The week's first update is online now at Primalrecords.com, and this week, there's an influx of quality new releases on the Progressive House front, as well as new music from David Duriez (remixed by Toka), Chicken Lips, and Siesta and Wave Music alumni Marino Berardi. And that's just a start.

Here's a quick look at some of what's in store:

DAVID DURIEZ presents VIRTUAL FUNKER "House And Blend" (Toka's Housemuziq Rmx) Bosh [House, Tech-house] Out a few months back in EP format, David Duriez's Virtual Funker moniker proved to be a huge success for the Bosh camp. Here, Duriez gets the remix treatment from UK house wunderkind Toka and the result is strictly dancefloor. A driving bass line and a nod to the house that Jack built serve as the tune's foundation; its relentless groove sets the pace for a proper peak-time houser with long-term playability.

www.davidduriez.com

DEPARTURE "Time Starts Now" / "Highway Juan" Geek [House, Tech-house, Breaks] Those of you who have been following the London tech-house scene over the past year are no doubt well acquainted with the folks in Spincycle--otherwise known as Hungry Dave and Shifty--who have recorded for Low Pressings, Oblong, and many others. Geek is their foray into the label world and with successful releases from themselves and Metta & JT Love already under their belt, this is becoming a label to watch. Their latest release comes from Departure, but this solid 2-tracker is anything but. "Time Starts Now" is a deep and techy houser with a percussive breakbeat feel and a vocal courtesy of Donna Lavelle, while "Highway Juan" gives up a tougher kick and a deep acid house feel that should bring fans of Brett Johnson and Swag up to their feet. You'll want to hear this.

www.geekrecords.co.uk

POLEFOLDER & CP "Dust" Pt. 3 (Fretwell Dub & James Zabiela's Dakota Bar Slam) Bedrock [Progressive, Breaks] Yes, it can happen to you: James Zabiela started out as a budding teenage DJ with good taste in music and an uncanny mixing ability inherited from his DJ father. Then he entered Muzik's Bedroom Bedlam contest and won--which normally doesn't mean all that it meant for Zabiela. Because within a few short years, Zabiela has somehow become an internationally recognized DJ with an eclectic and respected style that encompasses house, tech-house, breaks, and progressive. (And it didn't hurt that Sasha handpicked him as the warm-up DJ for his recent world tour.) Here, Zabiela makes his mark in the studio for Digweed's Bedrock label and his first remix for the imprint is perhaps a perfect representation of his sound--deep and techy progressive house with breakbeat interludes and the occasional acid squelch. Fantastic.

www.bedrock.org.uk

LEON ROBERTS "In The Hole" (Original & Josh Wink Mxs) Shaboom [Tech-house, Tribal, Progressive] Having been charted by all the big players over the better part of the year, UK producer Leon Roberts--perhaps best known for this releases as UBU and his early contributions to his brother Matthew's King Unique project--has quite the hit on his hands. Recorded here in the Bay Area while Roberts was exploring a residency for SF's 1015 superclub, "In The Hole" is a hypnotic tribal groover that reminds me of early Orbital and Underworld at its finest, successfully blending house, techno, and progressive sensibilities with a seamless precision. It's no wonder then that Danny Tenaglia has been championing this cut since day one. Josh Wink hands in a more traditionally techno interpretation that hits the spot for its genre, but my pick goes to the high quality Original Mix for its versatility and a glimpse into Roberts' endless potential.

www.shaboom.co.uk

Also in this week is new remix and production work from Lemon 8 (the highly anticipated release of "New York, New York" is finally here!), Nico Awtsventin, Mr. G, Chicken Lips, Undisputed Truth, Dark Alley, and new breakbeat mixes of Missy Elliot's future classic "Work It" from nu-school breaksters Sound Of The Future.

New label releases from Loaded, Plastica Red, RIP, Plug, Special Needs, Basic Beat's Basic Energy imprint, and Quad Communications, among others, are also in.

More new releases on the way, including the latest from the boys over at Casa Del Soul. Until then, be good.

(Norman Arenas)