NRK Music, UK house label, released material and compilations from artists such as Peace Division, Nick Holder, Miguel Migs, Skylark, Chymera, Hipp-e, Trackheadz, Paul Woolford, Joey negro, Magik Johnson, Audio Soul Project, Rolando, X-Press 2, Louie Vega, Kerri Chandler, Quentin Harris, Ron Trent, Karizma, Ame, Ian Pooley, Francois K, Charles Webster & many more
01. Chymera - Ceril (Komplex de Deep) 02. Tom Trago - Lost in the Streets of NYC (Use Me Again) 03. Soundstream - Tease Me (Soundstream) 04. Storm Queen - Look right through (Jimpster Edit) (Environ) 05. Vincenzo - The Clearing (Ian Pooley Remix) (Dessous) 06. Bassfort - Last Night (Freerange) 07. Green Velvet - Flash (Jamie Jones Rmx) (Relief) 08. Lovebirds - The Rain (Steve Bug Remix) (Teardrop) 09. Nina Kraviz - Pain in the Ass (Alexkid Rmx) (Rekids) 10. Soundstream - All Night (Soundstream)
NRK Music digs deep through the archives to bring together a collection of US/UK jackin house and acid trax. Representing the Windy City are legends Derrick Carter, DJ Sneak, Joshua and Gemini, whilst the UK throw back some suitably twisted grooves from the likes of Freaks, Rob Mello, Spencer Parker, Solid Groove and Paul Woolford.
Other artists featured on JackAttack include Ian Pooley, Foremost Poets and DJ Q.
"JackAttack" is out now as a digital download album, from Beatport, Traxsource, Whatpeopleplay, Stompy, iTunes etc.
NRK Music, the UK based deep house and tech-house label, make a rare foray into the events world with a special showcase party at the legendary Panorama Bar in Berlin in January.
Label boss and fledgling producer, Nick Harris, will be joined by special guests Ed Davenport, Justin Drake and Ian Pooley, on Friday 28th January for a session that will keep true to the NRK sound.
NRK Music was set up in 1996, and has been a leading underground label throughout the years. Always keeping abreast with musical shifts, the label has released hundreds of singles and compilation albums from artists as diverse as Joey Negro, Nick Holder, Peace Division, Rolando, Joe Claussell, DJ Sneak, Miguel Migs, Audio Soul Project, Ame, Ron Trent, Dave Clarke and countless others. The label’s discography reads like a who’s who of house music.
The NRK Music night at Panorama Bar features new signing, and Berlin resident Ed Davenport, also know for his stellar releases on Liebe Detail and Poker Flat. Fellow Brit, Justin Drake, was one half of tribal titans Peace Division, and now flies solo with releases and remixes on NRK, Tsuba and Fear Of Flying, and will also be DJing, alongside long time NRK associate, Ian Pooley. Pooley really needs little introduction, but for the uninitiated, the German producer has a long career recording for the likes of Force Inc, V2 and his own Pooled label, as well as remixing Daft Punk, Green Velvet, Yello, The Beloved and many more. Finally, label boss Nick Harris follows up a 12 month period of production activity which has included 3 releases for NRK and remixes for Mood Music and Nite Grooves with a spot at his own party!
NRK Music at Panorama Bar, Berlin on Friday 28th January 2010. Admission from €8.00, the event starts at midnight and runs through til dawn.
“Underground Goodies” is a collection of some of the rare nuggets, forgotten classics, heavy dubs and criminally ignored tracks to be found in NRK Music’s envious back catalogue. The label, now in its 14th year, digs deep……
Hi-lights on this digital compilation include older cuts from Chicago's Gemini, DJ Jes, Plastic Avengers, Sirus, Kings Of Tomorrow and Ian Pooley, and some tasty dubs and stripped down mixes from the likes of Nick Holder, Peace Division, Spencer Parker, Peter Dildo (Mountain People) and many more. All the material picked for the album holds up very well against todays productions, and firms up NRK's reputation as one of the best deep house labels around.
“Underground Goodies” also includes a new and exclusive track from NRK's Nick Harris. Titled "Under The Bridge", Nick submerges deep underground for a sparse, old skool house workout.
This digi album is available now on Beatport and Traxsource, with all other reputable digi sites to follow in the coming weeks. A 12" sampler is also out this month, featuring cuts from Kerri Chandler, Foremost Poets and Nick Holder.
2002 saw NRK continue to nuture the existing talent on the label, as well as reaching out to artists new on the label. Miguel Migs had another busy year for NRK, releasing the "Dubplate Sessions EP" and "Satisfied EP", on each one throwing down his trademark dub inspired house tracks. NRK continued to work albums from the previous year from Audio Soul Project (pictured) and Jamie Anderson, with key single releases.
The legendary Francois K enlisted studio partner Rob Rives to create his timeless mix of Audio Soul Project's "Community", a track that has since been sampled to death, but FK and Rives did the original justice with an epic mix. Also enlisted to remix the ASP "Community" album were artists such as Rob Mello, Tony Thomas, Joeski and Ricky Montanari & Davide Ruberto. A "Community Remixed" album was released in this year. Meanwhile, Jamie Anderson's "Blue Music" album was revisited with the "Rebel Sound" single, complete with remixes from The Beloved and Jeno. Ian Pooley was also busy in '02, unleashing a trilogy of 12" singles; "Missing You", Ready To Flow" and "The Fly Shuffle", all released on coloured clear vinyl!
NRK Music has always liked to 'keep it in the family' and certain artists were brought back to the label to keep a sense of continuity. The aforementioned Ricky Montanari & Davide Ruberto released the killer "Redzone EP", a huge Italian deep piano track, and Jeno cropped up again on the label via his now legendary "Stormy Weather Remix" of Rocket's "People".
