Two album releases from one artist inside a single year? It might seem like a tall order - some might even say a bit of a (ahem!) push!? It does of course help if, by the end of January one’s already out there, and artistically is a graphic departure from your usual known-for (‘Phantom Realms’ being exclusively ambient/chillwave).
That gives Mike ‘Push’ Dierickx a clean ten month run at delivering his second, all of which commences today. It comes by way of ’Back When We Believed’, and word to the wise: a purer hearted Push thunderbolt to get the LP ball rolling with, it’s hard to imagine!
There’s perhaps no better time for a Push return to the fore either. Twenty-five years after they first debuted, December saw both his ‘Strange World’ and ‘Universal Nation’ classics re-enter Beatport All-Genres Top 100. Driven by nothing more than renewed interest, albeit with the slightest of helping hands from Tiësto, (who premiered his ‘Universal Nation’ re-edit during his SoCal Dreamstate set).
Both in terms of title and tone, ’Back When We Believed’ slots right into Push’s established lexicon – one exemplified by the likes of ‘Till We Meet Again’, ‘The Legacy’, ‘Tomorrow Is Another Day’ and ‘Journey Of Life’. Tags that blend Mike’s poignant sensibilities with his equally-embraced sonic touchstones of destiny, history, endurance, and human connection.
Once again this is woven into Dierickx’s painstakingly controlled harmonic architectures, where long, deliberate chord progressions upshift through subtle key modulations, before resolving dynamically … and emphatically. As ever his signature lies in those disciplined, multi-layered leads and subs, that are shaped by gradual filter automation and resonant sweeps. All underpinned naturally by his clean, low-end roll, that builds tension into all the melodic contouring.
’Back When We Believed’ represents the opening shot to end all opening shots! Ten years after his last recording for Black Hole … he’s back to make us believe.
Tracklist:
01: Push - ’Back When We Believed’ (Original Mix)
02: Push - ’Back When We Believed’ (Extended Mix)
[review top="1"]
[item value="10"]Push - Back When We Believed [/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"] Push’s “Back When We Believed” is a meticulously crafted trance anthem that exemplifies the artist’s mastery of harmonic and rhythmic architecture. The track operates confidently at 140 BPM, delivering a euphoric yet darkly industrial edge that is instantly recognizable as Dierickx’s sonic signature. Its rhythm and groove are propelled by a clean, rolling low-end that not only drives the track forward with hypnotic momentum but also provides an ideal platform for the melodic layers to unfold. The careful modulation of chord progressions creates a sense of journey, rising through subtle key shifts before resolving in climactic drops that maintain energy flow seamlessly throughout its runtime. These transitions and build-ups are technically precise, using gradual filter automation and resonant sweeps to ensure each drop feels both earned and emotionally impactful. The melodic hooks and harmonic layers are rich and immersive, combining multi-layered leads, lush pads, and carefully spaced arpeggios that harmonize with the track’s percussive intensity. This sound design reflects exceptional production quality, with a balanced dynamic range ensuring that no frequency overwhelms the others. The spatial design enhances immersion, with reverbs and delays placing the listener inside a vast, evolving soundscape. This cohesion of effects, structure, and dynamic balance contributes to the track’s storytelling, allowing it to transition fluidly from introspective atmospheres to peak-time euphoria, perfectly suited for both club and festival environments. Its originality lies in how Push merges nostalgic trance motifs with forward-thinking sound engineering, maintaining his artistic identity while offering a fresh auditory experience. Scientifically, the impact of music like “Back When We Believed” on mental health, fitness, and wellness settings is substantial. Research in music therapy and cognitive neuroscience (Thoma et al., 2013; Chanda & Levitin, 2013) indicates that rhythmically engaging, harmonically uplifting tracks can stimulate dopamine release, reduce cortisol levels, and enhance emotional regulation. In fitness and group exercise classes, high-tempo trance music has been shown to increase endurance and motivation (Karageorghis & Priest, 2012), while its immersive soundscapes can heighten focus and induce flow states enhancing both physical and mental performance. The euphoric qualities of the track may also foster positive social bonding and reduce perceived stress, making it highly beneficial in wellness programs or meditative dance sessions. The overall effect is one of emotional resonance and high replay value, with a structure that supports set integration, cue points, and looping potential for DJs. Its intro and outro are thoughtfully built for seamless mixing, and the track’s BPM consistency ensures sync ease in live performance settings. Ultimately, “Back When We Believed” is more than a club anthem—it is an immersive musical journey with proven psychological and physiological benefits. #PureGold Loveit[/content]
[item value="10"]Rhythm, Groove & Drive[/item][item value="10"]Melodic Hooks & Harmonic Layers[/item]
[item value="10"]Transitions, Drops & Build-Ups [/item]
[item value="10"]Energy Flow & Momentum [/item]
[item value="10"]Sound Design & Production Quality[/item]
[item value="10"]Originality of Arrangement & Structure[/item]
[item value="10"]Use of Effects & Spatial Design[/item]
[item value="10"]Dynamic Range & Loudness Balance[/item]
[item value="10"]Atmosphere & Immersion[/item]
[item value="10"]Emotional Resonance[/item]
[item value="10"]Creativity & Artistic Identity[/item]
[item value="10"]Cohesion & Storytelling[/item]
[item value="10"]Vocal Performance & Lyrical Impact[/item]
[item value="10"]Catchiness & Replay Value[/item]
[item value="10"]Club / Festival Suitability[/item]
[item value="10"]Track Intro/Outro Structure[/item]
[item value="10"]BPM Consistency & Sync Ease[/item]
[item value="10"]Cue Points & Loop Potential[/item]
[item value="10"]Dynamic Energy for Set Flow[/item]
[item value="10"]Crowd Reaction Potential[/item]
[/review]
Suggested Bibliography:
Chanda, M. L., & Levitin, D. J. (2013). The neurochemistry of music. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 17(4), 179-193.
Thoma, M. V., Ryf, S., Mohiyeddini, C., Ehlert, U., & Nater, U. M. (2013). Emotion regulation through listening to music in everyday situations. Cognition and Emotion, 27(3), 534-543.
Karageorghis, C. I., & Priest, D. L. (2012). Music in the exercise domain: A review and synthesis. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 5(1), 44-66.
Additional info:
