Celebrated Croatian artist Ivo T Montina aka Cortex Thrill returns with another sublime progressive cut for our listening and dancing pleasure. Ivo is an artist who has come up through the ranks and through the years. He got his first big break with Bonzai back in the early nineties and Cortex Thrill tracks soon became synonymous with the sound of that era. He moved away from that style of Techno to a much more involved, deeper groove and soon he found progressive house. But his style of progressive house is unmatched, it carries a blend of rich, soft, aggressive and melodic tones that are woven together beautifully. His last effort here was on remix duties for Koschk’s Dystopia and prior to that we were treated to the fantastic remix on Blufeld & Nikko Mavridis’ Iris, already this year we are spoilt. So much more to come from this guy, so stay tuned.

The Original Mix is warm with a fluid motion right from the off as a smooth progressive bassline rolls effortlessly alongside cascading arpeggios and a tight drum arrangement. The track delivers a stellar, cosmic vibe that send the hairs rising on the back of the neck, thanks to tasty note changes and perfectly executed transitions. The cosmic theme erupts as a striking pitching synth riff takes over on the break, leading to a superb climax and then back to full on mode. Top-notch once again, not to be missed.

Podgorica, Montenegro based DJ and producer Ognjen Vukovic aka AudioStorm provides a superb remix and follows his last cut, The Day When I Left which was well received among many. From his early childhood he was fascinated by music. He enjoyed its energy and beauty and it was that which made him decide to follow a career in electronic music and he turned his attention towards the pioneering electronic bands of the burgeoning underground dance scene. It was listening to this music which inspired him to begin to explore more progressive sounds. As his interest in electronic music grew, he began to write his own tracks and ever since we’ve been treated to many quality releases. Here, we are served with a more energetic take than the original, doused in ethereal bliss as swirling pads and striking synths converge into melting melodies. The bass drone attracts attention and is joined by a tougher stabbing bass for maximum impact as the floating arpeggios cascade alongside. A wonderfully contrasting piece, that moves us towards the floor and which delivers some serene moments on the break. Totally immersive and definitely one for the set builders.

The Singularity Mix from Ivo delves into darker territory, with a chunkier groove filled with phat beats and a gnarly bassline. A rippling underbelly provides plenty of movement as the track lures you to the depths and the floor. Sublime note changes stand out, creating an emotive side while keeping us locked into the tougher edge. The synths on the break are superb, slicing through the murk with infectious arps in tow. Definitely a contender for the later sessions, a must have.

#cortexthrill #bonzaiprogressive #audiostorm