New releases last two weeks: Progressive House

Review: Berlin techno label Time Passages returns with fresh heat, with label owner Binh (Cabaret, Perlon) facilitating the unveiling of yet another new techno truncator from Hamburg's rising talent Difool, who in turn made his debut on the Ejeca owned progressive breaker Tusk Wax. This new one prefers analog beats and retrofuturist synthwork, be that on the flutingly detuned progressor 'Bleep 303', the mid-set mood mutator 'Dark Flow' or the dragging implied armageddon that is 'Moshpit'.

Review: To mark 15 years since its original release, DJ Hell's landmark Teufelswerk long player returns as a very collectable limited edition triple vinyl set that also includes a poster of the original cover and a special hype sticker. When it was released in 2009, Teufelswerk made an immediate impact and over time has remained a pivotal work thanks to its brash and inventive collision of techno, ambient and experimental sounds. It features collaborations with artists like Bryan Ferry and explores the contrast between Day and Night so looks to, and does, balance euphoric dancefloor highs with immersive, cinematic atmospheres that make a longer-lasting impression. It's proven to be a timeless, genre-defying classic.

Review: Punctuality's fifth release introduces Irish producer Drua and his high-energy new EP which blends late-90s and early-2000s dance influences with smart modern production. Drawing from contemporary hard house, the four tracks feature punchy basslines crafted for massive sound systems and packed dancefloors. Opening with the refracted vocals, M1 organs and rushes of trance euphoria of 'UP,' Drua then goes all prog-hard-house with catchy vocal hooks and skippy bass on 'Job 2.3.'. 'Nightfire' then brings a deep house twist perfect for peak-time sets, while 'Arch In Ur Back' closes with breakbeats and party vocals. Fun, effective stuff.

Review: Amulanga, operating out of Thailand, emphasise beauteous atmospheric progressive house, pairing each compilation with exquisite, extra-worldly sci-fi themes. Their latest, sixth vinyl V/A hears additions from Dulus, Acrobat, Ilias Katalenos & Plecta, Taleman and Shri & Alej, each track a seamless infusion of living, writhing organic sound. More than just music, the aim is to imply a narrative, shuttling and transforming listeners over and beyond centrifugal, interplanetary orbits - not just dancefloors.

Review: Jacopo Latini returns to Altered Circuits with a four-track EP that sharpens his minimalist approach while maintaining his signature melodic touch. Focused squarely on groove, each track explores subtle yet impactful progression and opener 'Sharp' sets the tone with eerie atmospheres, vocoded vocals and fluid 303 squelches. 'Impulse' rides a hypnotic FM bass and sharp percussion for a dramatic yet refined journey. 'Bright Sound' balances modulated leads and deadpan vocals with euphoric touches and closing track 'Rave Harvey' bursts with '90s trance energy which marks a bold shift toward high-intensity club euphoria and minimal design with maximal impact.

Review: There are not many tracks that you could call timeless gems in the progressive house and trance worlds - but this track definitely can. Originally released in 1993 on Braniak Records, this track quickly garnered underground acclaim, becoming a go-to weapon for progressive and trance DJs. When Hooj Choons picked it up, 'Sacred Cycles' transcended the underground, solidifying its status as a trance classic. The track's hypnotic blend of ethereal melodies, pulsing basslines and spiritual samples continues to resonate with fans of the genre. The new Fort Romeau dub on Side-2 gives a new perspective to the iconic track. By honing in on the rhythm, Fort Romeau crafts a remix that innovates the track in different ways. The rework strips the original down to its core elements, emphasising groove and atmosphere while giving a contemporary edge that aligns perfectly with today's dancefloors. This release is a smart move by Hooj Choons, bridging the gap between classic trance euphoria and modern electronic sensibilities.

Review: 'Move It Or Lose It' isn't just the name of the latest release from Brit producer Joseph Nugent aka Papa Nugs, it's a mantra for our time. Emboldening Big Saldo's Chunkers imprint with an uncaged, high-octane batch of "house" cuts, this is the label's first release for 2025, dialling in to the label's signature bandwidth-filling "chunkers" sound. Rave-ready FX are the order of the moment, as flashes of early trance, progressive and hard house motifs, and Ibizan sample banks all hear Nugs truncate old-school references into a contemporary hip house come rave-breaks template. 'Turn it Down''s irresistible hook, "we're here to have a good time," has to be the bugler's choice moment.

Review: No nonsense analogue house champions the notorious R-A-G team are back once again with more goodies on their home label M>O>S. For this one, they drop four outstanding and acidic deep house jackers. Featuring the skills of Aroy Dee, MaSpaventi and G-String, it is the former who kicks off with 'Touch', which is dusty and far-sighted. He then features with Maspaventi on 'Horizons', which is a dreamy and low-key sound with backlit chords. R-A-G then hook up for 'Wired', which is a twisted and trippy after-party mind melter and 'All Forgotten', which is moody, shadowy and traces a line to the best Detroit house from their long-running Amsterdam studio sessions.

Review: "Yeah, as I gaze upon you, I am overwhelmed by the fact that beauty is an insufficient phrase to describe you. You are the definition of pure perfection, and though many have tried and failed to get close to you, I run that walk into the flame." Echoing the seductive vocal soliloquies heard overlaid in much deep Chicago house - the work of the late Paul Johnson springs to mind - K' Alexi Shelby marks a terrific introduction to this new V/A from Cod3 QR. The label was long the subject of much speculative chinstroking; only in recent years was it revealed to be the brainchild of Laurent Garnier and Oliver Way. Here on this latest output from the label, we hear a mix of technical and tribal moods traverse across a mostly slow-burner sensibility, pinnacling on DJ Bone's bosomy chord viber 'DD'.

Review: Belfast's Space Dimension Controller returns with six glistening slow-burners that nod to Warp's early 90s Artificial Intelligence era, while gently messing with the co-ordinates. There's a subtlety in the programming: 'Infinite Image' drifts with a low-lit acid bassline and glassy synth layers, while 'Variation Five' hints at the woozy futurism of B12 or Spacetime Continuum. 'The Mirror Dome' and 'Chemical Glass' are deeper stillibuilt less for peak-time than post-club recalibration, hovering somewhere between ambient techno and dream-sequence electro. Even the percussive flickers of 'Reflect Itself' feel fluid, while closer 'Island Eye' stretches out like mist. Not nostalgic, not entirely newijust rich, soft-focus electronics executed with typical finesse.