Progressive house

In the context of popular music the word "progressive" was first used widely in the 1970s to differentiate experimental forms of rock music from mainstream styles. Such music attempted to explore alternate approaches to rock music production. Some acts also attempted to elevate the aesthetic values of rock music by incorporating features associated with classical instrumental music. This led to a style of music called progressive rock, which has been described as "the most self-consciously arty branch of rock." According to DJ and producer Carl Craig, the term "progressive" was used in Detroit in the early 1980s in reference to Italo disco. The music was dubbed "progressive" because it drew upon the influence of Giorgio Moroder's Euro disco rather than the disco inspired by the symphonic sound of Philadelphia soul. In the late 1980s, UK music journalist Simon Reynolds introduced the term "progressive dance" to describe acts such as 808 State, The Orb, Bomb the Bass and The Shamen. Between 1990 and 1992, the term "progressive" referred to the short-form buzz word for the house music subgenre "progressive house". ==History==

Origins and early development Progressive house emerged after the first wave of house music. The roots of progressive house can be traced back to the early 1990s rave and club scenes in the United Kingdom. In 1992, Mixmag described it at the time as a "new breed of hard but tuneful, banging but thoughtful, uplifting and trancey British house." According to DJ Dave Seaman, the sound faced a backlash in the early 2000s because "it had gone the same way as progressive rock before it. Pompous, po-faced and full of its own self importance. But basically was really quite boring." Australian artist, Luke Chable has been known for his 2003 seminal remix release PQM’s "You Are Sleeping", titled "You Are Sleeping (Luke Chable Vocal Pass)". According to American DJ/producer duo Gabriel & Dresden, Leftfield's October 1990 release "Not Forgotten" was possibly the first progressive house production. The record label Guerilla Records, set up by William Orbit & Dick O'Dell, is thought to have been pivotal in the growth of a scene around the genre. Classifications promoted by industry platforms, such as the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs, together with digital marketplaces like Beatport, contributed to this shift by grouping stylistically diverse tracks under a single genre label. As a result, a distinction emerged between a form of progressive house rooted in 1990s aesthetics, characterized by gradual development and continuity, and a more immediate, high-impact style, often referred to as festival progressive house or mainstage progressive house. During this period, artists such as Avicii and Swedish House Mafia gained international prominence, while producers including Eric Prydz and Deadmau5 remained associated with approaches closer to the genre’s earlier atmospheric and progressive characteristics. ==Stylistic elements==

According to Dave Seaman, house DJs who had originally played what was known as Eurodance borrowed from that genre. The progressive sound can be distinct from the later uplifting trance and vocal trance. It tends to lack anthemic choruses, crescendos and drum rolling, Phrases are typically 4, 8, or 16 bars long and often begin with a new or different melody or rhythm. Elements drawn from the progressive rock genre include the use of extended or linked-movement tracks, more complexity and reflection but almost always within the four on the floor rhythm pattern. Later progressive house tunes often featured a build-up section which can last up to four minutes. This is followed by a breakdown and then a climax. ==See also==