#17 Feat. Banner in Progressive House

Approaching the end of another successful year, Meanwhile welcomes Fran Garay to the label with the powerful Restored / Irresponsible / Ill Be Better EP. Immersed in the world of electronic music from an early age, Fran Garay journeyed along a pathway of Dubstep and EDM before reaching a destination where he discovered Progressive House aged 16, inspired by the sounds of Martín García. From this epiphany, the Argentine producer has quickly become a staple of the progressive fraternity with over a century of production credits dating back to a 2020 debut on 3rd Avenue. Since then, Balkan Connection, Paul Thomass UV Noir, Forty Cats PURRFECTION and Mangos Mango Alley have played host to the Fran Garay sound. Now the Villa Mercedes resident from San Luis province returns to Meanwhile after a debut on September 2024s Meanwhile Excursions, Vol. 4 compilation. Showcasing his distinctive and versatile sound, Restored is powered by traditional, club-friendly tropes. A dynamic rhythmic backdrop creates a high-energy vibe while a rolling bassline groove creates dancefloor character. A syncopated motif brings mid-range joy in effortlessly shifting repetitions, culminating in a white noise-fuelled breakdown before reaching its zenith in the second half. Here, the full cast of melodic and rhythmic actors join forces in a chorus of pitched synth phrases that rise, in siren-like intensity, before dropping back into the magnificent rhythm and bassline melange of earlier phases. Irresponsible boasts a huge thumping beat and rolling groove, while a subterranean bassline joins the throng, blending seamlessly alongside the rising melodic themes. Held together with an invisible sonic glue, a cascading and fractured analogue lead sequence glistens like shards of broken glass in the autumn sunlight. Subtly shifting patterns of light and dark rise and fall in intensity as the complex melodic patterns rotate around a central theme. The result is an innovative and unique track. Following the themes of its predecessor, Ill Be Better, continues the driving rhythmic framework with lighter shaker patterns adding delicate urgency. Once again, shifting motifs are in full evidence, this time punctuated by a flowing freeform pattern that gradually appears from the second movement. Evolving easily, the track erupts after the mid-point breakdown into a glorious collage of shifting sonic patterns that command listener attention, in turn creating an awe-inspiring listener experience. Full of intriguing sonic landscapes and a unique approach to his craft, Fran Garay has certainly risen to new heights with his Restored / Irresponsible / Ill Be Better EP. Directed by GMJ & Matter Mastered by Cid Inc. Design by Matter Text by James Warren

Fran Garay