David Alvarado returns to the fold

David Alvarado, the LA based house veteran, makes a welcome return to the music scene this month with a remix of Kris Wadsworth's "Direct". Alvarado has been a long time associate of NRK Music, and released the ultra deep mini album, "Transiguration" on the label back in 2004.

David has been a consistent favourite on the house scene since his early productions for Strictly Rhythm, Groove On, Yoshi Toshi and Ovum in the 90s, as well as productions for legendary labels such as Peacefrog, Guidance and Plastic City. Recent years has seen David taking a back seat from the wheels of music production, but it is hoped that his remix here for NRK will spark the flames of musicality for more productions to come out over the next year.

His remix of Kris Wadsworth's "Direct" is in classic Alvarado style, heavy tribal beats, dubby reverberations, trippy deepness, and dense and engaging production. His remix is already picking up support from the likes of Dixon,Rocky (X-Press 2), Paul Woolford and Jay Tripwire.

Wadsworth's new EP comprises two tracks, "Direct" and "Full Body", both treading similar paths of stripped back, raw house tracks. Bleepy yet with plenty of deepness, it's refreshing to see a producer out there not following suit, but producing an individual sound. Certainly these tracks are intended for those who like their house deeper than the black hole!

The package is completed by a remix from NRK's Nick Harris, who neatly moulds "Full Body" into a more club firendlier version, utilizing some of the original's chords and bleeps and turning out a solid, hypnotic rework.

Kris Wadsworth "Direct"/"Full Body" is released on 30th November as a digital EP, with the vinyl release concentrating on Alvarado's remix of "Direct" and the original Wadsworth version.

Direct (David Alvarado Remix)
Direct (Original Mix)
Full Body (Original Mix)
Full Body (Nick Harris Remix)

David Durango's "In The Last Orient" EP out this week

David Durango, the Swiss based DJ/producer who has been making some rather tasty deep house sounds for the likes of Poker Flat, Dessous, Perspectiv and Resopal , releases a new EP on NRK this month.

Two tracks from David; "In The Last Orient" is a solid, boompety house cut, with a distinct far Eastern flavour with its vocal sample and instrumentation, this cut has a great groove with a nice seductive feel, whilst "Calle Azul" intricately builds into a great tech-funk workout. Remixes of these two great tracks come courtesy of Tony Lionni, and NRK's own Nick Harris. Tony Lionni is hotly tipped right now, what with recent releases on Ostgut Ton (his "Found A Place" cut being absolutley huge over the last few months), Mule and Wave, as well as forthcoming material for Freerange. Lionni's remix of "In The Last Orient" is deepness personified, with some cracking drums and warm production. Nick Harris also goes deeper with his remix of "Calle Azul", with a dubby and reverberating version.

Out this week on Beatport, and 12" vinyl, Durango's EP has been picking up some great support from many of the scene's movers and shakers.

Ripperton - David is on top form, this EP looks like an heavy weapon. The Nick Harris remix is dope!
Lars (Funk F’Void) - Love the Tony Lionni mix, fantastic deepness
Peter Kruder (Kruder & Dorfmeister) - Looove “In The Last Orient” Original. Great tune. Will play this.
Alex Niggeman (8-bit/2020 Vision) - Really nice EP. Support!
Dylan Hermelijn (2000 and One) - love the original and the Nick Harris rmx
Mazi (Audio Soul Project) - Original is fat and chunky - tight musically and that reverb orgy in the middle don't hurt either.
Bushwacka! – “In The last Orient” is my fav...
H.O.S.H. (Diynamic) - into the Nick Harris remix. cool starting stuff. first track is cool also.
Nic Fanciulli - Great release !
Danny Ward (Moodymanc) - Very beautiful lush sounding tracks....really dig em...
Dave Ellesmere (Rekids) - nice Lionni rmx again and the other that works for me is Nick Harris rmx ... cool release
Matthias Voght (Motorcitysoul) - NRK on fire... amazing release again, Tony Lionni remix is outstanding!
Yannick Labbe (Innervisions) – “In The Last Orient” is my pick here. verrrry good!
Willie Graff (Liebe/Drumpoet) - Enjoying the Toni Lionni remix!
Chris Duckenfield (Swag) – great package, all playable
Jimpster (Freerange) – Really love the original mixes here, both are fresh sounding and keep the floor nicely
Alex Flitsch (Connaissuer) – Brilliant, “In The Last Orient” (Original) and Tony’s remix for me!
Chris Lattner (Moon Harbour) – House with a feeling! Great EP from NRK
Diesel (X-Press 2) – Love “In The Last Orient”
Kevin Griffiths (Tsuba) – Nice package of mixes, Nick Harris is the best here
Milton Jackson (Freerange) – Tony Lionni remix is really nice as is the Nick Harris mix
C-Rock (Motorcitysoul) – Nick Harris remix for me, nice, deep and moody but kicking at the same time
Nils Nurenberg (8-Bit) – Awesome release
Burnski (Poker Flat) – Awesome, love it
Brendon Moeller (Wave) – “Calle Azul” tickles my fancy, Tony Lionni mix is hot too!

