Back catalogue: Progressive House

Review: Italian tech connoisseurs E.T.H (Italy) and Palmiz deliver a sublime 4-tracker with Interstellar on Gestalt Records, perfectly balancing big room utility and sweaty club vibes. Highlights include 'How Long (Trippy Mix)' , an energetic, progressive house groover with a big, heavy late 90s sound. This track is a standout with its powerful beats and infectious energy. 'Interstellar is pure 90s fun with it's techno vibes dominating this track, bringing a vintage UK sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Another great one is 'Senator Bump' with the blend of classic New York house and elements of acid house. E.T.H and Palmiz have crafted a versatile EP that resonates with both classic and contemporary techno and house lovers.

Review: The Fourier Transform label outlay an arresting sonic journey on their debut release, bringing together breakbeat, ambient IDM, ambient techno, and prog house under a single banner. Opening with Inkipak's 'Betwixt', we're met with sonorous low-mid square waves and machine-gun-fire breaks, recalling the breathtaking, verging on apocalyptic expanse of a warehouse rave turned laser light show turned warzone. We break from this warring weir with 'Omnicron Acid' and 'City Of Tomorrow' by Gimmik and Brian Kage respectively, which lowers the intensity and sonic flow via spacious atmospheres and dudding percussive pops. Finally, the perfect fusion of the former two moods is achieved on 'Corrosive Tongue', the lead synth on which sounds like just that.

Review: Leipzig based Riotvan, run by Peter Invasion and Panthera Krause, welcomes Kalexis and Paulor for this collaborative four track that mines techno's deepest depths. 'Going Through The Void' is a moody and slow motion opener that rides on an undulating bassline with plenty of ambient pads for company. 'Energy' is more edgy, a stomper with fractured vocals and wonky synths that builds a darker mood. On the flipside there is the brilliantly unhinged and unusual melodies of 'Lashes' which sounds like a marching band on acid and 'Magnetic' closes down with haunting low ends and spooky pads.

Review: Fabric Originals releases the collaborative EP of Irish-born DJ, producer, and label owner Mano Le Tough and electronic musician and DJ Perel. This EP marks the second release in the label's new series, 'Future Memories,' which pairs a "legendary" producer with fresh talent, with the aim of safely bridging the ideas of generations (heaven forfend the new generation reject the old ideas!). 'Entertain Us' brings progressive house synth eighths to wonderstruck female vocals, while Perel and Tough share respective solo contributions on the B-side: 'Homage' is the self-described electrance love song written for a secret love object, while 'Infinite Scroll' indulges the contemporary screen-mirror percept, with sloshing sound effects and slow-burn builds suggesting that an embrace of the impending technological infinite need not necessarily amount to a doomscroll.

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: A rich exploration of minimal and tech house sounds with a nostalgic twist. The EP kicks off with 'Istinto,' blending futuristic techno with elements of house music and early 90s bass vibes, all wrapped in spacey sounds that evoke a sense of cosmic adventure. Next, 'Aura' delivers a stomping, darker beat designed to capture attention and drive energy on the dancefloor. Side-2 features 'Potenza' which channels raw techno reminiscent of 1991, incorporating trance elements for a nostalgic feel. The track's energetic vibe and vintage touches make it great for old skool sets. 'Essenza' ends the EP with a great groove and atmospheric feel good melody. A devastating blend of beauty and brawn. Dynamic, engaging tracks that will resonate with techno enthusiasts.

Review: Aimed's return to its roots with Palmiz channels a familiar energy for fans of the label. 'Strange From 94' sets the stage, with euphoric, atmospheric vibes perfect for expansive, open-air raves. 'Chimera' follows, blending trance and house into a hypnotic groove, its smooth synths and rolling percussion creating a captivating intro for any set. On the B-side, 'Tropyc' offers a more utilitarian rhythm, moving away from melody and focusing on functionality, perfect for building momentum. 'Acid Washing' closes the EP with a driving bassline that intensifies the release's energy, adding an edge that pushes the vibe into sharper territory, capping off a well-rounded, nostalgic journey.

Review: Nug Nation Vol. 2 is here for all your high-energy and nuggety needs. This one is another four-track journey into club-ready sounds that pick up where the first instalment left off. It's a knowing mix of golden era house and progressive influences with a contemporary twist from the back-to-the-wall prog-trance-techno of 'Three Of Hearts' to the unrelenting machine drum sounds of 'Hyperdrive'. 'Are U Ready (Flight To Toulouse mix)' is brilliantly clipped and bouncy and 'You Don't Know (Another Nother mix)' is a turbocharged face-melting tackle for fun dance floors only.

