Back in stock: Progressive House

Review: Guy J's new alias Cornucopia experiments quite readily with progressive house and techno, veering atmospheric and immersive. Made up of two tracks which fans have been eagerly awaiting for years, 'Remember Me' spans an array of melodic plucks and even warmer grooves, crafting a super-hypnotic haunter. 'Early Morning' evokes the tranquility of sunrise, with Guy J's signature groove and dextrous production proving meticulous, though still easy on the ears. Both tracks exude extra warmth, as do most sonic hugs.

Review: Last Night On Earth is trance legend Sasha's current label outing, and it is now celebrating its ninth year of platforming fresh, tittillating talent. Sasha still continues to release original music through the imprint, and here follows up 2023's 'Track 10' with a glistening new collaboration with Sentre, 'Glastacy'. The structure of this new 12" reveals the process of its composition, which is more than can be said for most trance records, which otherwise tend to revel more in the finished product. The B-sider reveals the looping, mesmerising vocal sample around which the A-side version is constructed, emphasising that, despite the decision to turn 'Glastacy' into a punchy, depthy, hi-tech prog-trance heater, none of these are essentials, more embellishments that evince the pure freedom evoked in the track. More tracks should be made with these 'backbones' in mind.

Review: Although the no-nonsense French label Skylax more often deals in classic house music, this latest 12" is a raw disco gem. It is the second in the Uprising series from Zaratustra and it opens with 'Dark Clouds (club mix)' which comes with twisted beats and a reflective hall of melodies that shine bright. 'Amours Electroniques' is an instrumental with retro-future 80s synths and drums taking you back to a different world and then comes Emilio Van Rijsel's remix of 'Dark Clouds' which comes a trance-tinged and hands in the air pumper. The Naranja instrumental remix of 'Amours Electroniques' ends with big waves of Italo-tinged fun.