Prolific Belgian artist Manu Riga aka Adriaan Baussens delivers his stunning new debut album Surrounded, and after a while in the making we can say that this has been well worth the wait. 12 beautifully rich and deeply intimate tracks will lift you up and carry you along on a rollercoaster of emotions, as the title suggests you’ll be surrounded by a mixture of dark and beautiful moments, leaving you with plenty to think about. From First Steps through to Immortal Sins and Urge To Live, to the wonderfully chilled Forgotten, all the bases are covered in this one. On top of that, and exclusive to the album, Adriaan has created a deft transitional mix of tracks which includes special edits of tracks from the album that will both inspire and move. We spoke to Adriaan briefly regarding the album and we got the impression of just how much of himself he has put in. The last year was a tough one to say the least, but he battled through and produced the goods as he always does, and he also managed to churn out multiple remixes along the way. It’s with great pleasure that we present this album to you and we have no doubt you will find it to be an expertly crafted and emotionally charged piece of work.

The album intros with the exquisite First Steps which takes us on a surreal journey through a deeper curve in the Manu Riga sound. Swirling pads swell up against a backdrop of soft percussions as a strong voice comes through. A wonderfully deep droning bass fills the low end while an array of melodies float overhead. You get a sense of taking your first steps in life as the groove envelops your soul taking you deeper. A track that flourishes with expectations invoking deep thoughts, top notch.

Moments Of Sobriety is up next and tells the story of being on autopilot in life, having a sudden awareness, a realisation making you think of life around you and the important things. The track opens with a cool punchy kick and is surrounded by layering percussions that form into a solid rhythmic sequence. A wonderful sequence follows as a Turkish Oud plays out its rich melodic sound to the backdrop of some cool sweeps and FX. A fantastic bassline sits perched on the low end and moves effortlessly through this sea of melodies, driving the track forward. The break is a beautifully constructed kaleidoscope of sound which is joined by some stunning hair raising vocals that deliver a haunting groove.

Migrations represents a cycle of change in the Manu Riga journey as he took the huge step in moving countries which in itself can be quite a daunting experience. It also highlights milestones in his life which remain personal to him. The track opens with a nice punchy kick drum as various percussions start to creep in. A deep and probing bassline rears its head and creates a nice warm groove for the track to build on. Darker elements begin to show as the layers build and we soon find ourselves totally hooked on the sound. Wonderfully lush pads contrast brilliantly against sharper pads that mesmerize throughout. On the break we get drawn into a beautiful melodic sequence that would seem to have come straight out of a movie score complete with a stunning poem recited in sultry tones before we’re blasted right back into full on mode. Simply outstanding.

Indigenous Rights is up next and is a depiction of the destruction of a culture and a celebration of cultural aspects that remain strong through dedication and determination. The track intros with a nice chunky kicks and rhythmic hat alongside a fading in bass pulse. We get a glimpse of some beautiful melody from the superb vocal snippets and swirling pads and strings that mesmerize throughout. The pulsing bass is soon joined by a much grittier but very subtle wub wub bass that works perfectly within the track. The track takes a short break to prepare for one of the stars of the show, those stunning vocals which carry Vietnamese origins. As the title suggests we get treated to some of the most beautiful chants that takes us up to the main break where a powerful poetic vocal rings out and sends shivers down your spine.

The title track is up next and represents all that the album and its creator stands for, the feeling of being Surrounded in a world of unknowns, enveloped by darkness with the walls closing in and the impending anxiety that follows. The track is a dark affair with a morbid undertone that comes through brilliantly in the sound. Chunky kick drums and sparse percussions make way for the bass to rule the show here with its probing tentacles weaving into every crevice of the groove. Throughout the track a superb vocal from Mimi rings out as she narrates the story of the darkness. On the break though is where the track goes deeper with those stunning strings and pads telling their own story. Another superb cut from Manu Riga that will appeal to many no doubt.

