#7 Feat. Staff Picks in Progressive House

From his home in Melbourne, Matty Doyles success under his Matter soubriquet has seen an exponential rise over a career that spans more than a decade and some 400 production credits. Now returning to his spiritual home and the label he curates with his fellow countryman and production partner, Matter delivers We Are Here. An artist with no inconsiderable talent and a wealth of high-profile releases on Anjunadeep, Balance Music, BeatFreak Recordings and Proton Music, Matters output on Meanwhile has also been prolific with such glittering solo gems as Amanita, Banksia and a quartet of collaborative releases with GMJ since 2020 including: Lost on Origin, Eldarin and December 2023s Stellaris / Idtritah. Now, after the success of November 2021s Starchild on Meanwhile Horizons – achieving over 1 million Spotify streams – Matter returns to the flagship label with another magnificent magnum opus. Opening with smooth beatless soundscapes of Coming Home, Matters trademark atmospheres and emotive melodic patterns flood through the 11-track album. The broken beat rhythms and velvety smooth basslines create a driving force across Wombat Forest, while a more familiar 4-to-the-floor backdrop powers the likes of Livid, Afterburn and Stardew. Redolent in cascading delays, imaginative sonic textures and playful cadences, the trio shift in energy and dancefloor patterns to create a kaleidoscopic sonic tapestry. Joining forces with Meanwhile regular, Alex ORion, the Beatport chart-topper helps steer Moksha into familiar waters with rolling percussive groove and earworm motif that has become a staple of the pairs solo work. Providing a moment for reflection at the mid-point mark with its undulating arpeggio and subtly filtered dynamism, Things Beautiful is nestled between the uptempo grooved bassline presence and evolving chord progressions of Afterburn and silky Elsewhere that hypnotises through its sustained arp and haunting vocal phrasing. The final stanza of tracks finds a new direction with the glissando lead line of Times Gone By forming the basis for a warm analogue distortion and counterpoint phrase before GMJ joins the fray on the chunky rhythmic mastery of Conduits. Oozing club-friendly appeal and immaculate dancefloor cadence, the track is fuelled by shaker-driven vibrancy, coruscating arps and intermittent vocalisation, to create another classic collaboration. Closing out, The Passage is a dominant reminder of Matters mastery over his sonic palette as it weaves a resplendent journey across modern progressive house. Sitting proudly atop the Progressive House mountain with another summit finish of epic proportions, Matter can proudly claim, We Are Here. Directed by GMJ & Matter Mastered by Cid Inc. Design by Matter Text by James Warren

Matter, Alex O'Rion, GMJ

#9 Feat. Staff Picks in Progressive House

GMJ & Matter return to Sudbeat with Everything Dissolves. Stable members of the Australian electronic scene, GMJ & Matter are a combo that spreads pure love for the craft. Known for their otherworldly progressive sound, the duo, who have their own successful solo careers, began their collaboration back in May 2016 and have created moments of dance floor genius ever since. Opening the EP, the tile track Everything Dissolves we are quickly immersed in the liquid smooth sound that has won them the respect of fans across the globe. Snappy hats and a rubbery bassline hypnotise before the subtle melodics and spoken word vocals draw you deeper still. Early morning music dripping in soulfulness. Next up, Naxxar continues apace. From a funky shaker-driven percussive framework, deep bass and icy pads hang as subtle middle-eastern sonics add direction. Growning towards the main break, the track takes on a new energy, powering into the final half with renewed vigour. Finally, Nomadica shows the duos dubbier tech side. Aimed more at the pre-peak time, the groove is harder; dirtier and ready to dance all night long. Sonics flutter by like angels from above. This is contemporary progressive house at its very best. Miss this at your peril.

GMJ, Matter

#42 Feat. Staff Picks 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