Trisco "Podium"

Trisco stand out as an influential name in the history of progressive house. 'Musak' was a huge track that represented everything that was right in the late night grooves of the summer of 2000 and beyond. The relentless drive that it and its remixes provided helped propel the originality of the genre into the 21st century.

But while Trisco's better days of 'Musak' might be behind them, they have continued to produce quality music. Their latest, 'Podium' on Whoop! Records, has a new grassroots appeal. The original mix has a goofy charm; that borders the fun kind of crazy. It’s eerie enough to keep it interesting but lacks an intensity to be taken too seriously. It can become stale, but by mixing out a bit early, it can do some good to a build.

The Max Graham mix though is exactly what the original wanted to be. Its quirky energy is distinctively Trisco, while the cyclical peaks and valleys of the melodies are vintage Graham. It keeps a good tempo that survives its own stagnant beat by taking the centralized theme into terrains the original doesn't explore. From this reinterpretation and a use of broken chords from the melody over the length of the keyboard, Graham sprinkles his own flavor over the Trisco groundwork.

It's Graham's mix that makes this more than just another release that doesn’t live up to the expectations from a talented producer. The original will underwhelm if one expects 'Musak', which this reviewer has done since first hearing its recognizable catch, but this one could be a keen pick up for those who fit its sound.