Purchase from Beatport
In The Last Orient (Original Mix)
In The Last Orient (Tony Lionni Remix)
Calle Azul (Original Mix)
Calle Azul (Nick Harris Remix)

Back to basics with Kris Wadsworth

Kris Wadsworth, an artist who has had an incredible year to date, with releases and remixes on labels like Poker Flat, Hypercolour, Dark Energy and Fresh Meat, showcases two fresh new tracks on NRK Music next month.

Renowned for his "back to basics" approach of house, prefering the raw and gritty sounds of yesteryear to the somewhat sleeker production sounds of the current crop, Detroit based Wadsworth drops two tracks in his own inimitable style.

The new EP comprises two tracks, "Direct" and "Full Body", both treading similar paths of stripped back, raw house tracks. Bleepy yet with plenty of deepness, it's refreshing to see a producer out there not following suit, but producing an individual sound. Certainly these tracks are intended for those who like their house deeper than the black hole!

Kris Wadsworth "Direct"/"Full Body" gets a release on 2nd November with remixes.

Full Body
Direct
Kris Wadsworth Myspace

Spencer Parker's "You Got Me" out this week with Alexkid remix

This week sees the release of Spencer Parker's debut release for NRK. Available now as a Beatport exclusive download, and a trusty 12" vinyl disc, "You Got Me" is backed with a very tasty Alexkid remix, and another cut, "Do You, Do You".

"You Got Me" is no nonsense trackhead material; nagging sleaze vocal, beefy old skool bass and bouncing percussion. On the remix duties, NRK are pleased to enlist F Comm old timer, Alexkid, who delivers a gritty and raw remake. Alexid has also just released an album for Cadenza's (Luciano) offshoot label, Split Compilation, and we expect to hear lots more great music from him over the coming months. Alexkid's remix seems to be picking up a fair few fans from the promo on this, including Josh Wink, Matthias Tanzmann, Laurent Garnier and Timo Maas, so check it out!

"Do You, Do You" gets Spencer is jacktronic mode, delivering a hyped up, jackin sax trak, reminiscent of those old Chicago records on the liles of Dance Mania and Relief. Definately an EP for the trackheads!

Spencer has risen up the ranks over the last couple of years, and is currently enjoying a blinding run of killer releases, remixes, and global DJ gigs. His tracks for Buzzin Fly, Rekids, Liebe, Saved and Tsuba have become firm favourites with many peeps out there, and his remixes for the likes of Skint and Om Records have catapulted his sounds far and wide.


Purchase from Beatport
"You Got Me"
"Do You, Do You"
"You Got Me" (Alexkid Heat Mix)

NRK's Nick Harris on his Lifetracks

NRK's Nick Harris is the subject of the Bristol based Byte Blogspot's Lifetracks series. Focussing on the various talent from the city, Lifetracks features a special "influences" mix, and an accompanying in depth interview with its subject.

For his mix, Nick delved deep into the tracks that influenced him and helped shape his long career in the dance music industry, drawing on significant tracks from the likes of The Clash, Dub Syndicate, Plastikman, St. Germain and Killing Joke.

You can read the full interview with Nick here, and also listen and download his special Lifetracks mix.

