After having been introduced to the style, while visitng http://www.hybridized.org/ (Maybe I should convince them to offer their set's in various other formats, i.e (Vorbis, MPC, etc). I am now able to say I am truely into Progressive. It's not quite 4/4 and straight forward like trance, but has darker energy of it with new and assorted elements. I bought Hybrid - Morning Sci-Fi album back April and to say the least I have listened to it non-stop everday since. Something about the pad's, samples, and various elements on that album that makes it very unique. Everything from Peter Hooks basslines and Adam Taylor's vocals on True To Form, all the way up to the various electronic elements on Visible Noise and subwoofer thumping breaks on We Are In Control. The string section on Higher Than A Skyscraper by Russian Hermitage Orchestra is to die for, while dark tenebrous notes on Out Of The Dark contrasted against uplifting vocals leaves you with feeling of euphoria. A lot of people still believe the album has no contour unlike Wider Angle. I tend to dissagree. I think adding natural instruments into the mix with electronic elements is more exciting and unique. I even bothered to write a review for cduniverse to try and convince more people. What is your general consenses about the album if any of you have heard if before? and what about Progressive House/Breaks do you like to listen for if your into either of the those styles? On another note has anyone heard Way Out West - Don't Look Now album? I heard it got pretty review, although the only track I have heard so far is Anything But You, which I liked a lot. Maybe someone could share some insight on that one and any other Prog. albums or artists worth paying attention too. Thanks ;-D

Way Out West trumps Hybrid, IMO. Find all 3 of their albums (self-titled debut, Intensify and the latest). You won't be sorry you did...I won't try to quantify or qualify these statements....just check out the samples at http://www.wowest.cc !

<Shouts> Ruairi!

Cool website, thanks.. I have only really listened in detail Way Out West, muchos enjoyable. I am slightly biased against Hybrid, as I have many good trance records where the Hybrid mix is the weakest. Although thats comparing oranges to apples, I prefer Trance, I guess

I'd never heard of Hybrid before (I'm more familiar with the rock/metal scene than with the dance/electronic scene), but I have been listening to Morning Sci-Fi recently and I really like it. My favorite songs are Know Your Enemy and We Are In Control.

I guess I'll have to check out Way Out West too...

Dude, I love progressive house! It's so hard for me to find it now these days being it's a thing of the past(unless it's comeing back). DJ Hardware and Digweed had some good progressive house. I remember when Proton radio on the internet used to be progressive house. I wish progressive house was everywhere!

-Dman

I checked out a set by Hybrid and it was really awsome. I wouldn't call it progressive house though....it has a some progressive house in it but the set I heard wouldn't be progressive house(or what used to be known as progressive house anyways). It's really awsome though....I'm gonna buy a DVD with as many sets on it as I can get.

-Dman

I sure will! Both Artists DJ set's are really great too. I haven't heard any West set's as I knew of west back in the day, but never really checked them out. That set Friction Intimate Canberra from Hybrid blew me away as well as that lovely Maida Vale Session everyone loves. I like the way they added more natural instruments on top of electronic ambience and backdrop not to mention those tenebrous pads. I had always invisioned an artist attempting to do this sooner or later. I like alternative, but I also like electronica and I was always looking for a way to combine both. I gained more appreciation for classical music as well to after really indulging in big movie scores and enjoying particular mood classical music set's in for a scene or emotion. Wider Angle had more of progressive house feel to it. Julee Cruise Vocals were spectacular and a lot of the Roland JP8000 programming was nifty, trademark Hybrid to say the least. Their was some jazzy trip-hop elements in their, i.e (Beachcoma and I Know.). I liked Wider Angle, but I felt it had not contour. It felt like they were holding back on some sections . Morning Sci-Fi came along and they started adding new elements. Adam Taylor and Tum Hutton writing guitar pieces and basslines. Mike and Chris started structuring their samples and creating some pad's. I think they should stick to creating breakbeat's from now on. I like the fast hard percussion drumming of Al and that snare is great. Next to trying to blend more natural elements and signal processed samples around, they should start composing small pieces on keyboard. They should stick with the signature classical elements too really add's a unique feel. Often times a few randomn notes or arpeggios though is all you ever need on top of everything. All and all though if you don't believe you are character in some Science Fiction movie half-way through album then I guess it really hasn't done the trick for you or you haven't reached an Enlightened state haha.




They still do! that's were Andy get's a lot of set's from on Hybridized. Proton Radio. Check out Nosmo from Greyarea Rotationz set. Wow is that two hours of bliss. Excellent Progressive House track's. Two track's that always stick out for me on that set next to The Orb - From A Distance (Hybrid Meadow's Ladies Mix) are Audio Bully's and Soul Mekhanic - Colour Spektrum (illegal 303 version). One Chable track always end's up in their, I mean how can you resist after listening to Ride and work he did for Nubreed?. Greyarea Gravity track with Erik Shepard makes you want to get through the entire set and anything that starts with Oldfield is a given!.



I thought I would get a response from Ruari. I always see RAAP on his playlist on Audioscrobbler I guess he dissappeared haha. I like some trance. Melodic and Psytrance stick out the most to me. Artists like Juno Reactor due some nifty things i.e (Pistolero) from 2000. Trance needs to shy away from that heavy 4/4 rythem though. Keep the regular electronic elements, but move away from 4/4 all of the time. That's were progressive comes in hehe. The Man On Fire Soundtrack has a track called "The Rave" for scene in movie were Harry Gregson Williams add's composition or score on top of psytrance tune playing in the Mexican Rave. It caught my attention immedialty. Arpeggios sequence in minor key like c for the most part. Great stuff.