{{Short description|Subgenre of house music}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox music genre | name = Progressive house | stylistic_origins = {{hlist|House|ambient house|tribal house|Italo house|electro house|minimal techno|IDM|dub}} | cultural_origins = Early 1990s, United Kingdom | derivatives = {{hlist|Dream house|progressive breaks|dark progressive|melodic house}} | fusiongenres = {{hlist|Progressive trance|big room house|festival progressive house}} | other_topics = {{hlist|Hardstyle|uplifting trance|liquid funk|Goa trance}} }}
'''Progressive house''' is a subgenre of house music. The progressive house style emerged in the early 1990s. It initially developed in the United Kingdom as a natural progression of North American and European house music of the late 1980s.<ref name="pmas">Gerard, Morgan; Sidnell, Jack. ''Popular Music and Society'' 24.3 (Fall 2000): 21–39.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2014/07/03/open-your-mind-35-stunners-from-back-when-progressive-house-wasnt-terrible/|title=Open Your Mind! 35 stunners from back when progressive house wasn't terrible|date=2014-07-03|website=FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.|access-date=2017-07-20}}</ref>
==Etymology== {{See also|Progressive music}} 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.<ref>Kevin Holm-Hudson (2008).''Genesis and the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway,''Ashgate, p.75, ({{ISBN|0754661474}}).</ref> 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."<ref>Michael Campbell (2008).''Popular Music in America'', Schirmer, p.251, ({{ISBN|0495505307}})</ref>
According to DJ and producer Carl Craig, the term "progressive" was used in Detroit in the early 1980s in reference to Italo disco.<ref name=Reynolds1999p16>Reynolds, S., ''Generation Ecstasy: Into the World of Techno and Rave Culture'' (New York: Routledge, 1999), p. 16.</ref> 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.<ref name=Reynolds1999p16/> In Detroit, prior to the emergence of techno, artists like Alexander Robotnick, Klein + M.B.O. and Capricorn filled a vacancy left after disco's demise in America.<ref name=Reynolds1999p16/><ref name=Reynolds1999p22>Reynolds, S., ''Generation Ecstasy: Into the World of Techno and Rave Culture'' (New York: Routledge, 1999), p. 22.</ref> 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".<ref name=MIXMAG>Phillips, Dom, [http://www.djhistory.com/features/trance-mission-1992 Trance-Mission] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205213522/http://djhistory.com/features/trance-mission-1992 |date=5 December 2011 }}, Mixmag, June 1992.</ref>
==History== ===Origins and early development=== Progressive house emerged after the first wave of house music.<ref name="amgtem">{{cite book |title=All music guide to electronica: the definitive guide to electronic music |last=Bogdanov |first=Vladimir |year=2001 |publisher=Backbeat Books |isbn=0879306289 |page=xiii |url=https://archive.org/details/allmusicguidetoe00vlad |url-access=registration |access-date=20 April 2013}}</ref> The roots of progressive house can be traced back to the early 1990s rave and club scenes in the United Kingdom.<ref name="wiph">{{cite web |url=http://www.decodedmagazine.com/what-is-progressive-house-2/ |title=What is Progressive House? |author=Simon Huxtable |date=11 August 2014 |work=Decoded Magazine |access-date=20 December 2014 }}</ref> In 1992, ''Mixmag'' described it at the time as a "new breed of hard but tuneful, banging but thoughtful, uplifting and trancey British house."<ref name=MIXMAG /> A combination of US house, UK house, Italian house, Polish house, German house, and techno largely influenced one another during this era.<ref name="MIXMAG" /> The term was used mainly as a marketing label to differentiate new rave house from traditional American house.<ref name="MIXMAG" /> Progressive house was a departure from the Chicago acid house sound.<ref name="amgtem" /> The buzz word emerged from the rave scene around 1990 to 1992, describing a new sound of house that broke away from its American roots.<ref name="MIXMAG" /> Progressive house was viewed by some as anti-rave as its popularity rose in English clubs while breakbeat hardcore flourished at raves.<ref name="raam">{{cite book |title=Rave America: New School Dancesscapes |last=Scott |first=Mireille |year=1999 |publisher=ECW Press|isbn=1550223836 |page=134 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iPLsz1RC1MYC |access-date=21 April 2013}}</ref> 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."