Top 100 Chart placements for Balance Music
Updated 2 months ago
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A new collaborative trio to grace the Balance Music roster, Micah, Gai Barone, and Echomen are highly regarded artists in their own rights. Joining forces for the first time to showcase their 'Ecstasy' EP. A storied artist with a collection of high profile releases to his name, Micah quickly rose to prominence on the back of his innovative and flowing DJ sets for the Hybridized site in the mid 2000s alongside Hybrid and Way Out West. Going on to showcase a clutch of impressive releases for Global Underground, Perspectives Digital, and Nick Warren's The Soundgarden, the Canadian star has also used his Ruhnsong imprint as a vehicle for his production work. Gai Barone is an artist requiring little in the way of introductions. A favourite of the DJ glitterati from Apparat, and Above & Beyond, to Henry Saiz, and Hernan Cattaneo, the Italian has consistently found himself at the summit of the underground dance scene with galaxy of star releases for some of the industry's leading imprints since he hit early heights in 2009 with 'Lilith' on Afterglow. Some 650 production credits later and Gai Barone remains one of the progressive fraternity's leading figures with music for Renaissance, Lost & Found, and Black Hole Recordings. A trio of credits for Balance Music found Gai Barone & Micah provide a moment of progressive house magic with the 'Prisma' EP in late 2021. Chris Scott aka Echomen (and Lexicon Avenue) is another artist with a notable musical history dating back to 2001 and his 'Thru 2 You' EP which included a remix from the legendary figure of Bushwacka! going on to release on the leviathan Hooj Choons in 2002, Joel Armstrong's Dot Com Recordings in 2006 and the highly regarded, Mesmeric between 2012 and 2014, Echomen's portfolio reads like a 'who's who' of releases for the finest modern underground labels. Joining Micah & Gai Barone for his first commercial release in over 7 years, Echomen's talent is still clearly evident. Coming in three differing shapes and potency, 'Ecstasy' opens with a shimmering 'Intro Mix' that brings spine tingling melodic elements to the fore in the opening phases before a deep kick provides a metronomic anchor. Replete with textured pads that gently pulsate as they pan the stereo spectrum, atmospheric washes create a euphoric sonic landscape that hypnotises through its repetitive and gently evolving phrasing. The 'Main Mix' follows the same melodic structures as its counterpart, but the introduction of a sublime bassline groove adds a club friendly structure to proceedings as does top line urgency in the shape of off beat hats and toms. 'Micah's Floor Head Remix' creates a thumping club stormer full of rhythmic prowess and brio as an immaculately conceived percussive groove provides the perfect foundation for melodic elements to shine. Building easily over its near 9 minute duration, familiar motifs and bassline groove make their presence felt. Pausing for breath at an extended, stripped back breakdown, the build and drop back into the complex rhythmic backdrop is tribute to an artist whose skill, technique and craftsmanship have always been front and centre in his production work.
A new collaborative trio to grace the Balance Music roster, Micah, Gai Barone, and Echomen are highly regarded artists in their own rights. Joining forces for the first time to showcase their 'Ecstasy' EP. A storied artist with a collection of high profile releases to his name, Micah quickly rose to prominence on the back of his innovative and flowing DJ sets for the Hybridized site in the mid 2000s alongside Hybrid and Way Out West. Going on to showcase a clutch of impressive releases for Global Underground, Perspectives Digital, and Nick Warren's The Soundgarden, the Canadian star has also used his Ruhnsong imprint as a vehicle for his production work. Gai Barone is an artist requiring little in the way of introductions. A favourite of the DJ glitterati from Apparat, and Above & Beyond, to Henry Saiz, and Hernan Cattaneo, the Italian has consistently found himself at the summit of the underground dance scene with galaxy of star releases for some of the industry's leading imprints since he hit early heights in 2009 with 'Lilith' on Afterglow. Some 650 production credits later and Gai Barone remains one of the progressive fraternity's leading figures with music for Renaissance, Lost & Found, and Black Hole Recordings. A trio of credits for Balance Music found Gai Barone & Micah provide a moment of progressive house magic with the 'Prisma' EP in late 2021. Chris Scott aka Echomen (and Lexicon Avenue) is another artist with a notable musical history dating back to 2001 and his 'Thru 2 You' EP which included a remix from the legendary figure of Bushwacka! going on to release on the leviathan Hooj Choons in 2002, Joel Armstrong's Dot Com Recordings in 2006 and the highly regarded, Mesmeric between 2012 and 2014, Echomen's portfolio reads like a 'who's who' of releases for the finest modern underground labels. Joining Micah & Gai Barone for his first commercial release in over 7 years, Echomen's talent is still clearly evident. Coming in three differing shapes and potency, 'Ecstasy' opens with a shimmering 'Intro Mix' that brings spine tingling melodic elements to the fore in the opening phases before a deep kick provides a metronomic anchor. Replete with textured pads that gently pulsate as they pan the stereo spectrum, atmospheric washes create a euphoric sonic landscape that hypnotises through its repetitive and gently evolving phrasing. The 'Main Mix' follows the same melodic structures as its counterpart, but the introduction of a sublime bassline groove adds a club friendly structure to proceedings as does top line urgency in the shape of off beat hats and toms. 'Micah's Floor Head Remix' creates a thumping club stormer full of rhythmic prowess and brio as an immaculately conceived percussive groove provides the perfect foundation for melodic elements to shine. Building easily over its near 9 minute duration, familiar motifs and bassline groove make their presence felt. Pausing for breath at an extended, stripped back breakdown, the build and drop back into the complex rhythmic backdrop is tribute to an artist whose skill, technique and craftsmanship have always been front and centre in his production work.
