James Monro - Sanctuary Vol 1

James Monro has been at heart of the dance music scene for over three decades. As fully immersed now as he has been at any other point in his musical journey, the UK born, Brazilian based DJ and producer begins a new and exciting relationship with Proton Music. Following in the footsteps of Erdi Irmak, Rick Pier O'Neil and Michael A, Monro now launches the first in a new series of releases as "Sanctuary, Vol. 1" takes centre stage.

Able to point to a stellar career that has seen him perform regularly across the globe to packed festival crowds at the likes "Burning Man" and "Oregon Eclipse" alongside performances at Tokyo's "Womb", Ibiza's "Amnesia" and London's "Heaven", Monro is a seasoned world-traveller. With a huge fanbase behind him, a production career in tandem is no less impressive. Finding himself featured on John Digweed's "Structures Two" compilation and Nick Warren's "Renaissance: Masters Series", a 2019 hit on the iconic Kompakt witnessed "Pesto Punk" in partnership with John Monkman. 150 additional production credits have seen releases on Flow Records, JOOF Mantra and onedotsixtwo.

Proton Music accounts for a growing number of those credits through a glorious selection of music centred around 2017's "In the Ether" album, while "Fonik", "Nectar" and 2019's "Ascension" continue to showcase a kaleidoscopic array of original material. Writing a new chapter on the label via the five-track "Sanctuary", the title track is a nine-minute tour de force that opens with glorious atmospheric textures before thumping kick and meandering pads forms the basis for a dreamy soundscape that evolves through different phases of bristling bassline, percussive flair and stereo-panned effects. The result is a track certain to go down well at sunset on the beaches of Ibiza and Rio de Janeiro. "New Religion" revels in a richly sustained bassline that pulsates gently, juxtaposed against searing crystalline lead whose motif creates an earworm moment. Percussive woodblocks add dancefloor intrigue in the latter stages as pitch-bent pads add depth and innovation.

A gloriously in vogue breaks pattern opens "In Search of a Serum" as the lilting groove paves the way for a powerful syncopated bassline and machine-gun hi hats to create a dark and sinister offering. Subtle melodic flourishes and rich string section come to the fore at the mid-point in a Hybrid-esque manner, complete with effects that leap out of the speakers. A squelching bass and sparkling arpeggio add to the aural collage in the second half in a wonderfully emotive production. The hypnotic "Heat" immediately commands attention with its driving bass pattern and heavy kick. An array of percussive hats pitch delicately in time before an imperceptible melody emerges out of the tapestry. A whispering vocal cut adds drama at the breakdown before the track explodes into the third movement with a glissando motif that brings further texture. "Another Weirdo" closes the EP with a staccato bass and dream-like pads weaving a seamless path. Emotive chord changes and swirling melodies envelop the listener as multi-faceted layers of sound build to create a sonic collage that waxes and wanes with ease across the piece.

1. James Monro - Sanctuary (Original Mix) 9:19
2. James Monro - New Religion (Original Mix) 7:56
3. James Monro - Injected With A Serum (Original Mix) 8:31
4. James Monro - Heat (Original Mix) 8:49
5. James Monro - Another Weirdo (Original Mix) 6:46