An artist of continually rising reputation, Maze 28 is another welcome returnee to the Meanwhile imprint. With a debut solo EP to showcase, the reptilian "Iguana / Cobra / Komodo" takes centre stage. Under his Maze 28 moniker, Durrës-born Mario Zefi has become a leading figure in the underground dance fraternity with a plethora of Progressive House hits and occasional forays into Melodic Techno and Electronica arenas. Debuting in 2020 at eighteen, the Albanian star transitioned fully into the Progressive House arena with 2023's "Redux/Flux" on the Beatport number one selling Mango Alley. Since then, Balance Music, UV, Anjunadeep and Alex O'Rion's Solis Records have all featured the Maze 28 sound – including a return to Mango Alley in late 2025 for the"Leave the World Behind" album – as Albania's leading progressive export continues to go from strength to strength. Having thrilled with "Superbloom" on "Meanwhile Excursions, Vol. 4" in September 2024, "Iguana" sees Maze 28 open proceedings with a thumping rhythmic powerhouse that provides dancefloor vibrancy courtesy of a rapid-fire percussive top line. A swung 16th note bassline ups the pace further as layers of effects and subtle melodics evolve with ease. Replete with white-noise risers at the breakdown, the track explodes into the second half with a sliced vocal cut as the rhythmic intensity of earlier phases continues. "Cobra" continues the dark and unwavering bassline intensity of its predecessor as hefty beat and head-shaking hats create club-friendly fervour. Metronomic intensity continues as a pitched vocal phrase adds gravitas. Elegant melodic flourishes create further intrigue as does a siren-effect at the breakdown, reaching a powerful zenith before finding its way back to the beat-laden intensity. The final track reveals an oriental-themed percussion element that develops hypnotically across "Komodo". Flooded with spine-tingling chord progressions, the rhythmic force of partner tracks is replicated here but a glorious breakdown of free-flowing motif and dizzying pads and risers creates a devastating platform for additional elements to extend into the second half in glorious dance-friendly technicolour. Shape-shifting with ease across a landscape of reptilian-themed music, Maze 28 is lizard-king extraordinaire. Directed by GMJ & Matter Mastered by Cid Inc. Design by Matter Text by James Warren

An artist of continually rising reputation, Maze 28 is another welcome returnee to the Meanwhile imprint. With a debut solo EP to showcase, the reptilian "Iguana / Cobra / Komodo" takes centre stage. Under his Maze 28 moniker, Durrës-born Mario Zefi has become a leading figure in the underground dance fraternity with a plethora of Progressive House hits and occasional forays into Melodic Techno and Electronica arenas. Debuting in 2020 at eighteen, the Albanian star transitioned fully into the Progressive House arena with 2023's "Redux/Flux" on the Beatport number one selling Mango Alley. Since then, Balance Music, UV, Anjunadeep and Alex O'Rion's Solis Records have all featured the Maze 28 sound – including a return to Mango Alley in late 2025 for the"Leave the World Behind" album – as Albania's leading progressive export continues to go from strength to strength. Having thrilled with "Superbloom" on "Meanwhile Excursions, Vol. 4" in September 2024, "Iguana" sees Maze 28 open proceedings with a thumping rhythmic powerhouse that provides dancefloor vibrancy courtesy of a rapid-fire percussive top line. A swung 16th note bassline ups the pace further as layers of effects and subtle melodics evolve with ease. Replete with white-noise risers at the breakdown, the track explodes into the second half with a sliced vocal cut as the rhythmic intensity of earlier phases continues. "Cobra" continues the dark and unwavering bassline intensity of its predecessor as hefty beat and head-shaking hats create club-friendly fervour. Metronomic intensity continues as a pitched vocal phrase adds gravitas. Elegant melodic flourishes create further intrigue as does a siren-effect at the breakdown, reaching a powerful zenith before finding its way back to the beat-laden intensity. The final track reveals an oriental-themed percussion element that develops hypnotically across "Komodo". Flooded with spine-tingling chord progressions, the rhythmic force of partner tracks is replicated here but a glorious breakdown of free-flowing motif and dizzying pads and risers creates a devastating platform for additional elements to extend into the second half in glorious dance-friendly technicolour. Shape-shifting with ease across a landscape of reptilian-themed music, Maze 28 is lizard-king extraordinaire. Directed by GMJ & Matter Mastered by Cid Inc. Design by Matter Text by James Warren

An artist constantly at the vanguard of the Progressive House sound, Alex O'Rion returns to Meanwhile with another elite EP, this time with the magical "Hartseer / Flow".\n\nHaving built a sizeable and dedicated following over a career spanning two decades, Alex O'Rion is no stranger to success. A globally touring DJ with gigs in South America, Australasia, Asia, North America and across Europe, Alex is as proficient at building memories from behind the decks as he is creating new sonic masterpieces from his Nijerk-based studio. Moreover, so in-demand is the Dutch master that he has sat firmly in the Beatport Top 10 Progressive House artist chart for 6 consecutive years with a raft of releases on the likes of Sudbeat Music, Anjunadeep, Lost and Found and his own Top 20 Progressive House label, Solis Records.\n\nA resident artist on GMJ & Matter's flagship label, a trio of original EPs between 2021 and 2025 sit proudly within an extraordinary canon of production material that also includes remixes for Jiminy Hop and the Meanwhile label heads themselves. In addition, Alex has also seen his original compositions reworked by such legendary progressive figures as Simos Tagias, Sebastian Sellares, Navar and Roger Martinez.\n\nNow returning for a fourth original EP, "Hartseer" is a typically evocative track that builds on an intoxicatingly deep groove and thumping kick. A rolling sub-bassline creates body-shaking dancefloor energy before glacial synth lines flow majestically across an 8-minute timeframe. Evolving endlessly, glassy plucks and revolving arps percolate in an aural melting pot that generates listener interest and captivating atmospheres that only Alex is able to create. Blossoming into the latter stages with extended groove, copious effects and oscillating melodies, "Hartseer" deserves to be displayed in the Rijksmuseum as a sonic work of art.\n\nContinuing the deep rhythmic narrative, the aptly named, "Flow" is as mesmerising as it is evocative with its huge, sustained bassline sequence. Quickly hitting its stride, enthralling melodies augment the rhythmic foundation as they coruscate easily across the track's duration. Pausing for breath at a dazzling breakdown of melodic interplay, the third movement explodes in a firework display of glittering fragments that extend the scope of earlier phrasing in an expansive call and answer pattern.\n\nA pair of new tracks sees Alex O'Rion at his poignant and melancholic best with "Hartseer / Flow"\n\nDirected by GMJ & Matter\nMastered by Cid Inc.\nDesign by Matter\nText by James Warren