Veteran trance producer Push is returning to the album format with “Known Universe,” the eighth studio album of his career.
The project looks back to the hardware-based studio environment that defined his earliest productions, with Mike Dierickx rebuilding his original setup to recreate the creative process behind his classic sound.
Rather than embracing modern production shortcuts, Dierickx chose to work with the same generation of equipment that shaped his early releases.
The result, according to the producer, is the most authentic representation of Push’s musical identity to date.
Throughout his career, Dierickx has remained committed to his signature production style instead of following changing trends.
While that approach may have limited commercial opportunities at times, it has allowed his music to maintain its identity and stand the test of time.
More than two decades after their original release, “Strange World” and “Universal Nation” returned to Beatport’s All Genres Top 100.
The comeback highlighted Push’s lasting influence. It also showed that his music continues to resonate with listeners.
Renewed listener interest helped bring both classics back into the spotlight.
Tiësto also contributed by debuting his re-edit of “Universal Nation” during his Dreamstate Southern California set.
Together, those moments introduced the tracks to a new generation of dance music fans.
Read more: Push Drops “Future Fall” Ahead of New Album
Push Focuses on Authentic Production
Push built “Known Universe” around the musical characteristics that have defined his productions for years.
The album features elegant chord progressions, layered melodies, evolving filters, deep basslines, and carefully timed moments of dancefloor energy that have become central to his sound.
For Dierickx, authenticity became the driving principle behind the project.
Instead of prioritizing convenience, he deliberately chose a slower and more demanding production process that mirrored the way he created music at the beginning of his career.
Dierickx described “Known Universe” as a return to his musical roots.
He revisited the sounds, equipment, and creative environment that influenced his earliest work.
The album also reflects the production challenges that helped shape those records.
He limited himself to the same generation of hardware used while producing tracks from his debut album, “From Beyond.”
He also recalled that older studio equipment often came with technical limitations and unpredictable behavior.
Machines could become unstable, overheat, or even cause projects to be lost.
Working with older equipment was often challenging. It required patience and frequent problem-solving.
According to Dierickx, those imperfections created an authenticity that modern production workflows struggle to match.
