#8 Feat. Banner in Progressive House

Returning for a 24th appearance on the Meanwhile imprint he carefully curates with his fellow countryman, GMJ delivers yet another slice of progressive heaven with Feel Inside / Living Memory. As we approach the end of the year, GMJ is in reflective mood for his final original EP of 2024. After a stellar year which has seen a steady flow of 24-carat gold music on such celebrated imprints as Balance Music, Vapour Recordings, Proton Music and Nick Warrens The Soundgarden, the Melbourne-resident continues to deliver equally stunning new music on the Meanwhile and Meanwhile Horizons imprints he owns with production partner, Matter. The opener finds Feel Inside providing a magical rhythmic backdrop that bristles with vibrancy alongside a cavernous sub-bassline groove. Chock full of bubbling dancefloor dynamism, a metallically cadenced synth pattern filters in and out of prominence while a looped vocal phrase repeats over the rhythmic collage before revealing itself more fully at the breakdown. Building once more, the hefty beat drops back into the rolling percussive hi-hats and metallic synth phrase to create a storming club-friendly colossus. Written when his grandfather passed away earlier in the year, Living Memory serves as a tribute to a life well-lived and a much-loved character. As Gavin so eloquently puts it, he is always alive as an inspiration in my memories for both his musical prowess and the person he was. Redolent in the same rolling rhythmic backdrop as its partner track, immaculately placed woodblock percussion adds to the driving vitality. Providing easy juxtaposition, a beautiful piano sequence is soon introduced which suffuses the track with a contemplative air and effortless beauty. Waxing and waning fluently over its near 9-minute timeframe, a complementary synth motif builds through the breakdown before breathy vox pads and the earlier piano provide a latticework of sounds that find GMJ in majestic form with a perfect sonic tribute. Hitting another high watermark with two powerful original works, GMJ is at his peerless best with Feel Inside / Living Memory. Directed by GMJ & Matter Mastered by Cid Inc. Design by Matter Text by James Warren

GMJ

#35 Feat. Banner in Progressive House

Returning to Meanwhile with a full debut EP, Zankee Gulati continues his journey as a rising progressive house talent with the Mind Opener / Magnetic Island EP. A single remix comes from Argentinean duo, Analog Jungs. A recognised force in his Sydney hometown, Zankee Gulati has continued to see his star shine increasingly bright within the underground dance firmament. An artist and promoter renowned for his spellbinding sets across Sydneys clubs and for bringing the likes of Guy J, Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren and Ben Bohmer to New South Wales, the Australians performance in the studio has only cemented a rapidly growing reputation. A mounting catalogue of sumptuous offerings has increasingly featured on the likes of Sudbeat Music, The Soundgarden and Balance Music, plus a standout contribution to John Digweeds Futuro compilation on Bedrock, with Low Tide in collaboration with fellow countryman, Jamie Stevens. Two appearances on GMJ & Matters imprints in December 2022 saw The Magic Spoon feature on Beyond The Horizon, Vol. 2, while HereAfter found its way onto the flagship labels, Meanwhile Excursions, Vol. 3 in July 2023. Now hitting the heights once more, the light and airy tones of Mind Opener reveal themselves over a strong kick and ticking percussive top-line. Rippling arps and a strong motif keep the energy high as analogue edge gradually develops within the latter with an open filter creates a range of harmonic frequencies that shine over a beatless breakdown. Dropping back into the hefty rhythmic groove, the track then draws to its meticulously sculpted conclusion. Magnetic Island is a deep, chugging powerhouse. Full of rhythmic prowess and building elegantly through thumping kick and shaker-driven groove, a beautiful melodic passage develops within a hypnotic arp that filters to a powerful denouement in the final stages. The strong rhythmic narrative of its predecessor then finds its place once more in the final stages. A single remix comes from Argentinean duo, Analog Jungs, who first came to Meanwhile prominence on their 3-track Surrender EP in March 2022. Already regulars on blue-chip labels that include Mango Alley, Hope Recordings and Manual Music, the Córdoba-based pair excel once more with a chunky interpretation that creates a trademark rhythmic foundation and driving bassline groove. Adding tropes from Zankee Gulatis original, they turn Mind Opener into an exciting and dynamic new track that is redolent in additional production material and melodic invention. The result is a powerful remix that is an exceptional addition to the EP. New music from Zankee Gulati and a remix from Analog Jungs pull Mind Opener / Magnetic Island into the centre of the Progressive House map. Directed by GMJ & Matter Mastered by Cid Inc. Design by Matter Text by James Warren

Zankee Gulati

#53 Feat. Banner 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