An iconic name within the electronic music industry, Jamie Stevens has been a renowned figure for over two decades, now making his Proportion debut with the "Crosses / Vale" EP. Through a refined and meticulous approach to his craft, the Australian artist has been the recipient of two ARIA awards with his live act, Infusion, before a solo career saw him become and esteemed and iconic figure within the underground dance fraternity.

From performances at Tokyo's Womb, London's Fabric and greeted with rapturous audiences in New York, Singapore and Moscow, Stevens has also found himself a regular performer in his Melbourne hometown and across Australia's East and West coasts. Contemporaneously, a production career has seen almost 400 credits find their way onto a stellar cast of imprints that include Dave Seaman's Selador, Guy J's Lost and Found and Hernan Cattaneo's Sudbeat Music. Always at the cutting edge of modern progressive house, the "Crosses" title track is a flowing rhythmic jewel that rolls effortlessly forward with its combination of strong beat and chunky percussive top-line. A huge sub-bassline adds depth aplenty as immaculately syncopated riffs and intricate effects blend seamlessly together. A stripped back breakdown provides a pause for breath and melodies to shine, before the third movement continues the relentless club groove and dynamic dancefloor knowhow.

"Vale" continues the seething club-friendly atmosphere of its partner track with powerful beat and offbeat snare/hi-hat combination. Quickly hitting its stride, a searing synth lead cuts through the rhythmic collage as it filters in and out of sonic range. Blending beautifully with a rasping bassline sequence, the two elements converge and diverge creating a unique aural identity. Flowing imperceptibly into a breakdown, the third movement once again provides an opportunity for the spine-tingling synth and bassline combination to flourish in a wonderfully unique and technically impressive offering.

A single remix comes from Tantum. A "forward-thinking" artist who operates within the constantly shifting borders between progressive house and melodic techno, the German producer has quickly risen to dine at dance music's top table with a half-century of credits notched up since 2018's impressive debut for EIN2. Music signed to Lowbit, Mango Alley and Lost and Found have since followed, not least in the twin-track "Call of the Void / Fixity" EP for the Guy J led imprint in September 2021. Making his Proportion debut, the Tantum remix takes "Crosses" in a deep and dark direction with is growling mass of effects and heavy bassline groove. Further gravitas is maintained with intelligent use of Jamie Stevens' original components which form a metronomic backdrop, while a newly formed cadence creates a sublime dancefloor interpretation that blends seamlessly with new motifs and melodic phrasing from Tantum's sizeable production credentials. The result is a stunning new version that resonates with the original while taking it on a magical new voyage of discovery.

As Jamie Stevens crosses dance music's rubicon, he once again forges a path to a bold new sonic future.

Text by James Warren
Mastered by Cid Inc Mastering