It's slap bang in the middle of the 1990s and a much-loved Vauxhall Nova is traversing the A55, the M56, and M53. The cloud of smoke is dense and the tunes are life-changing. A group of teenagers send a fleet of cars from North Wales to Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and beyond; clubs like Cream, The Haçienda and Back to Basics cementing sounds born in Chicago and New York into the foundations of England's north west. Matt Rycroft and his Nova would see many things in a few short years, and this is their story. A house music awakening where sweat drips from the ceiling and speakers are made for dancing on top of.

Fresh Soup 118: Matt Rycroft, A House Awakening

Can you resist the temptation of the dark side? Back celebrating the raunchy roots of house music, Simon Howlett lures us into the warehouse for another steamy session of disco, dirt and deep house designed to set temperatures soaring.

Fresh Soup 117: Simon Howlett

His is a name hallowed around here as the man most likely to theme the soundtrack to his own funeral; such is DJ Simm's fervent dedication to moments in time, sub-genres and discographies. For one night only, our man in Preston, Lancashire, drops his playlists and descends into a frenzy of thumpers that simply tickled his fancy. Drum and bass deep, dubby, clattering and cataclysmic, hold on to your hats and dive into Fresh Soup 116.

Fresh Soup 116: DJ Simm

It's the third day after his crucifixion and old J-dog is as dead as a dodo, but who's gonna turn water into wine if that badass son of God doesn't turn in his grave? Bringing back the long-lost spirit of bank holiday raving so rowdy it could wake the dead, Pete Carvell crashes into our Easter Monday with a session capable of resurrecting Christ himself. Hold onto your Mini Eggs for an hour of Holy hullaballoo.

Fresh Soup 115: Pete Carvell

What's more random that digging your hand into a half a pound bag of pick 'n' mix? Buck Houston's track selection, that's what. The liquorice allsorts of Fresh Soup returns with another session selected from the deepest corners of his own mixed bag; all from synthpop to hip hop with new wave and rave in between. If you enjoy the cheap thrill of a lucky dip, Bucky's got you covered.

Fresh Soup 114: Buck Houston

Time to stock up on flowers to send to the neighbours, JBdeQ is back with an unapologetic ode to his underground awakening. Honouring countless school nights spent staying up late listening to Colin Dale's Abstract Dance Show on Kiss FM, this is a blistering 60 minute session containing many of his favourite tracks from those heady days of '90s UK techno; from Slam to Aphex Twin, Dave Clarke to Baby Ford. Turn it up loud and check your home insurance documents. You're going to need some new speakers after this one.

Fresh Soup 113: JBdeQ, An Ode to '90s Techno

Even in a global pandemic, we find it difficult to stop doing things. (Sourdough starters, that's all I'm saying.) The omnipresence of activity is inbuilt through decades of life in the neoliberal west, which is why many of us have tried, with varying success, to employ some kind of mindfulness to our routines. For Hilfingerz, his moment to stop and reflect, to enjoy life for what it is, manifests itself in a diversion from the 130bpm club bangers with throbbing basslines and skipping beats we've come to know him for. Tom might not be walking the way of the Rajneesh quite yet, but his baby steps are a reminder for us all to take a moment to ourselves; and what better an excuse than locking yourself into Fresh Soup 112 for an hour of carefree dance music mindfulness.

Fresh Soup 112: Hilfingerz, Mindful Soup

The Prince of peacefulness is back, Matthew Egginton not crashing into our week, rather easing in elegantly from behind-the-scenes like a glamorous supermodel arriving at a shoot she's late for. With his blend of progressive beats and soothing synths, Matt's latest takes us on a sunrise journey to Eden; the perfect tonic for the 22nd of June.

Fresh Soup 111: Matthew Egginton

As disco in its spiritual home of New York's debauched nightclubs fell out of vogue, European producers inspired by the sound persisted with gusto; taking their scene to the mainstream with chart successes moulded in the manner of the Warhol Factory&nbsp;cookie cutter process. Once a dirty word, Italo Disco has won a devout new following, its catalogues plundered for synth-heavy camp classics with inimitable feeling. While the sound wouldn't resonate in the English speaking West at its peak during the 1980s, its influence can be felt in the distinctive electro-pop of Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode and New Order; today its new audience has made cult classics of one-hit-wonders from obscure artists and aliases. The circle would be complete when Italo made its way into the nightclubs of New York and Chicago via American producers inspired by the high energy sound, the likes of Bobby O and Patrick Cowley evolving the scene as those in the UK had. For his latest deep dive, Øhm Sweet Øhm takes us on an uptempo ride through the individual sound of Italo Disco, the evocative scene that didn't know when it was beaten. Italians love synthesizers. And so do we.

Fresh Soup 110: Øhm Sweet Øhm presents Italians Love Synthesizers

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