la Sasha & Digweed. 'Untitled C' is another retro-future prog sound with widescreen pad work, '8-Bit' is an unabashed revival of 90s rave with prominent horns and pianos leading the way and 'Jobby' is a trance-tinged closer full of Ibiza energy.

Review: Indo-Ukrainian producer Mayank Saraiya, under his Pontiff Ordric alias, helms the third chapter of the Barbatus series with a new four-track release that continues the label's deep-space electro saga. Based out of the Barbatus label's inner circle, Saraiya not only crafts the music but also handles the mix and mastering, giving this entry a tightly unified sound. 'Secrets Of Nexus' and 'Laboratory's Hazard' pulse with crisp, syncopated drums and shimmering 80s-inspired synths, while the B-side moves into darker, more propulsive territory i 'Ancient Technology' runs on acidic undercurrents and robotic swing and 'The Dawn Of Machines' closes the set with a steady proto-trance march that edges into cinematic territory. It's a new release that never leans too heavily on nostalgia, instead reanimating vintage electro textures with just enough detail and narrative flair to keep things compelling. Riddled with sonic in-jokes and pirate lore, this one rewards both the dancers and the heads i electro as odyssey, with its boots still muddy from the last expedition.