Craigie Knowes Vinilo y CD

Review: House-master, Matthias, is the latest producer to debut on the iconic Scottish Minimal/Tech house imprint, Craigie Knowes. Delivering a class EP injected with originality and outright funk, this will be a no-brainer purchase for a long list of DJs and home listeners. On the A side, 'Tube Star' arrives with a throbbing bassline, honey-sweet synths and glinting percussion. For the A2, growling electric guitar melodies meet darkened synthlines and bludgeoning kicks to produce a powerful dancefloor-ready track. On the B-side, we have Ultra Bass on remix duties, offering a bass-stroke-acid-stroke-garage take on Matthais' signature sound - this is undoubtedly a peak time track for those out-of-control moments. Closing things up, 'Wires Around My Neck' slows to a patient pace - a duet of circling synth melodies and chugging drums give this track a delectably wonky, spaced-out vibe. A wonderfully varied release that is surely set to be a favourite for this year's circuit of festivals.

Review: Sometimes it really does seem like Perth-via-UK house mainstays Craigie Knowes, well... know! Emphatic of their own personal, cratebugging expertise, it would seem that their knack for tracking down and contracting brilliant yet not totally refined dance music talent stems from some unshakeable expert quality: perhaps some business-insider access to info about burgeoning underground artists we're not in on? Whatever the case, Berlin's Olsvanger is the next model musician to be called up, his former founding efforts of the likes of Tofistock and Powerpuff Tracks proving credential assets for the furthering of this aural arrester, 'The Core'. With two Kalahari Oyster Cult releases already under his belt so far, you know what you're in for: 'Goldman's Propeller' and 'Lava Luva' provide extra fishy aquamarine breaks and sexy sample-held step sequencings, perfect for lone raving over break-fast. Ptooey!