Progressive House UK

Wait, stop, look out; it's QUiNTESSON. From the first beat, this is a fast and thrilling white knuckle ride. The very essence of what first pricked our ears at Progressive House UK is on full display here.

Like a tightly coiled spring, the first 2 tracks come flying out. The energy created through the clever combination of both mixes of 'Inside' through Thimble and into the crescendo of Sensitive (IT)'s 'Flat Out' is pure electronic joy. Cherry (AU)'s Aiza then throws us into a mystical Saharan love story whilst beats bounce and percussion ricochets around your ears, intelligently fusing Progressive atmospherics with techno-infused rage. Quite right therefore that Buttrich's 'Slow Down' follows to give us a pause in the proceedings - and what a pause.

Look out for the neatly slotted in perky re-work of Ame's modern classic Rej this time re-imagined by Javier Benitez followed by a deep funky techno workout from Yotam Anvi. Sublime is the Blond:ish Remix of M.A.N.D.Y.'s 'Hi End' featuring the haunting vocals from Nonku Phiri which are veiled behind the dark stabs and solid grooves. The hypnotism continues with Herzog & Aurich's 'Stranded Spaceman' from Dubspeeka who's remix creates a kind futuristic sparse landscape with swirling synths and cheeky percussive pads playing with each other throughout.

The close of the mix brings a very optimistic and playful climax - a tease to make you imagine what could follow. And a tease it is, leaving you wanting more - as all good 60 min mixes should!

Hats off (and thrown in the air) for QUiNTESSON.

A sumptuous deep start from Stevie this month laying down the foundations for another even deeper dive from Nick Warren and Nicolas Rada into the gothic and bass rumbling Stage Van H track Basso Profoundo, I track I love. Alex O’Rion’s remix of GMJ & Matter’s Gauntlet stops the mix going even deeper into the abyss and opens the door for the first vocal track which soars over you.

Chunky and textures progressive beats build along a solid BPM range to deliver some swirling and spaced out melodies – the type Stevie’s fans adore. As basslines growl and shift into position meoldies shimmer and twinkle to form larger soundscapes. Tech edged prog sounds so good when done correctly and this mix showcases with highlights from the mighty Quivver and CIREZ D whilst subtle vocal tracks get delicately placed to break up the energy.

It’s yet another assured performance from Stevie and further proof that he’s still a master of the game. Grab 2 hours alone and dive into the deep!

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This is my last resident mix as I take a break to work on some other projects I'm getting off the ground. In doing so, I hand over to our new Resident & mix competition winner Bean Cuenca.

There are some tougher sounds in this mix as I wanted to play a more peak time set - It's mins shy of 3 hours to keep you entertained with some modern-day remixed classics thrown in for good measure. Play this loud!

Candy’s mix this month is a delightful mix of light and dark techno. Opening the cinematic score is the first from Robots With No Soul ‘ENTER’ and briskly into Luigi Tozzi’s sparse yet expansive ‘Allergic’ echoing out and warming you up for the path ahead.

By Track 3 and 4, I’m reminded of John Selway's ‘Lightwave’ Journeys By Dj’s CD, which washes in and out with warm synth-led atmospherics and calm quiet brooding groove before ramping up and up. Intelligent techno if you will. We have the same ethos here and at around 25 mins in things start to morph and bubble with intent.

Somewhere just in the middle of the storm that is brewing is an almost a ‘techno Jazz’ interlude from Tale of Us - Ricordi (Rødhåd Remix). It is reminiscent of a science fiction film soundtrack you think you’ve heard but can’t quite place. And then without warning; onwards. Dino Lenny’s futuristic ‘Living in a song’ sears in delivering the first full vocal of the mix and into ‘The Pain on The Train’ a proper old school techno stomper.

At the halfway through point Candy has us all in the Tunnel and the lights are now out. It is head down reach forward stuff as techno tracks weave in and out of menace beats and melodic synths. Often in the midst of a night you know that the DJ will deliver you safely through the smoke-filled darkness and into the light. It’s exactly the reward you have here through the aptly named ‘Breaking the clouds’ from one of my old faves Dapayk Solo. Further gentle guidance and a now typical Candyesq warm and refreshing climax comes from Arutani ‘Far Away’. And we are back, refreshed 78 mins later, without a scratch or a mark on us looking eagerly at the play button again.

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From ‘The moment’ this mix starts you know you are in for something special. The PHUK Residents often comment between themselves that the bar is consistently being raised by one another and this mix notches it up yet again.

When Xinobi finishes relaxing you into her vibe, ‘Spike’ sends you deeper into QUiNTESSON’s dark velvety trance. If you aren’t already hypnotised, then Issac’s ‘Clavel’ takes you down a narrow corridor of drums and synth lead intoxication that you can’t come back from. ‘Clavel’s’ beautiful breakdown is reminiscent of Sasha’s influential ‘Airdrawndagger’ album yet slightly more rounded and organic -sounding. Just as the float becomes familiar you are slammed back into the train track rhythm that takes you to the next station. Ivory’s ‘Your Grace’ fuses mechanical edge with swirling synths and a steady Kick drum which creates a futuristic moment imagined easily in any Sci-fi movie.

