IBIZA, 12 Aug
Mike Rish 'Reka' on Meanwhile
The progressive house fraternity has long known the name Mike Rish, with releases on Hernan Cattaneo's Sudbeat Music, Guy J's Lost and Found, and Praveen Achary's Juicebox Music all landing with a weight and class that mark him out as a producer who understands the architecture of a record as much as the dancefloor. Now he steps back onto Guy J's Meanwhile label with 'Reka', a piece that continues his exploration of that thoughtful, groove-led end of the genre.
'Reka' is a record that lets its drums and harmony share the space evenly, a thick run of percussion rolling beneath airy pads that open up the top end. It is a middling-tempo excursion with headroom to spare, the kind of record that does not demand attention but draws it anyway, a quiet confidence running through every element. The release marks his first outing on the label since April's standout reworking of Jamie Stevens' 'Storm Front', a gap of only a couple of months that nevertheless shows a producer in constant motion.
The timing of the release is apt, arriving in the midst of the peak season in Ibiza, where Guy J has been championing the record. It featured in his recent Playlist of the Week, and the man himself carries its energy into the booth at Akasha Las Dalias Club in Ibiza this weekend, adding another layer to the label's summer narrative.
*On the listings, Ibiza, 12 Aug: Akasha, Akasha Las Dalias Club - Ibiza
The label said
Meanwhile, Bandcamp about text · sourceA welcome returning figure to the Meanwhile Roster, Mike Rish is no stranger to success. With numerous cross-genre hits under multiple aliases, his own name sees him reach rarefied heights in the Progressive House genre with work signed to Hernan Cattaneo's Sudbeat Music, Guy J's Lost and Found and Praveen Achary's Juicebox Music.
December 2021 saw a Meanwhile debut with the sublime 3-track "Beyond" EP, while April 2023 witnessed a standout reworking of Jamie Stevens' "Storm Front". Returning for a second outing, his latest triple tracker opens with the funky rhythmic backdrop of "GT". Using an intricate percussive arrangement to provide a club-friendly foundation, a swathe of stereo-panned textures and synth effects meander across the opening movements, accompanied by delay-infused vocal cuts. A smooth arpeggio adds a touch of traditional progressive drive at the breakdown and beyond, while a further synth motif blossoms in the second half to sit alongside the rasping and explosive bassline.
Continuing the effects-laden narrative, "Shoreditch Funk" quickly makes its mark with a woodblock infused percussive top-line. Stereo-panned pads and saw-tooth synths pulsate in dizzying fashion while a grooved bassline adds dancefloor 'funk'. A cascading arp makes its presence felt, pitching in freeform oscillator glory at the break, before continuing unabated in detuned fashion throughout the second half. The result is a vibrant sonic collage that bristles with verve and innovation.
The final track witnesses another meticulously conceived rhythmic arrangement throughout "Reka", with a subtle bass sequence providing dancefloor sensibilities alongside a heavy 4/4 beat. An acetylene-torch lead mesmerises with its glissando phrasing while a glassy motif combines with gently pulsing pads that swim enticingly in smooth juxtaposition. Continuing themes redolent in previous outings, a beautifully imagined synth phrase syncopates in exquisitely cadenced rhythm alongside percussive counterparts. "Reka" then evolves into a delicately conceived melodic jewel in the latter stages.
"GT / Shoreditch Funk / Reka" continues to find Mike Rish very much at the leading edge of modern and pioneering Progressive House.
Directed by GMJ and Matter Mastered by Cid Inc. Design by Matter Text by James Warren
On the bill
Akasha Las Dalias Club - Ibiza
- Guy J Akasha, Akasha Las Dalias Club - Ibiza, Ibiza, 12 Aug