Progressive House charts

Review: While he is still thought of as a God of a DJ to many, Welsh wizard Sasha is a dab hand in the studio too. Airdrawndagger, his second studio long player, is proof of that and a real masterpiece with co-productions by Charlie May, Junkie XL and James Holden. It is a hugely complex world of sound with progressive melodies, wavy electronic drums and immersive synths capes that all add up to one smooth and serene trip. This luxury reissue comes on limited, numbered trifold 180 gram audiophile silver & black marbled vinyl. A vital collector's piece.

Review: Real-deal 90s ethereal breaks from the electronic music duo Way Out West. First released in 1997, this was not their best-known outing: only when this Bristolian duo was later joined by singer Omi (Emma Everett) did this happen, and this Deconstruction debut had only seen their instrumental incarnation so far. Nevertheless, this is a distinctly of-its-time record, offering blinding, game soundtrack-informed fusions of chillout flourishment with ascendant breaks-phoria and only vaguely touching on the theme of the wild West, ironically separate from the electronic music enthusiast's main imaginary. The record's non-breaksy moments are well worth noting too, with the slidden guitars of 'Earth' and chattering dub atmospherics of 'Dancehall Tornado' serving as the two most out-there numbers.

Review: The Cosmic Soup label did some mighty fine work in bringing Howard Dodd's work as Doc Bozique and Anoesis back into ear shot. Dodd released a fair clutch of wiggy, trance-inflected house and techno back in the wild old days of the mid-90s, and so it's no surprise to hear his music finding new relevance at a time when that sound is so warmly received on dancefloors all over the place. This release for German label Spray pulls together a few different bits from 1994, ranging from 'Heavy Water' and 'Diact' from The Anoesis EP to 'Trouble Down Groove' from Eight Day Music. Bringing the relevance with the current zeitgeist in no uncertain times, we're also treated to a remix courtesy of a scene leader in this field, D. Tiffany.

Review: The Not An Animal label, which rose out of the "debris left uncleaned from London's infamous Bad Passion parties" arrives at release number 20 here and a fine one it is too from Donald's House and DJ Chrysalis. They open up with the prickly percussive prog of 'Pound Bend' with its warped lines and glistening snares. The Apiento remix is a snappy one with more synth patterns layered in before 'A Curious Warmth' strips it back and gets a little more deep and dubby with a mix of abstract sounds and aching vocals. 'Tingler Ring' closes down with a Balearic late night feel.

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: Eris Drew, "high priestess of the motherbeat", drops her second release of 2024, reflecting her genre-mashing DJ style with a cheeky slice of stab-infused club magic. Tribal house marching, tightly marshalled breaks, glitchy bleepiness, bubbling arps and a celestial melodic ether - this one's got it all. Label founder Baby Rollen reinvents it via a slightly more rave-orientated remix, while retaining a solid base of beats and bass perfect for modern floors, before Gallegos closes things with a more epic, slow burning version that echoes some of Carl Craig's raw but irresistibly danceable work under the 69 banner. Triple, tasty trouble!

Review: "Inside" is the rallying cry of many a pirate radio hypeman, and we're just as readily apt to stay locked in, not least after hearing this new one from Manchester-after-Berlin producer SY, debuting for Slump Recordings. An eighth escapade for the label in the vein of trippy cheek and nostalgia, this fresh plate of pluperfect pulses is a real sure-starter. The titular 'Inside' leads with organic diatones and surreptitious squelches, while Baldo's rework is a heftier hurl through additive breaks verging on acid trancebreaks mayhem. 'Perceptions' brings up the rear side through classic house synthwork and slippery percs, while the eminent Baby Rollen abstracts said mix with an alien hand, also throwing in compelling "hup" samples for good measure.

Review: A releaser that crackles with an energy that could only emanate from the shadowy corners of the Swedish electronic underground. Anna Kohlin, label co-head and architect of hypnotic soundscapes, guides us through a diverse sonic landscape, her own 'What Time Is It?' leading the charge. Built from the evocative textures of the Roland JV-1080, it shimmers with a sunrise glow, ethereal pads interweaving with delicate melodies. Kohlin, a master of contrasts, doesn't shy away from the shadows, injecting her creation with sharper, dynamic elements that add a touch of grit to the dreamlike atmosphere. Eric OS throws down a challenge with 'Timeout', a sonic time capsule that transports us back to the early 2000s. Analogue warmth collides with the raw energy of digital sound, vintage synths intertwining with crisp beats in a nostalgic yet undeniably fresh sonic tapestry. Baby Rollen, armed with a looped double bass sample and the crisp snap of a 909, crafts a hypnotic groove with 'TwentyTwenty Home'. A warm 303 bassline snakes through the mix, adding a touch of acid-tinged euphoria to the already infectious rhythm. Basement Space and Mans Glaeser, never ones to shy away from the unconventional, deliver 'Space Glaezer', a sonic maze that twists and turns through intricate textures and unexpected rhythmic shifts. Kohlin's curation is nothing short of masterful, showcasing the diverse and ever-evolving landscape of the Swedish electronic music scene. Inside Out 002 is a testament to the power of electronic music to transport, inspire, and defy expectations.

