Micah, Gai Barone and Echomen, highly regarded progressive artists in their own right, joins forces for the first time to showcase the 'Ecstasy' EP on Balance Music.

Gai Barone requires little in the way of introductions. A favourite of the DJ glitterati from Apparat and Above & Beyond, to Henry Saiz and Hernan Cattaneo, the Italian has consistently found himself at the summit of the underground dance scene with a galaxy of star releases for some of the industry’s leading imprints ever since he hit early heights in 2009 with ‘Lilith‘ on Afterglow. Some 650 production credits later and Gai Barone remains one of the progressive fraternity’s leading figures with music for Renaissance, Lost & Found and Black Hole Recordings. A trio of credits for Balance Music found Gai Barone and Micah provide a moment of progressive house magic with the ‘Prisma‘ EP in late 2021.

Chris Scott aka Echomen (and Lexicon Avenue) is another artist with a notable musical history dating back to 2001 via his ‘Thru 2 You‘ EP, which included a remix from the legendary figure of Bushwacka!, were released on the leviathan Hooj Choons label. Echomen’s portfolio reads like a ‘who’s who’ of releases for the finest modern underground labels. Joining Micah and Gai Barone for his first commercial release in over 7 years, Echomen’s talent is still clearly evident.

Coming in three differing shapes and potency, ‘Ecstasy‘ opens with a shimmering ‘Intro Mix‘ that brings spine-tingling melodic elements to the fore in the opening phases before a deep kick provides a metronomic anchor. Replete with textured pads that gently pulsate as they pan the stereo spectrum, atmospheric washes create a euphoric sonic landscape that hypnotises through its repetitive and gently evolving phrasing.

The ‘Main Mix‘ follows the same melodic structures as its counterpart, but the introduction of a sublime bassline groove adds a club-friendly structure to proceedings as does top-line urgency in the shape of off-beat hats and toms.

‘Micah’s Floor-Head Remix‘ creates a thumping club stormer full of rhythmic prowess and brio as an immaculately conceived percussive groove provides the perfect foundation for melodic elements to shine. Building easily over its near 9-minute duration, familiar motifs and bassline groove make their presence felt. Pausing for breath at an extended, stripped-back breakdown, the build and drop back into the complex rhythmic backdrop is tribute to an artist whose skill, technique and craftsmanship have always been front and centre in his production work.