Immortal Sins is up next and was written by Adriaan to reference the past and the sins against the tribes of the world. This track is a way of trying to repair the sins of our ancestors and with such an epic feeling to it we’re sure that this one will create the space in your mind to consider all that has gone before us and how we can make things better. The intro boasts a solid kick drum that is soon joined by shuffling hats and a teasing arps that lie in wait ready to pounce. Beautifully crafted pads and strings float overhead creating a mesmerizing sequence while a deep probing bassline works its way into the groove. On the break the tribal elements come through with stunning chants against a backdrop of tight drums and ethnic instruments. Excellent stuff once more, not to be missed.

Cry To Oblivion is a cry for help, it’s a crying out in pain, a scream. Feeling powerless and helpless Adriaan sat down and brought together his old Manu Riga style against the new Manu Riga style with a hope to create something new. The track has a dark flowing progressive groove made up of tight beats and ethnically charged instruments topped off with distant voices and bright piano keys. The break blends all these elements beautifully taking us deeper into the sound. The short vocal was provided by Irish DJ and Bonzai’s music reviewer and copy writer Brian Doran. After a long friendship Adriaan wanted him to be a part of his album and so he asked for the vocal. This vocal depicts the change in style for Manu Riga, a new dawn which is evident throughout the track. Another must have cut for the late night progressive sessions.

Urge To Live was written when Adriaan became sick, portraying fear and uncertainty. The intro is filled with a sense of dark, of hopelessness. Chunky kicks are backed with a raw hypnotic sound that is joined soon after by a deep punchy bassline that dominates the low end. Melancholic piano chords come through and takes us deeper while beautiful strings fleet across the sound. As the track evolves we see a light at the end of the tunnel. On the break we see sweeter melodies introduced along with a captivating vocal bringing a sense of hope, an urge to live that culminates in an epic fight for survival style composition. A simply wonderful piece of music that will give listeners a chance to reflect and get lost in the essence of the sound.

Next up we have I Don’t Need You which is a superb slice of progressive house that will sit perfectly in any set. It’s a track about realising one day that you don’t need someone after years of believing that they’re all you had, something personal to Adriaan once again in which he was able to translate into music. The track is solid, it carries a strong groove that will make you move and open your eyes at the same time. The intro is made up of a probing bass and scattered percussions that come together to form a tight rhythm alongside a nice punchy kick drum. Cool melodies rise up in an intricate arp form and are consistent throughout the track. The main break is dominated by that superb bass as it pulsates and transforms before melting away and then coming back with a bang as the track goes back into full on mode. Top notch stuff you will not want to miss.

Get Me Down is the new Manu style, he is reconnecting to his roots in house music to bring a more clubby vibe to his sound. The track is big and brash and will definitely compete on the floors with its solid groove and superb vocals. Big punchy kick drums are at the forefront with crispy hats on the offset alongside a tight drum arrangement. The bass warps brilliantly and is the perfect accompaniment for that vocal. The break reveals some expert LFO manipulation on the synths creating a harsh, raw sounding element in the groove. One to watch out for here, this one will not disappoint.

The penultimate track, When The Day Is Gone, was a painful track for Adriaan to get through. He was going through different emotions, a sense of when the day is gone it’s gone and to try and enjoy everything while you can. The track does a great job of getting right into emotions, not least with the outstanding vocal and the heavy piano chords. The drum arrangement makes for a smooth rhythmic flow while the vocal and the piano create wonderful textures and colours. The break is a melancholic affair with a sweet melody against the harsher vocal before crashing back into the main track for the duration. A definite must have track, not to be missed.

To round off this simply outstanding album we have Forgotten featuring Fe Malefiz. This one is special, not only a special mix – Last Day On Earth Mix – but a special message from Manu Riga to the world. You are invited to listen, listen to the poem for yourself and take your message from within. The track is a beautiful cinematic chillout piece that creates magical colours and allows you to lose yourself in the beauty of the music. Just listen, because nobody wants to be forgotten.

#manuriga #bonzaiprogressive #femalefiz #mimi