There's a particular mood that settles over progressive house as summer loosens its grip, and September's Protagonist Recordings selection catches it precisely. Dmitry Molosh opens with Flower Field - deceptively gentle, the kind of track that hides its complexity until the third listen. Michael A's Phantom Signal is all controlled tension, while RomanSmitarello's Cygnus reaches for something wider and colder, named after a constellation for good reason. ARJ, a young voice already fluent in the genre's hypnotic long-form logic, brings Underworld; Anderson answers with Echoes of Amenti, dark and searching. And when Onnoira and Ev Tymd take the final stretch - the latter's Voyager EP contributing both Atlas and its title track - the collection closes not with a statement but with a question left hanging. Music that trusts the listener to meet it halfway.

US-based producer Ev Rymd (Evgenii Rymd) returns to JOOF Aura, teaming up with label newcomer Joono to deliver The Dance, a masterclass in driving progressive energy. Engineered from the ground up to cause massive damage on dancefloors worldwide, the track relies on a beautifully layered, powerful bassline that sets an unrelenting pace. Built around the iconic vocal hook and anchored by a smooth, introspective leading arpeggio, The Dance strikes a flawless balance between raw hypnotic drive and emotional depth. It is a stunning collaboration that captures the true essence of modern progressive music, making Joono's debut alongside Ev Rymd's return an essential moment for the label.

Forward Music