Anjunadeep favorite and progressive house maestro, Dosem, delivers his first album in four years and his most substantial body of work to date, Desire.
Over the past 15 years, Dosem has consistently delivered remarkable tracks across various styles of dance music. However, his mastery of the modern progressive sound, a unique blend of house and techno, continually allows him to stand out from the mainstream. His driving, easily recognizable productions have led to releases on renowned labels such as Purified, Toolroom, Armada, and Anjunadeep. The latter of which is where Dosem has returned to today to release his latest album, Desire.
Desire is not just a captivating journey but a nostalgic one that resonates with the vibrant energy of ’90s rave culture. It taps into the primal roots of Dosem’s original love of the progressive house sound. The album is a testament to his ability to blend the past with the present and evoke an elevated sensory experience on the dance floor that few other producers can achieve. Yet Dosem doesn’t sacrifice a shred of hard-hitting basslines, uplifting vocal cuts, and soul-soothing melodies along the way.
The tracks on Desire provide a uniquely gritty, underground vibe while sprinkling in just the right amount of ethereal melodies, uplifting harmonies, and infectious dancefloor energy to keep you moving until the wee hours of the morning.
This was seen in the four previously released singles, which included “Conjunction,” a scintillating progressive banger that captures your attention from the first kick. A driving low-end builds the energy as bouncing pads ebb and flow. Electrified melodic synth stabs permeate the build before releasing to an utterly euphoric drop that is impossible not to move to.
Meanwhile, “Sensations” delivers top-tier progressive vibes, almost instantly recognizable as Dosem continues to showcase his signature sound. The track carries a harmonious balance of acidic synths, ethereal pads that add a more profound element to the production, and a club-ready drop that allows his attention to detail to shine seamlessly.
Desire’s two other previously released singles include ” Unjetlag” and the album’s lead single with SOHMI, “Answer.” While “Unjetlag” delivers a deeper progressive-driven sound well-crafted for the dancefloor, “Answer” brings a more dynamic flow between SOHMI’s refined vocal work and Dosem’s deep, driving basslines, which works successfully throughout the single.
One of the early overarching themes of Dosem’s Desire is his masterful ability to capture emotion through his productions.
This lands front and center on his tune with HANA, “Ethernal.” Threading the needle between eternal and ethereal, Dosem taps into that feeling somewhere in between, allowing listeners to feel something otherworldly that may not last forever. Yet, it reminds us to grasp those feelings while we have them.
A true standout from Desire comes from “Tranced House,” which is precisely that. This hard-hitting rave-ready track perfectly divides the sounds of trance and progressive house to deliver a sensational track that perfectly highlights Dosem’s production prowess. Another that shouldn’t be overlooked is “Deeper Connection.” Dosem infuses just a touch of breakbeats that perfectly complement the vibe while the frenetic energy continues to build throughout the track. Bouncing vocal chops, sharp, well-polished claps, and airy synths define the vibe while allowing the album’s retro-house ethos to shine brightly in the spotlight.
When Dosem set out to achieve that vintage ’90s progressive rave sound, the tune that delivers the best example is “Up To You.” Deep, resonating kicks, bouncing synths, and the perfect amount of acid-laden stabs allow it to keep you moving all night (or morning) long.
As we approach the final stages of Dosem’s latest work, three more tracks add considerable value.
“Sunsetter” delivers pristine vibes for when the burning rays of the day’s sun stretch long and golden over the horizon. Perfectly placed synth plucks and warm melodic risers give way to an expertly crafted kick-snare-clap combination that can move you from within. “Kodex,” on the other hand, takes a more gritty approach. Finally, “Cold Shores,” featuring incredible vocals from Carla Werner, provides the perfect landing gear back to Earth. Dosem provides a delicately smooth base for Werner to lay down her silky smooth vocals in proper Anjunadeep fashion.
While the final drop of the album offers more of a gentle release into the ether than an over-the-top smash of a finish, the pieces come together in perfect harmony to make it one of the strongest progressive albums of 2024. Give Desire a listen on Spotify or your preferred platform, and stay tuned for more from this progressive house maestro.
Stream Dosem – Desire on Spotify:
Dosem- Desire – Tracklist:
- Desire
- Ethernal (with HANA)
- Tranced House
- Conjunction
- Answer (with SOHMI)
- Up To You
- Sensations
- Deeper Connection
- Unjetlag
- Sunsetter
- Kodex
- Cold Shore (with Carla Werner)