- Over the past few years the term "progressive" has taken on a rather bad connotation in the dance music industry. Like anything that gets very popular very quickly, progressive house got over-saturated with crap tunes and the masses were turned off to it. A great majority of the labels that were staples in putting out tunes (Bedrock, Baroque, Choo Choo, etc.) have either changed the genre of record they release or have disappeared all together. However, there a few entities that still put out quality tracks, one of which is Cleveland's Toes In The Sand Records. They continue to put out what they believe in, no matter what the hot tune is at the moment. Their latest release, Siberian Son's Ladybird EP continues the tradition. The A side contains the original of "Ladybird," and the flip has the Andrew K's remix of "Dogma."
Things kick off with the original cut of "Ladybird." At first listen it takes me back to the tunes I used to buy when I first started DJing. It is dark and brooding from the start and methodically adds pieces in an almost mathematical way. If you know how to count measures, you're going to know exactly how to mix this track in just by going with the numbers. This mix is good for nostalgia purposes, or if you are warming up a room, but it just seems a bit dated to what is coming out now. However, that may just be the point of it!
The flip-side contains "Dogma," but only "Andrew K's Heretic Mix" (which is a really good name) is included on this vinyl. (Do not fret, the rest are available for digital download!) Andrew K's mix starts out with a very metallic, stabbing bassline that serves as a base as more elements are added throughout. This rework really hinges on a slight piano line that twists its way along- ducking in and out. It is the shortest of all the mixes; i.e., there is no filler here, just good stuff! It would be well used to round out a nice long session!
These two tunes go to show that progressive house is certainly not dead. You just need to dig a bit harder to find it.