Review: Get ready to ride a cosmic wave of progressive sounds and speedy acid baselines with these new sounds from Osaka's enigmatic Ryunosuke Tahara, aka Paperkraft. For the past decade, this Japanese producer and DJ has been hard at work crafting the beautiful four-track EP 'Acid Asia' and it opens with 'P Spectrum,' a psy-trance anthem packed with ravy sounds, fast beats and potent acid bass. The title track explores a cruising house groove and melodies from the Land of the Rising Sun. On the B-side, 'Munchakoopas' offers sweet melodies next to edgy acid synths, and a nod to Yoshi, the legendary Nintendo character. 'Cosmic Flower' shuts down with strong percussion and psytrance vocals that will leave you entranced.

Review: Aad de Mooy is better known as Paradise 3001 and has been releasing his fulsome take on techno since the mid 90s. Blue Highway is an EP from back then, 1994 to be exact, and it has aged faultlessly because these tracks will slot into any modern set without a problem, and likely be some of the best in it, in fact. It kicks off with the warped synth and bass entanglements of 'Mind & Motion' before the more gloopy and cosmic bass of 'Ludomil 75'. It's a masterful bit of future music that's followed by the vibrant Jaydee-like 'Blue Highways' and dreamier scapes of 'The Gates Of Dawn' and progressive cosmic funk of 'Mellow Moebe.'

Review: Pascale Project debuts on Craigie Knowes with her 'Good People Only' EP, a melodramatic exercise in bubblegum kitsch, dramatized synth-organ hums and eerily quantized vocal recordings. The title, of course, takes its namesake from lead track 'Cafe Crazy' - a dance-pop hybrid soaked in a simple viscous formula: good vibes and electronic fun. The three originals making up its bulk come laced with nostalgic lyrics recalling hyperpop, but also carry retroisms of noughties dance-pop and trance, 'Hang Out' being the post-ironic jubilant highlight. The lyrics are, of course, written and performed by Pascale Project, and what's more, 'Cafe Crazy' comes remixed and refoamed by D. Tiffany with additional vox by NAP (yes, your eyes do not deceive you - a remix on Craigie Knowes! What?!)

Review: Dreamloops is a collection of long-form tracks spanning two and a half hours across four, yes four, records - that's a mighty eight sides of wax all created, mixed, and designed by Dennis Huddleston, aka 36 ("three-six"). The album offers a profound subconscious connection that was originally released as cassettes in 2019 and was revisited by Huddleston in 2023 to enhance its clarity and cohesion. The eight 18-minute pieces unfold slowly and build emotional power through developing themes. Imperfections like tape hiss add depth while influences like Henryk Gorecki and Max Richter help to shape the album's epic and haunting soundscapes.

Review: Perel launches her own new label Hits Hits Hits! with a potent new single that is backed by a great remix from Canadian talent Jex Oplois. The lead tune on this 12", which also comes with a sticker, is '1 Life', a full throttle and thumping cut that is packed densely with 90s tribal techno synth sounds, old school house piano chords and a nice r&b vocal all of which serve to sweep you up and journey you to the stars. After the instrumental comes the remix from Jex Opolis that dials things back and makes it even more zoned out and subtly euphoric.

Review: Rezpektiva welcome the elusive but impressive Phantom Power back to their roster for yet one more release - albeit consisting of formerly released tunes on Crib Records in 1994. These tracks are exemplary of the UK techno heyday and its weirder, madder crannies: 'Helter Skelter' opens with trilling mark tree caresses and riffing basses; 'Travelogue', meanwhile, indulges mouthy synths and cheesy crashes marking the on-beat. Both convey the redlining feel of driven movement on aero-arterial future freeways; despite the name, these guys are arguably the least in need of an outside energy source.

Review: New Zealander via Berlin Philippa's passion for house music, tireless commitment to her craft and ear for what makes a dancefloor tick is slowly but surely starting to pay off. With her recent release, 'Rainy Nights', on Slothboogie and 'Things I'd Like To Be' for Razor n Tape getting a lot of love, Philippa continues to deliver the goods, further lending remixes for Fat Freddy's Drop (The Drop) and Roach Motel (Faith). Here on the 'Latent Magic' EP we're treated to three new tracks highlighting Philippa's deft touch and musical approach to making interesting and leftfield house. Opener 'Hold' sets the tone with lush orchestral strings, crunchy drums and a bouncing analog synth bassline, while 'There It Is' umums hints of Mr Scruff with looping horn stabs, live drum grooves and rolling basslines. All in all, another mighty fine Philippa release recalling the early days of Freerange when artists such as Square One, Shur-i-kan and Jimpster were melding live musicians with electronics, for a refreshing, UK-centric take on house music.