<ref name="wiph" /> The label progressive house was often used interchangeably with trance in the early years.<ref name="MIXMAG" /> The record label Bedrock Records released a series of "Bedrock’s ‘Compiled and Mixed’" albums featuring artists like Chris Fortier, John Creamer & Stephane K.<ref>{{cite web|title= Bedrock/Pioneer Set to Release "Bedrock 'Compiled and Mixed' John Creamer & Stephanie K"|url=http://www.msopr.com/press-releases/bedrockpioneer-set-to-release-bedrock-compiled-and-mixed-john-creamer-stephanie-k/|first= Alexandra|last=Greenberg|website=Mitch Schneider Organization|date=23 August 2002|access-date=23 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bedrock/Pioneer Set to Release "Bedrock 'Compiled and Mixed' Chris Fortier" on June 11|url=http://www.msopr.com/press-releases/bedrockpioneer-set-to-release-bedrock-compiled-and-mixed-chris-fortier-on-june-11/|first= Alexandra|last=Greenberg|website=Mitch Schneider Organization|date=18 April 2002|access-date=23 May 2021}}</ref> 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)".<ref>{{cite web|title=PQM – You Are Sleeping remixes |url=https://ra.co/reviews/1266|publisher=PA|date=8 August 2003|access-date=23 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Feature Interview : Luke Chable – I love all different types of electronic music. There's a line that I wouldn't cross, but I've never been an 'underground only' person|url=https://www.decodedmagazine.com/luke-chable-interview/|first=Priya|last=Sen|publisher=Decoded Magazine|date=6 March 2016|access-date=23 May 2021}}</ref>
According to American DJ/producer duo Gabriel & Dresden, Leftfield's October 1990 release "Not Forgotten" was possibly the first progressive house production.<ref name="htt">{{cite web |url=https://www.insomniac.com/magazine/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-progressive-house/ |title=How to Talk to Your Kids About Progressive House |author=Gabriel & Dresden |date=1 October 2014 |work=Insomniac |publisher=Insomniac Holdings |access-date=20 November 2014 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="htt"/> ''Renaissance: The Mix Collection'' in 1994 and ''Northern Exposure'' in 1996 have both been credited with establishing the genre on mixed compilation albums. As well as Guerilla Records, the labels Deconstruction Records, Hooj Choons and Soma Records contributed to the scene's development in the early to mid-1990s.<ref name="wiph"/>
In June 1992, ''Mixmag'' published a list that contained what the magazine viewed as the top progressive house tracks at that time. These included Leftfield's "Not Forgotten", Slam',s "IBO/Eterna", Gat Decor's "Passion" and Spooky's "Don't Panic".<ref name=MIXMAG />
=== Late evolution and modern interpretation === {{Listen|type=music|filename=Hinkik - Skystrike.ogg|title=Hinkik - "Skystrike" (2016)|description=Example of a festival progressive house track.}}
During the 2010s, the term progressive house expanded beyond its original club-oriented usage, increasingly being applied to music aimed at large venues and mainstream audiences.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Lombardo |first=Scott |date=2020-01-01 |title=The Evolution of Dance Music Genres in the 2010s |url=https://www.edmtunes.com/2019/12/evolution-dance-music-2010s/ |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=EDMTunes |language=en-US}}</ref> Classifications promoted by industry platforms, such as the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-10-24 |title=Tiësto {{!}} Top 100 DJs 2012 {{!}} DJMag.com |url=https://djmag.com/top100djs/2012/2/Tiesto |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=DJ Mag |language=en}}</ref> together with digital marketplaces like Beatport,<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2013-09-05 |title=Does Beatport Need to Fix How They Label Genres? |url=https://clubglow.com/does-beatport-need-to-fix-how-they-label-genres/ |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=Club Glow |language=en-US}}</ref> 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,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The Complete Guide to EDM or Electronic Dance Music |url=https://www.armadamusic.com/news/edm-electronic-dance-music |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=Armada Music |language=en}}</ref> often referred to as '''festival''' '''progressive