A long-standing veteran of Josh Wink’s Ovum imprint, the ‘House Cut 1′ EP marks MANIK’s fourth offering to the label and maintains the high quality we’ve come to expect from an artist who is comfortably at the top of his game right now. True to its name, the EP consists of a trio of raw, chunky, house-influenced cuts which vary in style and function. The title track itself lures the listener in with bubbling synths floating over a clipped 4x4 beat, before giving way to a hectic salvo of staccato clap rushes and ride cymbals. ‘Nothing Better’ rolls along with a propulsive, tech-house whomp, with shimmering chords building up to usher in what can only be described as a thunderous bassline. As the track progresses, hints of acid-flecked goodness converge with 808 cowbells and hi-hats to create a peak-time dancefloor monster. The EP closes on a more melodic tip with ‘Finch’, with a rumbling analogue bass cutting a swathe through hypnotic latticework of arpeggiated synths and orbiting claps. An atmospheric finish to an extremely versatile EP; there’s undoubtedly something for everyone in this package.