Quintesson is in no rush to hurry the listener along here, transitions glide in and filter out perfectly while the groove starts to pick up and gather momentum. As the unmistakable sound of Karmon’s remix of ‘Kaputt’ arrives with it’s kooky vocal you realise QUiNTESSON has cast his spell and you are not going anywhere. What opens up is a wonderful hybrid of 80’s infused electro pop meets 2020 melodic techno, flexing and strutting forward confidently. Mihai Popoviciu’s ‘Transitions’ bumps in to provide a classic Detroit house sound and resume the drum led core that runs deep throughout the mix.

As the final 3 tracks provide the drama and climax you need, you can’t help checking your watch to see where the time has gone. For many of us that is the magic of DJ’ing – in 70 mins you have gone through door after door and can’t remember the way back or how you got here. It’s a mix you have to play again straight away and get lost in all over again.

We start with a very current reminder of the times we live in right now courtesy of Her Majesty’s government warnings but quickly head off to more exotic shores. The medley of Rej & Kjavik tracks work perfectly here delivering a bass-led jerky ride whilst ethnic chants add spellbinding hypnotism, especially with the moody ‘Kaif’ slotted in the middle from the late, great Andrew Weatherall. Almost like the break of dawn Oliver Kolezki’s ‘We are all lost’ provides a shining light with its soothing trumpet and soft bassline accompaniment. It’s only a gentle pause as Marcus Meinhardt’s solid groover ‘Bamboo’ dances in. The next 15 min section is a gorgeous techy workout gliding into Alexandros Djkevingr & Greg Ignatovich’s jerky and poignant – ‘Choose life’ before a wonderful breakbeat excursion to guide us home. The finale from Editors is a perfect way to perhaps bookend the feelings experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic. The spirit-raising vocal gives hope and joy in equal measure reminding us that whilst the world may be upside down – we are not lost.

The second instalment of this guest mix gets stuck straight in. White Square’s ‘Pressured Mind’ bassline bubbles whilst plucky percussion punctuates a searing and driving synth; plotting a course for things to come. Rodriquez Jr follows with ‘Haussmann’ a mixture of London early rave breakbeat with science-fiction style atmospherics before Blueprint sweeps in delivering an emotional wall of sound – what a start! As the breakbeat echoes out, the solid 4/4 rolls in to take charge of the groove but never letting go of the light in the shape of playful melody and warm light synths washing in and out. Just as the beats relax, Dave starts to whip things up and we’re reminded of the progressive roots from whence he came. Gorgeous big basslines drop whilst rhythms bounce off in all directions giving a sense of space flight and otherworldly adventure from Monojoke bookended with the wonderful Eric Lune. As the mix heads towards its crescendo starting at 51 mins Christopher Kah’s monster track Evolution 909 (Magnus Froblem Remix) crashes in and takes no prisoners. Pryda’s ‘Snaz/ acts as a sonic conduit for the classic and personal favourite ‘Little Bullet' from Spooky, ending the mix perfectly and giving us a sense that we’ve time travelled effortlessly courtesy of Dave Furneaux’s tight control and wonderful imagination.

Progressive House UK (P.H.U.K.) International DJ Mix Series presents... Glenn Molloy.

Spend a few moments in conversation with Glenn and you will quickly be immersed in his warmth, drive and passion for what he does. It's infectious!

Glenn Molloy is a Dublin based artist, who has made a staggering number of releases over the course of the last few years on labels such as BC2, Mystic Carousel, Findike, IN2U and Pro B Tech, finding support with Jimmy Van M, Chris Fortier and Nick Warren to name a few. As a DJ, he has supported acts such as Slam, Spektre, Slipmatt, Fish Go Deep, Gary Beck and Nhar, held residencies at 2 local clubs and weekly shows at Dublin's top underground radio stations. Glenn has also begun his new mix show called Gorgonoized Radio.

Delighted to have Glenn Molloy debut our International DJ Mix Series with an outstanding mix - a percussive, vocal and melodically woven journey.

From everyone at the Progressive House UK FB Group, we hope you enjoy the next 1 hr 30 mins.... with Glenn Molloy.

Stevie's mix this month heads down a seductive and tech edged path. The big deep South American style of Progressive house is not on show here. Instead, it’s crisp, clinical basslines, tight snares and purposeful percussion, accompanied by meaningful Vocals or whispers and suggestions.

This is a murky groove with robot funk-infused rhythms shifting energies constantly. There are some real standout moments for me during this, in particular, Aaron Slater - Alien to Me (Simuck Dub) and a Dousk 'Hammer', which I haven’t heard in a good few years.

Stevie never fails to weave together a mix that places older tracks perfectly with newer ones. This is a skill that DJ’s often fail to do; they either opt for straight out classics and force them in or opt for updated versions of them that seem too obvious. Stevie remembers a sound that was ahead of its game when released and then complements the new track with it regardless of the number of years between them. The result is a steady hand of experience that stretches out all the goodness of both tracks and brings the ‘sound’ together.

This mix is a solid outing from Stevie and further cements why he is such an invaluable member of the team. The residents, although working under the same banner of ‘progressive’ never fail to surprise, compliment, and push each other further and this mix does exactly that.

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There's an awful lot going on in the world right now. If I have a gift (we all like to think we have) then I'd like it to be that I can translate my emotions using other people's music to create an emotional story for us to go through together. This mix comes at a time when health, physical and mental couldn't be more at the forefront of our minds. I hope this mix helps to take you away to a happier place for 3 hours. Join me on an electronic journey through some amazing soundscapes. Be safe, build your community and tell people you love them whenever you see them.