Steve Bug's "The Lab 02" out this week

This week sees the release of Steve Bug's "The Lab 02" mix compilation project. Already picking up rave music in the dance music press, Bug follows in the footsteps of Loco Dice by compiling and mixing for NRK's newest series.

The album is available as a mixed 2CD and also as highly popular unmixed 2CD, featuring selected tracks in their entirety. We have also issued three seperate 12" samplers for those that still play and cherish the vinyl format!

And so to The Lab, a double disc treat from Bug that does not disappoint. Over the two discs, Steve shows his depth of DJ style, encompassing more deeper house sounds on disc one, and heady “tech” flavoured grooves on disc two. Showcasing many “leaders of the new school”, from the likes of Motor City Drum Ensemble (MCDE), DJ Koze, Ben Klock, Audiofly, Markus Worgull and Chateau Flight, alongside established artists such as Peace Division, Cobblestone Jazz and Trentmoller, Bug dedicates this Lab mix to those house music producers with an edge and flair for innovative and futuristic sounds. Bug’s “The Lab” mix perhaps sets the trend away from the minimal-by-numbers music from the last couple of years, and pushes the sound to more interesting and deeper territories. The mixes are the sound of now, from the terraces of Ibiza to the beach parties of Croatia, from the underground clubs of Berlin to the sweat soaked warehouses of London and beyond.

Click on the tracks below for audio previews

CD01 (mixed by Steve Bug)
01. Nick Höeppner - Makeover
02. Kevin Griffiths – Cantona Kung Fu
03. Kai Alce feat. Azulu Phantom – Power Thru Pt 3 (Mush Remix)
04. Alex Flitsch & Audiofly – Long Way To Go
05. Rocco – Da Men (Dub)
06. Dplay – Huub Sand
07. Claire Ripley - Kismet
08. Henry L – The Other Day At The Basement (Marcus Worgull's Flugskompensator Dub)
09. David Durango – Perfect Day
10. Sideshow ft. Paul St. Hilaire – If Alone (Chateau Flight Remix)
11. Dan Berkson & James What - Cycles
12. Jay Tripwire – Save Each Other
13. Stl – Silent State
14. Nick Solé – Simple Things
15. Kiki – Good Voodoo

CD02 (mixed by Steve Bug)
01. Craig Smith & The Revenge - The Soul Part 2
02. Outmode - The Examiner (Tom Taylor Remix)
03. Blagger - Strange Behaviour (DJ Koze AKA Swahimi Remix)
04. Channel X - Ticket
05. Jay Tripwire presents 8 Channels - Control
06. Andrade - Fingers (Dirk Lamprecht Remix)
07. Ben Klock - Subzero
08. H.O.S.H. - Better And Sweet (Audiofly Remix)
09. Steve Bug - Swallowed Too Much Bass (feat. Paris The Black Fu) (Joris Voorn Remix)
10. Art Of Tones feat. Jaw - Call The Shots (Motor City Drum Ensemble Remix)
11. DOP - 36500 Days
12. Cobblestone Jazz - Traffic Jam
13. Peace Division - Eh Oh Um
14. Trentemøller Vs DJ Lab – Rauta (Girls Mix)
15. Re-Up - Inside Us
16. Newworldaquarium - Trespassers (Redshape Remix)

Steve Bug - The Lab 02 (2CD Mixed)
Steve Bug - The Lab 02 (2CD Unmixed)
Steve Bug - The Lab 02 (12" vinyl sampler 01)
Digital album on Beatport

Scope's "This Rhythm" out this week on Beatport

NRK breaks a long silence from the singles market this week, with the release of Scope's "This Rhythm". Available now on Beatport, and 12" vinyl (remember those things?), "This Rhythm" sees Belfast based Ric McClelland up the ante on the deep house sound, dragging some dramatic Detroit stylings to the proceedings, and featuring hypnotising vocals from Sandra Lima.

Remixes on this release come from Hamburg's Florian Kruse & Nils Nuernberg, and NRK headhoncho, Nick Harris. Both the remixes have been getting an airing recently from Mr. Richie Hawtin, and others to lend their support to the release include Doc Martin, Laurent Garnier, Jimpster, Osunlade and Ashley Beedle.

Purchase from Beatport
Read Datatransmissions.co.uk review
Scope's "Omoplata" (NRK148)