Celebrating its 50th release, Balance Music sees the return of Danny Bonnici to the label alongside German production wizard, Sanoi, where the duo showcase their 'Infinite Horizons' EP. As a successful engineer and producer over a 25 year period, Danny Bonnici has consistently dined at dance music's top table with a feast of delicious offerings, and now, he joins forces with the talented New Zealand based artist Sanoi for the first time as a collaborative pairing. Danny Bonnici & Sanoi perfectly illustrate their combined skill and craft on 'Infinite Horizons'. Anchored by a chest thumping kick, and head shaking hi hat percussion, a huge growling bassline supplies low end aplenty for a gloriously twisted and distorted motif to evolve into an immaculately cadenced dancefloor centrepiece. Metronomic in execution, the mid point breakdown provides the perfect opportunity for the central phrase to shine before an influx of counterpoint and complementary motifs create vibrancy. Hitting its stride again courtesy of a fizzing shaker pattern, 'Infinite Horizons' bristles with potent dancefloor intent. The second track, 'Reflections Of The Other Side' revels in wondrous muted synth phrasing in the early movements. Freeform analogue sequences coruscate in swirling patterns to create a spine tingling melody that is enhanced by a mirrored bassline pattern. Through a stripped back breakdown, redolent in swirling delays and melodic intensity, the track picks up the pace again on the other side with resplendent rhythmic intensity. Also mixed in Dolby Atmos, the Danny Bonnici & Sanoi's immaculate production skills are given a sonic treatment that must be heard to be believed. Melodies fire overhead enveloping the listener in a tapestry of sound that entwines percussive elements and a chorus of effected sounds in stratified layers that are so sharply defined that they become precision instruments in the hands of aural engineers at the height of their powers.
Celebrating its 50th release, Balance Music sees the return of Danny Bonnici to the label alongside German production wizard, Sanoi, where the duo showcase their 'Infinite Horizons' EP. As a successful engineer and producer over a 25 year period, Danny Bonnici has consistently dined at dance music's top table with a feast of delicious offerings, and now, he joins forces with the talented New Zealand based artist Sanoi for the first time as a collaborative pairing. Danny Bonnici & Sanoi perfectly illustrate their combined skill and craft on 'Infinite Horizons'. Anchored by a chest thumping kick, and head shaking hi hat percussion, a huge growling bassline supplies low end aplenty for a gloriously twisted and distorted motif to evolve into an immaculately cadenced dancefloor centrepiece. Metronomic in execution, the mid point breakdown provides the perfect opportunity for the central phrase to shine before an influx of counterpoint and complementary motifs create vibrancy. Hitting its stride again courtesy of a fizzing shaker pattern, 'Infinite Horizons' bristles with potent dancefloor intent. The second track, 'Reflections Of The Other Side' revels in wondrous muted synth phrasing in the early movements. Freeform analogue sequences coruscate in swirling patterns to create a spine tingling melody that is enhanced by a mirrored bassline pattern. Through a stripped back breakdown, redolent in swirling delays and melodic intensity, the track picks up the pace again on the other side with resplendent rhythmic intensity. Also mixed in Dolby Atmos, the Danny Bonnici & Sanoi's immaculate production skills are given a sonic treatment that must be heard to be believed. Melodies fire overhead enveloping the listener in a tapestry of sound that entwines percussive elements and a chorus of effected sounds in stratified layers that are so sharply defined that they become precision instruments in the hands of aural engineers at the height of their powers.