Diego Krause Unison Wax 01

Unison Wax is the affiliate label from Diego Kraus of Berlin’s Beste Modus label and collective, which he runs along with Cinthie. The concept is simple, a no-nonsense, self-release outfit circumventing the jokers and the scenesters and bringing fresh, honest-to-God house from friends and fellow thinkers. Unison Wax 01 as a whole is an exercise in classy, reduced house for the summer generation. A-side ‘Seize’ crashes into force, with unapologetic bass that seems to be breaking at the seams. Perfect for building or taking it down, it’s simple, four-four quality as dusty hats scatter and float around the top. Then the keys hit, sizzling and singeing at the edges like they’ve been left on the grill too long, before the whole thing melts into the break. It’s hot summer garage house for late evening breakdowns. Flip it over and the vinyl takes on a distinctive darker flavour. ‘Groundhog’ plays smooth, reduced house elements against a driving, deep bassline that rumbles and pushes you on. Around that coils softly pulsating synths that swell in and away from you before the tooly, smooth finish reduces to a close. ‘Special Treatment’ is smoother though. Dusty shakers, jacking claps, druggy synths and a rolling, questioning bassline shows a deeper, darker shade of Berlin house before it casually pumps its way to the close.