Review: With its next release, Rezpektiva's Prozpektiva series platforms an artist they think is a future star of the minimal and techno scene. Pi hails from Montevideo, Uruguay, which is where a few new school names have emerged in recent times. He has served up singles on labels such as Holistico Records, White Scar and Lutzifer but this is his first solo EP. It's an intriguing mix of techno, breakbeat and electro with heady melodic tones up top all making for a great mix of snappy low ends and captivating emotions that bring freshness to the floor.

Review: Pleasure Planet has enlisted some fine artists to reimagine two standout tracks from their debut album. Earth Trax turns 'Go With Madness' into an exhilarating and euphoric anthem that will blend surprises and smiles when this peak-time dancefloor bomb gets dropped. Maara accelerates the tempo by diving deep into prog-inspired proto-trance. Roza Terenzi transforms 'Alien 'with ghostly melodies, hypnotic hooks and sizzling breakbeat electronics, while Alex Kassian's Sphinx Gate Mix slows the pace, infusing 'Alien' with Hacienda-era nostalgia, melodic arpeggios and emotional basslines that leave a tender vocal touch from Kim Ann's partner in its fading moments.

Review: Debuting for the Frankfurt label Zuperflex comes rising producer Luka Hartz under his Porco Rosso alias, topping up a string of releases already breadcrumbed for the likes of Pager Records and Blank State. 'Global Player' hears four surefire dancefloor quickscopes in the vein of progressive and trance-like house, sure to leave you leaving on a high, like 'The Real G'. Of all the auxiliary tracks aside from the supernova A1, the best of the bunch has to be the simply appellated 'Rave', whose phasey offbeat 909 hat is especially hair-raising.

Review: Aiming squarely for the charts once again come German and American minimal maestros Adam Port and Stryv, together joining forces with the irresistibly tremolo'ing voice of singer Malachiii. Few songs in the contemporary climate do so well as those which blow up on social media, and 'Move' is one such case. The present zeitgeist's mode of "hip ennui" is achieved with great celerity here, with the track's instrumental weaving an excessive yet insouciant trance around Malachiii's neon croons. Impressively echoic, it's the fusion of minimal techno and contemporary Afrobeats - both fervently identifiable styles - that make this one catchy.

Review: John Digweed remains a hugely influential figure in the dance music world. He was amongst the first to champion The Pressure on his iconic Transitions radio show and now along with Nick Muir they all come together on this new single from Undisputed Music. 'Counting Down The Days' (extended mix) is a far sighted, cosmic progressive house tune that builds in sweeping layers with lush arps and prickly tech edged beats. There is a dub for more dreamy moments and a Strings dub that ups the latent sophistication of the original.

Review: Primrose does that most difficult of things on this new EP for the Cead label's last single-digit release: hits a perfect sweet spot between dancefloor damage and nuanced home listening. The punchy and driving 'Los Angeles Wingspan' kicks off and is backlit by a heavenly synth glow that softens the punchy, tightly coiled kicks and sprinkles of fluttering metallic percussion. '1980 Dream' is a more refracted piece where melodic phrases dart about the mix, synths scurrying up the scales, paddy drums unfurl in broken patterns and the whole thing keeps you nice and loose. An Or:la remix of '1980 Dream' rounds out a classy EP.

Review: Plenty of dark disco's finest practitioners come together on this new 12" on Iptamenos Discos, with Psycho Weazel serving up the original tune. They are two producers from Switzerland who mix up indie-dance, cold wave, breakbeat and EBM. Here they offer 'Mains D'Argile' featuring Curses which has sweeping, widescreen synths bring a retro feel to a stiff, kinetic beat. The wonderful Marvin & Guy offer an extended mix for extra long club fun and then it is Local Suicide who guests on 'Matra Murena' which brings a perfect mix of light and dark to stark grooves, and Rafael Cerato remixes to close out the package.

Review: Shiffer and Paul Brenning's latest collaboration is a masterclass in restraint and groove. The tracks here unfold slowly, each element carefully placed, allowing the deep, rumbling bass and crisp percussion to speak for themselves. There's a warmth to the production, with subtle melodies peeking through the smooth rhythms, creating a hypnotic effect that pulls you in. The vibe is steady yet unpredictable, and you can feel the influence of house, techno, and everything in between. It's an understated but impressive exploration of sound.