house'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Dancing Astronaut |date=2022-12-08 |title=Dancing Astronaut's Artists to Watch in 2023 |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2022/12/dancing-astronauts-artists-to-watch-in-2023/ |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=Dancing Astronaut |language=en-US}}</ref> or '''mainstage progressive house'''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Katie |date=2020-08-07 |title=Ferreck Dawn Lands Official Remix of Martin Garrix and John Martin's "Higher Ground" |url=https://edm.com/music-releases/martin-garrix-john-martin-higher-ground-ferreck-dawn-remix/ |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=EDM |language=en-US}}</ref>
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.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
==Stylistic elements== {{Listen | filename = | title = "Passion" (Radio Edit) | description = by Gat Decor | pos = right | type = music }}
According to Dave Seaman, house DJs who had originally played what was known as Eurodance borrowed from that genre.<ref name="wiph"/> This led to a commercial sound that people associate with progressive house today.<ref name="wiph"/> Seaman notes that with the various lines between genres having become so blurred that true progressive house is often found "masquerading" as techno, tech house or even deep house.<ref name="wiph"/> As such, the music can feature elements derived from styles such as dub, deep house and Italo house.<ref name="enfl">{{cite book |title=Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |author-link=Simon Reynolds |year=2012 |publisher=Soft Skull Press |isbn=978-1593764777 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o5wGKnxoTAwC |access-date=21 April 2013}}</ref>
The progressive sound can be distinct from the later uplifting trance and vocal trance. It tends to lack anthemic choruses, crescendos and drum rolling,<ref name="enfl"/> but holds an emphasis on rhythmic layers.<ref name="wiph"/> Intensity is added by the regular addition and subtraction of layers of sound.<ref name="eamm">{{cite encyclopedia |year=2010 |title=House music |volume=3 |last=Price |first=Emmett George |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of African American Music |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0313341991 |page=406 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nVxgs_E57_EC |access-date=20 April 2013 }}</ref> Phrases are typically 4, 8, or 16 bars long and often begin with a new or different melody or rhythm.<ref name="mfemg">{{cite web |url=http://www.musicfaze.com/p/electronica-genre-guide.html#pr |title=Electronica Genre Guide: Progressive |work=Music Faze |access-date=18 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220000949/http://www.musicfaze.com/p/electronica-genre-guide.html#pr |archive-date=20 December 2014}}</ref>
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.<ref name="pmg">{{cite book |title=Popular Music Genres: An Introduction |last=Borthwick |first=Stuart |author2=Ron Moy |year=2004 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |isbn=0748617450 |page=75 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r4bmVbNSnk4C |access-date=20 April 2013}}</ref>
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.<ref name="mfemg" /> "Strobe" by Deadmau5 is a good example, which had been cited by Billboard Dance as the artist's all-time best song and one of the reasons for EDM's resurgence in the 2010s mainstream.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decoding The Mix: Strobe - Deadmau5 |url=https://www.masteringthemix.com/blogs/learn/decoding-the-mix-strobe-deadmau5 |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=Mastering The Mix |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=deadmau5 iconic song 'Strobe' turns 11 years old - We Rave You |url=https://weraveyou.com/2020/09/deadmau5-iconic-song-strobe-turns-11-years-old/ |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=weraveyou.com |date=4 September 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Music}} * List of progressive house artists * List of electronic music genres {{Clear}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Progressive music}} {{House music-footer}}
Category:Progressive house Category:House music genres House Category:1990s in music Category:2000s in music Category:2010s in music Category:2020s in music Category:British styles of music