Review: Effortless fusions of broken beat and rabbit hole prog-acid on this latest from Speed Dial. After a slight hiatus, the imprint is back, and is here joined by a slew of underground talent, coming together as one for a combinative set of 'Rhythm Rituals'. Surprisingly for a set of rituals, the three A-siders proffer three wordless mudras (as opposed to incanted mantras), with Mtty's 'Ahhhhh!cid' laying down a two-stepping breaks dust-storm replete with bells, ufologic risers and ectoplasmic synth flatulences; and Pocket's 'Smoke Signals' imparting the ways of long-distance telegraphy by way of a deeper four-wheel drive, with indo-Australian chants sampled therein. B-side helmers DJ Relax and Local Support offer two contradistinct Balearic beats, the former track veering more chuggy and auto-suspensive, in contrast to the latter's emotive, e-organic builds and vox gates.

Review: Lake People's Foreverer, released on Remote Scope, takes listeners on a dynamic journey through deeper realms of minimal and tech house. The album opens with 'S'Pace,' a track that impresses with its polished production and melody reminiscent of Black Dog, setting a sophisticated tone. 'New Seeds' continues this exploration, blending techno and house with a futuristic edge. The title track, 'Foreverer,' introduces a jungle breakbeat layered with an IDM atmosphere, providing an intricate and textured experience. On Side-2, 'Floating Pikes & Pines' delves into early 90s IDM, filled with unique bleeps and sounds that evoke the feel of a computer language. 'Short Path' stands out with its excellent acid work and futuristic IDM groove, offering a fresh take on familiar sounds. The album closes with 'The Solution Of The Problem Of Life,' an ambient outro that serves as a soothing and reflective ending to the record. Foreverer is a next level production that needs to be heard.

Review: Leipzig-based record label Riotvan indulges Llewellyn here with a superb full length on limited edition vinyl. The prolific local producer known to his mum as Martin Enke deal in deep house but not as you know it: his sodas come with all sorts of smart drum patterns and retro synth sounds that make them all the more unique. 'On The Edge' is fine example with its suspenseful pads and busy analogue drums, while '1998' has as synths-pop feel and plenty of lush cosmic arps unfolding over the hurried drums. 'Fractured Memories' is another synth laced house jam with squelchy bass that is sure to being some good times.

Review: Night Vibez first outing on vinyl is a limited affair, with only 200 copies available worldwide. It sees Steb join forces with Dario Rossi for 'Karius 1979', a shimmering, impactful late-night number that giddily blurs the boundaries between sci-fi deep house, trippy nu-disco, and strobe-lit Italo-disco of the sort more associated with basements in The Hague than open-air clubs in Italy. Van Der Kirche and THC kick-start the accompanying remix package with a bouncy, stab-happy breakbeat take that sounds like it could have been recorded in 1990 or 91, before big guns Marvin & Guy re-frame it as a throbbing Chic-meets-Italo-disco workout. To round things off, the Feel Fly 'Piano Emozione' mix is a dreamy, piano-laden trance number that recalls the mid-90s excellence of Robert Miles.

Review: This four-track EP offers a potent blend of mesmerizing basslines, evolving analogue sounds, and progressive house vibes, perfectly suited for dancefloor deployment. Rambal Cochet's 'Metoxico Disco (La Luna)' and 'Thrill Factor' deliver a captivating mix of energy and atmosphere, while Leiwand & Bevtelli's 'Certified Content' and 'Runner' provide a unique sonic signature. Each track offers a distinct journey through hypnotic rhythms and evolving textures, making this EP a must-have for DJs and electronic music enthusiasts alike. It's a collection of captivating grooves and hypnotic soundscapes, designed to ignite dancefloors and transport listeners.

Review:  A year on from Antoine losing what was going to be his debut album, he decided to reform his concept-based project Mise En Place into a vinyl-only label. This is the first outing on it and is a work inspired by the hit TV sitcom The Office (US). 'Australian Reds' is part progressive workout and part stripped back minimal rhythm, 'Colombian Whites' is a 90s-inspired house cut with sparkling synth arps and glitchy claps while 'Cafe Disco (AK's Rare Groove Dub)' takes the B-side into after-hours territory. 'Threat Level Midnight' is an atmospheric closer that take things deep.