MANOOZ — Time 4 Houze! EP

Manooz – Time 4 Houze! EP arrives on Star Creature as catalogue SC1253, a 12-inch vinyl that channels the warm glow of 80s house. The record’s headline is the Robert Owens-featured “11: Nitelife”, a nod to the Chicago house lineage that underpins the whole EP. Star Creature’s October output is a busy one. On the same day the label also issued Fugitive Artifact’s “In Service To The Jack” (SC1276) and A Vision Of Panorama’s “Sphere 7\"” (SC7097), while earlier releases this year such as Twilite Tone’s “Happiness / Feel It (7\")” (SC7094) and Julian Reca & Ludviq’s “Alhelí” (SC1262) have already mapped a terrain of deep, groove-centric dance music. Time 4 Houze! sits comfortably among these, extending the label’s focus on house that feels both classic and current. Side A opens with “11: Nitelife (feat. Robert Owens)”. The presence of the Fingers Inc. legend injects a timeless vocal aura that immediately situates the track on the dancefloor, offering a melodic hook that can serve as a peak-time anchor or a warm-up moment. It leads directly into “12: Virgo 505”, a track that keeps the momentum with a slightly more stripped-back groove, allowing DJs to transition smoothly while maintaining the EP’s retro-house vibe. The B-side begins with “13: Jack The Bass”, a bass-driven cut that leans into the genre’s rhythmic foundation, providing a solid platform for mixing into deeper set moments. The record closes with the title track “14: Time 4 Houze!”, a concise statement that caps the EP with a satisfying resolution, echoing the earlier tracks’ nostalgic palette while leaving space for further manipulation in a set. For Manooz, Time 4 Houze! follows the 2024 “Midnight Madness EP” on Raw Soul (RAWSOUL007), showing a continued interest in analog-inspired house aesthetics. The collaboration with Robert Owens highlights a willingness to bridge past icons with present production, reinforcing the artist’s place within a lineage that values both homage and forward motion. Within the broader underground, the EP offers a concise, four-track journey that reflects the resurgence of 80s-style house on contemporary vinyl releases. Its blend of vocal heritage and instrumental grooves makes it a relevant addition to any collection that values the genre’s roots while seeking fresh material for current sets. From a DJ’s perspective, the record supplies a versatile toolkit: “Nitelife” works as a vocal-driven climax, “Virgo 505” as a bridge, “Jack The Bass” as a deeper groove, and “Time 4 Houze!” as a closing or transition piece. The sequencing encourages seamless mixing, and the analog warmth of the vinyl format adds a tactile dimension prized by collectors and performers alike. The release is pressed on a standard 12-inch vinyl, matching the format of the label’s recent output and offering the familiar handling and sound quality expected by house aficionados. Manooz – Time 4 Houze! EP, Star Creature, catalogue SC1253, 12-inch vinyl, four tracks. Tracklist: A1. Manooz – 11: Nitelife (feat. Robert Owens) A2. Manooz – 12: Virgo 505 A3. Manooz – 13: Jack The Bass A4. Manooz – 14: Time 4 Houze!