PREMIERE : Manuel Nie – Brasilholzschlaeger [In Any Case Records]

Manuel Nie - In any Case Records

French label In Any Case Records scorched on to the scene a few months ago with a quickly sold out four track V/A release that included the likes of label heads Malouane and G2S as well as Martin Hayes of Rose Records fame and Rocksteady Disco‘s Peter Croce (listed here as MR. PC). For their sophomore EP, the imprint has put together five cuts of heady, heady house music. The roster for the record boasts Parisian hotshot Tell, In Any Case honchos G2S and Malouane, dusty beatsmith Ibn Sabaa, and, the auteur of our premiere, Munich-based producer Manuel Nie (soundcloud).

Tell’s warm, Rhodes-laden “Life is Rhythm (Life is Round)” starts the occasion rather perfectly. Then, the label founders take their respective turns with G2S’ “Amako” and Malouane’s “667746”. The former is a left-field chopped but groovy house cut that wouldn’t feel out of place on a Money $ex release. Malouane’s cut turns the EP into deeper territories, though, with brooding keys and a dusty drum kit establishing an ice-chilled mood. The progression of tracks works perfectly, as our premiere cut comes up to bat.

“Brasilholzschlaeger” (I won’t even try manually typing that one out!), uses an expertly maneuvered Rhodes sound that pulses along over a splendid bassline and some crackling, boom-bap injected drums. A clever little rap sample adds some extra flavor to the arrangement as well. All in all, it’s a mean deep house track built on a truly excellent sample chop and filter work. Surprisingly, the cut is only Manuel’s second production credit; the other being a similarly moody heater on Big Bait’s 7 year anniversary compilation, Gold. Hopefully we’ll see more exquisite stuff from the Munich man in the near future.

The EP closes up shop with Ibn Sabaa’s “Stupid Loop”: a hazy, twisted hip-hop instrumental. In full, the package is very reflective of the IACR ethos; smart, dusty, sample-based jams that will make you snap your neck. Keep your eyes peeled for this release – due out in February – because considering how quickly the first EP (and its repress) sold out, it will surely be in high demand. Preorder it on Juno.

[soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/boltingbits/premiere-manuel-nie-brasilholzschlaeger”/]

Martín Miguel