Finnish DJ and producer Mikko Lahti returns to the Bonzai camp with a solid cut titled Culture Wars. We last saw Mikko back in 2015 on our popular sub-label, Green Martian with Paint By Numbers. His passion for music began at a young age, and by 2014 he got his first release – Tokyo Story, on Club 86 Recordings. His influences are the likes of Armin, Chicane, Above & Beyond, Tiesto and Ferry Corsten, which steered him towards a trance sound, but now he is firmly in the grasp of progressive house and we’re delighted to see him back.

The Original Mix opens the release, making a strong statement with a short burst of energy driven sounds which are led by a powerful kick and deep bass combo. Harsh stabs and soft pianos contrast as shuffling percussions deliver a solid rhythm. Croatian outfit Cortex Thrill are first up on remix duties, delivering yet another solid interpretation. These guys bring a wealth of experience, thanks to their over 30 years in the business, and they never disappoint. Here, they’ve taken the edgier side of the original and went full gas. A strong drum section leads the way as those gritty stabs sit up front in contrast to delicate melodies in the distance. Powerful stuff that is not to be missed. Belgian music maestro Manu Riga rounds out the release with a superb remix. He takes the subtleties of the track and transforms them into a deep burgeoning groove, offering depth and intrigue. Driven by a chugging bassline and gritty stabs, the track evolves into a wholly infectious deep prog mover, with the Manu Riga stamp front and centre. A definite must have.

#progressivehouse #bonzaiprogressive #mikkolahti