Shanahan – RIFTN [February 3 – Dubbed Records]

Here is a name I’m glad to see again! One of the first progressive house tracks I ever listened to was a collaboration between Jake Shanahan and Sebastien Lintz, in a track called “Passion”. This hit from 2011 was one of the first tracks that got me obsessed with dance music, and, well, I haven’t really looked back since then. Even though Mr. Lintz has taken a job at Revealed Recordings doing A&R work, its great to see Shanahan back in the production scene. His latest track, “RIFTN,” was picked up by a fellow Revealed alum by the name of JoeySuki, who signed the song to his Dubbed Records label after featuring the track as a “SukiLikes” selection.

One of the strongest assists of “Passion” was its melody, and I’m happy to say that Shanahan hasn’t lost that ability. The break has a mysterious feel to it, with this atmosphere created by two different layers of synths. Soon, this lead clears up, and a subtle bassline comes into play as the bridge progresses on. Next, the buildup begins, with the introduction of an almost Dirty Dutch vibe to it. After a few vocal samples, the drop hits, and hits HARD. A bouncy bassline is matched on the top line by some screaming synths, and this track is flying towards success on the radio waves and on the Beatport charts.

This track is due for release on Dubbed Records soon, so keep your eyes peeled. Until then, enjoy this preview!