MUSIC REVIEWS – Richard Coombes – Prog House & Breaks –
MUSIC REVIEWS – Richard Coombes – Prog House & Breaks – Issue 051 – Zone Magazine –
Welcome to my Progressive House & Breaks review column for Zone Magazine. I began DJ’ing across the South West of England in the early 2000s, inspired by legends such as Sasha, John Digweed, Nick Warren, and Paul Oakenfold, as well as the immersive sounds of producers like Slacker, James Holden, Quivver, and BT.
Through my DJ’ing style of progressive electronic music, I like to take audiences on an aural adventure, blending genres and uplifting melodic beats. Here, I share reviews of music at the forefront of the scene, carefully reviewing hundreds of promos each week to highlight standout tracks from around the globe, that you need to know about.
Send Promos to – r.coombesmusic@gmail.com
10/10 – TOP RELEASE –
Hot Since 82 ‘Paper Walls’ / ‘Forever’ (ft. Kuuda) [Bedrock]
Knee Deep in Sound label boss Hot Since 82 makes his debut on Bedrock with an amazing two track EP, that features the progressive, Afro-infused ‘Forever’ with Kuuda and the euphoric, groove-driven ‘Paper Walls’.
Two absolutely huge tunes here from Hot Since 82 that have been supported by some of the biggest names in the Progressive House scene, including no other than John Digweed who’s Bedrock imprint has been consistently pushing the envelope of the progressive sound for nearly 30 years.
‘Forever’ featuring vocals from Kuuda is a dark brooding progressive beast of a tune that builds tension with its haunting vocals and relentless bassline. It has kind of Luzon ‘The Bagio Track’ feel about it (which is no small compliment!) and has been doing the business on dance floors across the globe for John Digweed for some time now.
‘Paper Walls’ follows a similar suit with deep driving groove-laden percussion, rave style siren stabs and tension building break down. Two stand out tunes that could easily head up their own EP, make this one of the outstanding releases of the year so far.
9/10 – RECOMMENDED RELEASE –
Richie Blacker ‘Love Asylum EP’ [Last Night On Earth]
Richie Blacker returns to Sasha’s label Last Night On Earth after his previous outing on LNOE with James Shinra back in 2024 for the quality ‘Rapture EP’ which Sasha absolutely hammered at the time.
Here Richie returns with three dance floor focused gems, plus a remix of the title track ‘Love Asylum’ from Loew. Using his signature style Richie incorporates a 90’s style rave feeling into ‘Love Asylum’ using melancholic vocals contrasted by uplifting synth work to deliver an emotive dance floor gem.
‘Delphi’ is next up, here Richie puts together a slightly deeper, euphoric tinged tune that washes over you like the sound of summer. Haunting atmospheric vocals, uplifting melodies and intricate synth work combine to create a Terrace ready vibe.
Track three ‘You Think You Know Me’ is a collaboration with New York artist No 4mat, where the duo combine create a synth led melancholy journey through broken beats. Finally we have Loew’s remix of ‘Love Asylum’ which gives the tune a more progressive feel, by slowing things down slightly and building the tension and unleashing the emotion to great effect. Quality EP with four great tunes that signal spring has sprung.
8/10 – Lost Astronaut “Memories Fade” [Centrik Records]
Lost Astronaut brings his signature progressive breaks sound to Centrik Records with the quality ‘Memories Fade’ track EP.
It comes as no surprise that two tracks from the EP, ‘Memories Fade’ and ‘Was This Even Real’ have been featured on John Digweed’s Episode 51 of his monthly breaks and electronica excursion ‘Compiled and Mixed’ on Apple Music.
Each of the three tracks brings a unique take on delivering deep emotive melodic textures, with crisp broken breaks. The title track ‘Memories Fade’ is a lovely deep cut with haunting ethereal vocals that gracefully float in and out of the mix.
Next up is ‘Was This Even Real’ which ups the tempo slightly while maintaining the depth and melodic feel, and last but by no means least is ‘Lost without you’ which probably the deepest track on the EP that employs a cheeky vocal snippet from Monkey Safari’s ‘Safe’. All three tracks are class, a progressive breaks EP not to be missed.
9/10 – Various Artists – Selador Showcase 22 (Pt. 1) feat. Kelsey Valentine, Nick Varon & Deekay, Fordal, Gai Barone & Nick Stoynoff [Selador]
The ever consistent Selador continue on their hot streak with Part One of the twenty second outing of the ever fruitful showcase selection. Here label bosses Dave Seaman and Steve Parry assemble a crack team of artists to deliver four quality progressive goodness.
First up we have returning duo Kelsey Valentine with the infectious ‘Get into the Music’ here the production duo deliver an insatiable percussive rhythm and bassline, Gloria Estefan-esque vocals and old school sounding synth stabs. What’s not to like?!
Nick Varon & Deekay are up next making their debut on Selador with ‘Kismet(a)’, a dark driving riff heavy thumper that means business from the get go. No messing with this one.
Forensic Records regular Fordal who alongside Dave Walker produced one of my favourite tunes of last year ‘Quantum Verse’ also makes his Selador debut, flying solo with ‘Luminize’ here Formal delivers a classy slice of synth laden trance with a small ’t’. This driving piece of hypnotic tunage should come with a warning label on it!
Last but by no means least we have two artists that appear to do no wrong. Gai Barone & Nick Stoynoff combine to deliver the brooding throbber that is ‘Post Boutique’ here the boys take you on a dark pulsating journey through throbsville before dropping you off at the pearly gates courtesy of the majestic ethereal breakdown. Classy stuff!
9/10 – Various Artists – Trance Trax 8 (inc Tim French & Mallinder & more) [Hooj Choons]
The legendary Hooj Choons, home to some of the most iconic music from clubland returns for the eighth outing of the Trance Trax series, with four unique offerings that all push the ‘Trance’ envelope as only Hooj can.
Glenn Morrison & Night Waves kick things off with ‘Living Out’ which is an up tempo heads down tune with a progressive edge, that features some lovely floaty synth work. Next up Known Unknown deliver ‘From The Deep’ and as the name suggests, this one is a deep techy roller with a rumbling bass line and old school sounding vocal samples. This one is definitely destined for a dark room with a decent sound system.
On the more progressive tip, we have the superb ‘Frisson’. This is my pick of the EP, here Tim French & Mallinder combine to devastating effect, delivering an emotional soundscape, underpinned by a warm arpeggiated Italo bass line and soaring euphoric synths. This is the sort of tune you could imagine Sasha playing and absolutely melting the crowds mind. Classy stuff indeed!
Finally we have sLEdger Feat Neesa Nycee with ‘Full Moon Energy’ routing off the EP which echos Pete Lazonby’s legendary Hooj classic ‘Sacred Cycles’. Very Cool EP.