CRAIG BRATLEY Vinilo y CD

Review: Happily, Magic Feet man Craig Bratley is on fine form on this surprise Futureboogie Recordings outing, which we think includes some of his strongest material for some time. Check, for example, throbbing opener "99.9", a body-jacking, Italo-influenced throb-fest that wraps '70s horror soundtrack synthesizer melodies and foreboding riffs around a surging arpeggio bassline. Andrew Weatherall is on hand to remix, delivering a vastly different but rather brilliant interpretation that places exotic, snaking synthesizer melodies and yelping vocal samples over a Love From Outer Space-ready pitched-down groove. Elsewhere, "Italo Love" is an all or nothing tribute to the glory days of Italo-disco and "Take Me To Bedford Or Lose Me Forever" is a top-drawer chunk of intoxicating slo-mo synth-chug.

Review: From Robsoul and Tsuba to Is It Balearic? and Futureboogie, Craig Bratley can be many things depending on who's releasing his music. He launches the Automatism label in a flurry of cosmic disco finery with "Ursa Minor", a synth-rich escapade that could make Cerrone feel a little giddy on its course to the stars. "Exotic Matter" slows things right down and ramps up the rock drums to create a noirish soundtrack vibe. "Exquisite Corpse (Zero Gravity Mix)" changes tact once more with some plaintive piano tinkering over subtle arpeggios, and "Running To Paradise" slides down into a smooth Balearic groove that rounds out this wonderfully diverse EP.

Review: Bird Scarer return with the first 10" release of their short life span thus far and the first contribution from an artist outside the so called Axis of Weatherall, Johnston, Fraser and Fairplay. Those abreast of contemporary chug should still be more than aware of Craig Bratley's work via his output on Foto, Instruments of Rapture, Is It Balearic and his own Magic Feet label. For those not familiar with Craig, this 10" includes a printed letter penned by Sir Weatherall himself introducing Bratley to the Bird Scarer family. Musically "Obsession" fits right in, channelling the spirit of D.A.F. on a delightfully sleazy production - can we have that New Beat revival already? Weatherall and Fairplay don their Asphodells outfit for a sublime, slowed down remix on the flip.

Review: With a curiously erratic release history from Robsoul to Instruments of Rapture, the eclecticism of a label like Is It Balearic seems the perfect place for Carig Bratley to set up shop and drop the whimsical flutterings of his track "Analogue Dreams". He was clearly in a floatation tank state of mind when he crafted the luscious tones that form the tune, and it provides a sterling jump off point for the remixers too. Bonar Bradberry takes a chunkier approach, with lashings of electro applied with poise for a thoroughly workable cut, while Crimea X heads into a steadily rising acid house brew in debt to the golden age of Balearic. Joe Bakery nails the label's purpose with his version as the guitar comes out and the beats get down low for a truly sun-kissed beach bum of a track.

Review: New UK imprint Fat Free Recordings brings onboard artist Craig Bratley for their first release. As a label they're fresh as a daisy, so there's not much information available as yet - their concept and musical direction remains to be seen. This first release is an edit of Armenta's disco gem "Wanna be With You" from 1983. Craig, who has previously put out his music on labels such as Instruments Of Rapture and Foto Recordings, takes the original and brings it smack up to date with a straight up edit and a low slung dub version to compliment. The high spirited funk and danceability of the original been kept to the fullest degree, making this a cut that will surely fire up summer terraces this season. With only 200 copies available this will fly, so be quick!

Review: Instruments Of Rapture is already one of those labels that has a stamp of quality indelibly marked on every release. This 12" from IOR newcomer Craig Bratley is no exception, with the chugging, acid-tinged slow mo disco of "Birdshell" sprawled across the A Side. Flip over for two stellar remixes from Burnt Island Casuals (Harri & The Revenge) and 6th Borough Project (The Revenge & Craig Smith) , the latter of which wins the award for Juno favourite, with hip-hop and soul vocal samples layered on top of the mix on top to glittering effect.

Review: With a catalogue that contains a mixture of mind-altering chuggers, deep house, disco and Balearic beats, second-guessing what Craig Bratley will release next has always been a tricky proposition. Even so, joining forces with Brooklyn maverick - and honey-voiced singer - Amy Douglas for a spot of bleeping revivalist synth soul was one of them. Douglas is at her emotive best on the B-side original mix, singing sweetly about complicated relationships over a thrillingly lo-fi low-tempo groove rich in squelchy bass and 8-bit lead lines. The A-side 'Ashigaru Dub' is arguably even better, brilliantly re-framing the track as a heady, intoxicating and sub-heavy dub workout of the sort that Mad Professor probably knocks out in his sleep. In a word: inspired!

Review: Lincolnshire's Craig Bratley (Tsuba/Nein Records/Instruments Of Rapture) is back on his own Magic Feet imprint with a bit of help from Danielle Moore on vocals for "Play The Game", a slow burning and noirish EBM grinder that will appeal to fans of recent Comeme or Correspondant style retrovert tendencies. There's also some killer remixes on offer: Heretic's slamming remix is reminiscent of early 90s rave aesthetics while the don that is Andrew Weatherall steps up to deliver a woozy lo-slung disco rendition which is absolutely brilliant as always.

Review: Up next on Craig Bratley's Magic Feet label is The Vanity EP.

This release is aimed at the vinyl enthusiast and features four remixes which have so far been unreleased or received a digital release.

The EP contains three remixes by Craig, Catalepsi's 'Quartz Giaponese', The Souls 'Tonight' and Four Walls 'No Use'

as well as the sought after Sean Johnston remix of 'Obsession'.

Review: Craig Bratley's Magic Feet imprint is back y'all and in fine form as always. The Kukushka EP features Roe Deers on the A side, who contributes the infectious deep house stomp of the title track which has just enough dust and rust thrown into the mix to make this a standout track. Also on offer is the the retro 80's leaning remix by man of the moment Markus Gibb which would mix in well to a Lauer or Tuff City Kids track. On the flip Bratley serves up the rusty and gritty acid jack of "Raw Trax #1" which is so convincing you'd think it was a lost tape from 1986 while on "Night Moves" it goes for more of the nu-disco vibe with some rich arpeggiations and emotive pads that will cater to the best boogie playgrounds out there.