#47 Feat. Staff Picks in Progressive House

Back for a fourth instalment of the highly successful series, Meanwhile Excursions, Vol. 4 takes another deep exploration into the world of underground house. First landing on GMJ & Matters Beatport Top 10 Progressive House label in August 2021, successive compilations have seen the Meanwhile Excursions series become an annual showcase of some of the scenes most celebrated talents rubbing shoulders with the brightest new up-and-comers. The previous three incarnations have thus seen the likes of Forty Cats, amháin, Golan Zocher, Dimuth K and Zankee Gulati provide a plethora of modern progressive jewels that have sparkled each year. Now returning for its fourth edition, label co-founder GMJ returns to lead the charge with the rippling percussive backdrop and effortless groove of Tough Restraint while the hefty bassline power and ethereal melodic beauty of Astral Beats finds Analog Jungs at their very best. The beautifully free-flowing sounds of Not Demure make an effortless entrance via Trefua and label debutant, Sam Scheme, shows his class with work for the likes of Balkan Connection and Droid9, via the smoothly cadenced and innovative sonic textures of FEST. Another Argentinean to make an impressive label debut, Fran Garay, debuts with the haunting motifs and seismic energy of Power of Expression, before Hobin Rude continues his recent offensive on the progressive genre with the light, airy tones and sumptuous pads of Gloom Gospel. Mango Alley and Hoomidaas favourites, HAFT, provide a moment in bassline bounce and rich melodic counterpoint with Life in Motion while Meanwhile favourite, Simos Tagias, returns with another progressive masterclass as the rich bass cadence of Auburn bristles with dynamic intensity against a vibrato lead line. Returning with solo original music alongside his Meanwhile label partner, Matters Guru hits typically rarefied heights with metronomic precision. Cadenced melodies sit atop a powerful beat as they pitch into dynamic new variations through the second half before Canadian superstar, Dowden supplies a complex percussive gem and searing synth lead across all of Eternity. After the success of his Disurbia / Avalon / Crackdown EP earlier in the year, Tonaco hits impressive heights with Holosteric, where a clipped percussive top-line and running bassline intensity is interspersed with textured pad progressions. The final word is left to Mango Alley regular, Maze 28, as the Albanian thrills with the shimmering bell-synth patterns and scorching lead of Superbloom creating a rousing finale full of brio and dancefloor vibrancy. Back with a fourth trip across the continents, Meanwhile Excursions, Vol. 4 is set fair for an exciting voyage across global dancefloors. Directed by GMJ & Matter Mastered by Cid Inc., DG Mastering Design by Matter Text by James Warren

Analog Jungs, GMJ, Not Demure, Sam Scheme, Fran Garay, Hobin Rude, HAFT, Simos Tagias, Matter, Dowden, Tonaco, Maze 28