Return to the Sauce cover

Return to the Sauce

Infected Mushroom · 2017

70 min · 9 tracks · trance

Psychedelic trance meets experimental soundscapes, with intricate melodies and driving rhythms that push the boundaries of electronic music.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Return to the Sauce — The title track encapsulates the album's essence, merging hypnotic beats with layered synths that create a euphoric atmosphere representative of Infected Mushroom's signature style.
  • →
    Flamingo Start here — This track highlights a catchy melodic hook interwoven with dynamic bass lines and intricate rhythms, making it a standout example of their signature psychedelic sound.
  • →
    Gravity Waves (2017 remix) — This remix reinvents an earlier classic with fresh production techniques, showcasing Infected Mushroom's ability to evolve while maintaining the core elements that fans love.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100
Treeline
Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album blends complex sound designs with accessible melodies, showcasing Infected Mushroom's experimental edge in psytrance.

What we noticed

  • The album includes ambient interludes that contrast with the high-energy sections, allowing for moments of reflection.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • steady mid-tempo dance vibes
  • intricate soundscapes to explore
  • for late-night gatherings
  • consistent energy for focused listening

Maybe skip if you

  • seeking abrupt tempo changes
  • prefer short standalone tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Experimental — The album marks a return to a more experimental sound, blending complex designs with accessible melodies.
Themes
psychedelic landscapes· hypnotic dance floors· experimental soundscapes
Career context
By the time 'Return to the Sauce' was released in January 2017, Infected Mushroom had established themselves as leaders in the psytrance scene. This album marked their return to a more experimental sound after several years of exploring diverse styles, following their commercially successful release 'Converting Vegetarians' in 2003 and evolving through various projects since then.
Stylistic neighbors
Shpongle· Hallucinogen· Ott

Tracklist

  • 1 Flamingo Start here 8:36
  • 2 Manipulator 6:28
  • 3 Return to the Sauce 7:43
  • 4 Groove Attack 6:44
  • 5 Gravity Waves (2017 remix) 8:33
  • 6 Demons of Pain (remix) 7:40
  • 7 Milosh 10:43
  • 8 Nutmeg 7:31
  • 9 Liquid Smoke 6:38

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata