Various Artists – Celestial IV: 3 Years Anniversary [Astral Records]

Celebrating their three year anniversary, Astral Records reveals the fourth installment of their ‘Celestial’ series. With its stylized brand of melodic house and techno, the label has continued to push its boundaries across the last three years, evolving with dance floor trends, while never losing sight of the cosmic qualities that has made the sound so appealing to many. With forty-nine discography credits compiled since the label’s inaugural release, the Greek imprint not only celebrates their three year anniversary with the fourth installment of ‘Celestial’, but also their fiftieth offering. In what is their most expansive collection to date, Astral Records calls upon a selection of their top artists in Paul Anthonee, Mariz, Deciduous, Leghet and Vicius; along with some fresh faces such as Oriss, Sorlong, Malov, Nikola Gala, Fabian B., Octavio Gimenez, Ed Lopes, Mac:Annâ, Terra Melodica, Akyse, and Redig, to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Getting the collection underway are Akyse and Redig who make their label debut with ‘The Healing’. Healing from Spain with support from Fideles, Joris Voorn, Oostil and Solomun, the duo craft a peak time dancefloor journey complete with emotive vocal phrasing, trance-inducing melodies and nostalgic chord changes to set the tone for the release. Selection two finds Malov and Vicius collaborating on ‘Melody Rises’. Hailing from Azerbaijan and Brazil respectively, the duo land on the label on the strength of releases via Moodyverse, NOTTURNA, Spectrum (NL) and Steyoyoke, along with support from Oostil, The Element and Undercatt. ‘Melody Rises’ excels through the use of anthemic chord stabs, intriguing vocal samples and a grandiose break that is sure to create magical moments on the dancefloor. Selection three finds Sorlong making their label debut following releases via Be Free Recordings, Black Rose and ERRORR. The duo’s latest and first Astral Records offering ‘Create’ stands as one of their most elaborate creations to date, supercharged with titanic kick drums and siren-like synth flares. Returning to the label with selection four is Leghet. Known for his releases via Massano’s Stimulate and Eleatics, the Colombian artist’s latest ‘Trascender’ continues the collection’s peak hour mood with wavy arp sequences and industrial-like synth mutations, all set against a backdrop of hyperspeed melodies and tough club-effective grooves.

Astral Records A&R Paul Anthonee returns to the label for selection five ‘Palmira’, a track which closely follows his well-received ‘Empires of Mind’ single with Emiliano Demarco. The Cypriot artist continues to impress with dizzying, rapid-fire sequences of rhythm, granular textures and heavily manipulated synths which travel to the very edges, while maelstroms of metallic stabs and thunderous bass lines highlight a high-octane second act. Moving forward, Deciduous returns to the label following their ‘Planet 9’ EP from 2022. Fresh off projects for Future Romance and Running Clouds, the Irish duo continue to impress with ‘Ecosystem’, a tough, stomped out creation highlighted by jet force propulsions and wild signal bending synths. Label debutante Oriss is next and arrives on the strength of releases for Automatik, Eleatics and ERRORR. The Israeli talent steps decisively on the gas with ‘Do Not Resist’, a tough yet spacious journey led by roboticized vocal elements and a cleverly coaxed collection of billowing stabs. Selection eight is provided by Octavio Gimenez who makes his label debut on the backing of support from Agents Of Time, Fideles, Kevin De Vries and Tale Of Us, amongst others. ‘Vortex’ marks the Argentine’s Astral debut and lands with a resounding thump, surveying a nostalgic style with an emphasis on atmosphere, melody and a slow burning tension that’s nicely suited to the morning hours.

Occasional studio partners Fabian B. and Mariz are up next with electric sounds of ‘Eclipse’. Perhaps best known for their Running Clouds release ‘Faith’, the Brazilian duo continue to show great creative synergy with ‘Eclipse’, a tension filled dancefloor romp of dynamic chord stabs and tough, driving energies that have already been blowing up dancefloors. Moving forward, veteran artist Nikola Gala arrives on the label with over twenty years of production experience, and a discography highlighted by releases for Freerange, Plastic City and Rekids. The Greek artist has continued to reinvent himself and does so once again with his Astral debut ‘Oblivion State’. Instantly seductive, its haunted vocal fragments and mesmerizing machine progressions drive each other into a whirlpool of spiralling directions, making for a flexible club track that bends between scenes while injecting vibrant energy into the dancefloor. Also making his label debut is Ed Lopes who has emerged as one of Brazil’s most promising melodic house and techno artists. With a resume that includes releases for Freegrant Music and Panda Labs, Ed makes his label debut with the crunchy melodica and multi-dimensional synth manoeuvres of ‘Combinatorics’. The collection’s second to last selection finds Argentinean duo MAC:ANN landing on the label following a well-received release for Miss Monique’s Siona Records. The Cordoba residents impress here with ‘Eagle’, a prophetic journey where weighted rhythms, sci-fi vocal samples and scintillating synths are contrasted by collapsing waves of light. Rounding out the release is Terra Melodica, a recently coined alias for Socrates, perhaps best known as one half of Dizharmonia. Although just a few releases into his solo journey, the Greek artist has already made his mark with projects via Beatfreak and JEAHMON! Records. Now, adding Astral Records to his discography, the Alexandroupolis resident caps off the release in style with the machine gun grooves and elasticated synth swagger of ‘Aestus’.

Buy: https://tinyurl.com/2aubecze

Release Date: 02-08-2023

Release Promo: http://releasepromo.com

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