12/4/10
Next Release: M A N I K - My Machines
Recent releases for Ovum and Fresh Meat have seen M A N I K, aka Chris, quickly gain some heavyweight support for his fresh sounding house which heavily draws on classic sounds while tipping more than a nod to recent European interpretations of house.

‘My Machines’, his debut EP for Four:Twenty, sees M A N I K deliver three original tracks which are riddled with character and melody. Starting with “Fable”, a warming slice of machine music with a bold piece of bassline work, the EP is a joyous reminder of how just a handful percussion sounds and clever melodies are all you need to create something that really leaps out.

From the sunny disposition of “Fable” we’re eased into the darker tinged Motor City soul of “Aftermath Class” which slides effortlessly between contrasting moods via the fluid evolution and melodic interplay of each and every sound.

With the vibe of “Aftermath Class” as it is, it’s easy to see why the well trained ears over at Four:Twenty drafted in the steady hand of Rick Wade for remix duties. Wade notches up the drum work into a loose, but punchier sound while adding classic rhodes keys to compliment his female vox additions.

Finally, it’s back to the young NY Producer for the final original of the piece in “Shutterfly”. All the musical and emotional content of the rest of “My Machines” is on show here but there’s a distinctly trackier and European feel which seems to tip a respectful nod to the stripped back deepness of Steve Bug’s early work.

This is an extremely strong EP from an artist who is certain to further his already superb reputation in the coming months.

SUPPORT FROM JIMPSTER, MATT MASTERS, JACUZZI BOYS, SOUL MINORITY, CLIVE HENRY, ALEX DOLBY, GREGOR TRESHER, DUALTON, IVAN RAMOS, ARNAULD LE TEXLIER, HERNAN CATTANEO, MOTORCITYSOUL, MARKUS FIX, SHUR-I-KAN, ALEXANDER MAIER, CLAUDIO COCCOLUTO, NILS NURNBERG, BURNSKI, GRUBER & NURNBERG, AFRILOUNGE, MORIS AUDIO, FLORIAN KRUSE, DANNY WARD, FEDERICO MOLINARI, JAMIE MCHUGH, GLIMPSE, PEDRAMOVICH, RUTHIT, CHERRY, KEVIN GRIFFITHS, XPRESS 2, SHINEDOE, MOTORCITYSOUL, ROBERT OWENS