Another offering of impressive quality, Simos Tagias and Roger Martinez join forces for the first time as they deliver their "Inner Light / Shadow Work" EP. Both long-established artists in their own rights, Simos Tagias and Roger Martinez have inhabited the upper echelons of a competitive industry for a combined total of more than 800 production credits over three decades. Able to point to work on some of the most prestigious imprints in modern Progressive House, Simos has been a staple on Proton Music, Mango Alley and UV while a trio of original releases on Meanwhile since 2021 has seen the Greek star shine with "Euphoria / Emotion", "Archaios / Geometric" and "Skyline / A Memory". Similarly, Roger Martinez has been a visionary with his work for Lost & Found, Sudbeat and Anjunadeep with a plethora of releases on his own HIGHER STATES imprint. Work for Meanwhile has centred around July 2020's 3-track "Cosmic" EP with the high-profile triptych going on to be remixed by Paul Deep, Jamie Stevens and label heads GMJ and Matter. Now coming together for their collaborative debut, "Inner Light" is a chunky rhythmic powerhouse that hits hard with its thumping kick and shaker-driven percussion. Ripping arpeggios soon enter the fray as a sumptuous bass groove provides a low-end anchor. Building serenely, a wonderful lead-line drenched in atmospheric reverb and delay cascades across the left-right spectrum coming to the fore in an emotive breakdown. Hitting the heights once more, the second half combines melody, bass and rhythm in a carnival of sound that is a powerful example of the duo's production credentials. The darker vibe characterised by both its title and sonic palette, "Shadow Work" creates a seething and oppressive rhythmic presence with its top-line intricacy and bassline groove. Pitched vocal effects add to the atmosphere as richly textured pads and overlapping melodies build in interlaced patterns over a hypnotic beat. Darkly oscillating as it progresses over its 8-minute timeframe, the lattice work of sounds at the breakdown is a joy to behold before the driving rhythm makes it club-friendly presence felt through the third movement in an intoxicating cocktail of state of the art deep Progressive House. A pair of tracks from two iconic figures sees Simos Tagias and Roger Martinez step into the bright warm sun with their "Inner Light / Shadow Work" EP. Directed by GMJ & Matter Mastered by Cid Inc. Design by Matter Text by James Warren

An artist with a rich and impressive portfolio to his name, Matter returns to the Meanwhile fold with another 24-carat gold, twin-track EP in the shape of "Empty Universe / Welcome to You". Matty Doyle has frequented the upper echelons of the underground dance scene for a decade. A Beatport Top 10 Progressive House artist for 5 years under his Matter soubriquet, the Melbourne-based artist has mesmerised audiences with a scintillating palette of sounds built around "deep synth lines, driving bass and pulsating rhythms". The resulting output has led the Australian's production work to feature on a host of high-profile imprints that include All Day I Dream, Vapour Recordings, Anjunadeep and Balance Music. Moreover, over 50 of those have found their way onto Meanwhile in both collaborative – with co-founder GMJ – and solo guises. No better is this talent illustrated than on the December 2024 album "We Are Here" where a magnum opus of progressive gems glitter with an unrivalled sparkling iridescence. A trio of solo original EPs add further to a cast-iron reputation within the genre fraternity as Matter returns with sensational new original music. In trademark fashion, "Empty Universe" is built upon a foundation of huge chest-thumping kick and a rapid-fire combination of hi-hat and shaker percussion. Adding to the groove, a sub-bassline supplies low-end gravitas before an arpeggio mesmerises in gradually filtered beauty, before opening-up fully in a stripped-back breakdown. Reaching its zenith, the glorious rhythmic collage drops back into the fray in the third movement with a cascading cornucopia of effects that pan the left-right spectrum with dizzying energy and force. Partner track, "Welcome to You" quickly drives forward with huge four-to-the-floor presence, while wood-block percussion and off-beat hats create a sonic picture that is built upon layers of hypnotic rhythm and lyrical sounds. A haunting motif then adds a dramatic melodic moment as it drives the rising breakdown to a huge denouement. Hitting its stride again in the second half, the central motif appears again, accompanied by a dramatic and mesmerising groove that is certain to see dancefloors moving in unison in an unbounded moment of pure progressive delight. A twin-track EP of epic proportions see Matter creating a powerful magnetic field with "Empty Universe / Welcome to You". Directed by GMJ & Matter Mastered by Cid Inc. Design by Matter Text by James Warren