Having left behind their previous catalogues, Sam Knowles (otherwise known as house aficionado Karma Kid) and Jake Norman (the talented producer Armeria with a penchant for funk and disco) have joined forces in Shy Luv. The Manchester duo actually released an EP two years ago, but today that’s nowhere to be seen. All our focus is on one tune - ‘Joyrider’. Swinging by, the track flings open its doors and invites the listener along for a little trip. A journey that last four minutes and twenty-five seconds to be exact. We’re settled into disco-tinged beats, then Knowles tells us that they “won’t waste your time” and soon the tempo picks up with a bhangra-sounding guitar stutter, flourishes of nostalgic synths, with some seriously sweet chord progressions and bass lines that transport you to a '70s club dance floor. Although largely a track made for dancing, ‘Joyrider’ is one of those that feel both near and far. You could easily play it full volume into a crowd and watch as the sliding rhythms take over. Alternately, it can be played for one, at a lower volume; a private listening experience where Knowles’ soft croon sounds intimate and the combined beat-making washes over you. - HT