DESCRIPTION:
http://www.beatport.com/label/sound-avenue/21138

Belgian label Sound Avenue closed 2012 (their second year of existence) firmly established as one of the best progressive house imprints. Forever committed to bringing the freshest and most contemporary progressive music Sound Avenue begins 2013 with a bang. Their 17th release finds Christophe Chantzis & Erik Vanspauwen aka Yunta returning to the label for a new double a-side release that includes remixes from: Dale Middleton and Bastards of Funk & Sonic Union.

'Distorted' leads the EP off with a heavy groove that's accompanied with some incredibly trippy electronics. Subtle vocal gates sweep across the track along with some deadly synth lines which really lock down the gargantuan groove. A super catchy set of rough, rhythmic tones builds momentum towards the main break. Here the tension is palpable as the modulation gets turned up a notch for a quick build and re-entry to the relentless groove. The track climaxes with a blur of distorted harmonies and psychedelic electronics melding together for an amazing wall of sound.

The lone remix of 'Distorted' comes from Dale Middleton who is fast becoming one of the hottest names in the new landscape of progressive house. First appearing on Lowbit Records back in August of 2012 the UK producer now has releases on Eelke Kleijn's Outside The Box, Mirablis and Dopamine. His debut for Sound Avenue will only further his demand as his nailed a rock solid interpretation of 'Distorted'. Dale's crafted a much more defined, club friendly groove and with a new twist on the electronics from the original you've got one massive dance floor record with loads of killer hooks. Can't wait to hear more Dale, 2013 should be a big year for him.

The second original on the package entitled 'Empire' comes with a similarly deep and thought provoking groove. A seriously undulating bass line sits at the foundation and gives the piece immense roll straight way. The clusters of hits and sparkling accents that sit wide bring an added dimension to the immense power of the groove. Hovering above are celestial sounding atmospheres and haunting pads which cast a wonderfully cool vibe over the record. The main break focuses on a supremely catchy synth hook that you can't help but replay in your mind over and over again as the track comes to a smooth but exhilarating conclusion.

The lone remix of 'Empire' comes from Bastards of Funk and Sonic Union who are making their first appearance on Sound Avenue here. Daniel Sandberg and Erik Pettersson make up the Bastards of Funk and Sonic Union production team. The Swedish producer duo have continued to build on their success which was established early on in their career; appearances on Anjunadeep and Afterglow set the bar extremely high in 2011 and as 2012 drew to a close Daniel and Erik found themselves with several releases on Proton Music, Baroque and of course Erik's Lowbit Records imprint. For their 'Empire' interpretation Bastards of Funk & Sonic Union have delivered a superb dance floor rework. The tougher kick, cavernous bass line and impactful drums provide the necessary pop to light up any dance floor. The main melodic hook from the original has been given a spacey sheen by BOFSU that adds a certain sparkle to the production and the expansive breakdown is pure cinematic bliss. Outstanding package from Sound Avenue who have gotten 2013 off to an extremely strong start and wait till you hear what they have in store for the coming months. 2013 is going to be a very good year for Sound Avenue. :)