Other big singles for NRK in 2002 included Q-Burns Abstract Message and their "Innocent" single, remixed by King Britt and Magik Johnson, Sandy Rivera & Jose Burgos produced a great tracky EP titled "Keep Flowing", and UK stalwart, Pete Heller, supplied some great remixes of Louie Balo's mystical "Guiding Light".
The nite:life series continued, again breaking down genre barriers, as we brought to the platters some great mix comps from Joeski & Onionz "Nu-York nite:life", the dark and druggy sounds of Peace Division's "nite:life 010", the solid tech-house sounds of Lexicon Avenue, and a great double mix CD by Danny Krivit, one of the Body & Soul crew and all round NYC legend. His "Expansions" mix was a masterclass in mixology, including cuts from 808 State, Pal Joey, Blaze, DJ Food, Dennis Ferrer and Kerri Chandler.
Our sister label, honchos Music, delivered its biggest record to date. "Piha" by ex-pat Dick "Magik" Johnson, and Germany's Ian Pooley, was picked up by Pete Tong who hammered it on his BBC Radio 1 show for five weeks on the trot. With a remix package from DJ Sneak and Jamie Anderson, "Piha" was released at the end of the Summer 2002, narrowly missing a Top 40 chart position, but certainlybecoming one of the most memorable house cuts of the year, with its blazing disco strings and funk driven beats. Honchos also released key singles from Noel Nanton (including the still huge Ian Pooley remix of "Your Love"), and A J Scent's "ahead of its time" vibes on "I Love Digital".
After the staggering dig-in-the-crates that was Dave Clarke’s Back In The Box, the legendary DJ Sneak gets his hands dirty delivering his mix for the prestigious series from leading UK house label, NRK Music.
Having somewhat of a renaissance of late due to an infamous back-to-back session with Ricardo Villalobos, Sneak aka Carlos Sosa has a history of continually staying ahead of trends and making house and techno that really matters. This makes him the perfect Back In The Box candidate, where unearthed gems and anthems from days gone by are delivered with a fresh outlook.
Kicking off with Blak ‘n’ Spanish “Call Da Vibe”, Sneaks two CD mix (accompanied by an unmissable unmixed CD) captures the best of an era where US production hallmarks like the heavy 909 drums and latin rhythms collided with European interpretations of house from the likes of Bob Sinclair, Ian Pooley and Daft Punk. Highlights include the latter’s truly classic remix of I:Cube’s ‘Disco Cubism’, Sneak’s own smash ‘You Can’t Hide from Your Bud’ and the ultra rare Mood II Swing remix of BT’s ‘Remember’ but it’s impossible to pick with a tracklisting this perfect.
Swing, shuffle, groove or whatever you’d like to call it, DJ Sneak has it in bucketloads and it runs through this mix like an artery feeding hyperactive organs, or something like that. Quick but smooth mixes and the ability to change atmosphere and tempo mean Sneak’s mix is essential stuff, not just for punters but also for DJs as he can safely be called a DJ’s DJ as well as a floor rocker.
Born Carlos Sosa, he moved with his family from Puerto Rico to Chicago in the early 80s, and by the early 90s was instrumental in the Chicago house renaissance, spearheaded by the legendary Cajual and Relief record labels, and a pool of hot talent such as Paul Johnson, Gemini, Cajmere/Green Velvet, Derrick Carter, Glen Underground and many more. His productions have influenced and innovated, and he was enlisted by fans Daft Punk to contribute to their 2001 single, “Digital Love”. Sneak currently resides in Toronto, Canada,
DJ Sneak talks us through some of his selections, more detailed commentary will appear in the CD booklet…
Global Communication – The Way This was a masterpiece of a tune produced by Tom Middleton and Mark Pritchard. Global Communication broke thru and created the most incredible vibe with each release they dropped.
Bob Sinclar – Visions Of Paradise Part of a very smashing LP, Monsieur Sinclar first broke thru with some of the best house music from France. Visions was part of a great selection of really great produced house bangers that are still on rotation.
The Brand New Heavies – Shelter (Danny D Mix) This is by far one of DJ Sneak’s Top 10 records of house music. Danny D delivered a HUGE deep house classic, The Brand New Heavies were heavy, but this remix broke them to a whole new crowd. Massive Respect!
DJ Sneak – You Can’t Hide From Your Bud After trying to hide from my bud while working on a beat, I decided to give into my urges and get blunted … this track was the amazing result. I feel that this record best describes my sound as well as the sound that ruled the ‘90’s. U Can’t Hide became the track that let the world know that DJ Sneak was in the house!
Ian Pooley – Higgledy Piggledy Ian Pooley blasted into the hi life and into many people’s record boxes with this really raw Jackin’ track. This track can get anybody caught sleeping in a club up on their feet and Dancin.
Chris Simmonds - Rush n Soul One of London’s best kept secrets, my man Chris did the dirty on this track. It’s a very structured & solid DEEP HOUSE jam that will live forever in the history of real house music.
DJ Sneak's "Back In The Box" is out 28th February 2009 on double mix CD, double unmixed CD, vinyl samplers and digital album. www.nrkmusic.com/backinthebox
Honchos Music, NRK's sub label that ran from 2000-2006, released just shy of 50 releases, including underground goodies from the likes of Ian Pooley & Magik J, DJ Dan, D'Julz, AJ Scent, Noel Nanton, Jamie Anderson and George T. Presenting a more trackier and tribal sound to NRK's polished deep house sound, Honchos Music was a firm favourite with a lot of tech-house and tribal DJs of the day.
Honchos one and only label comp, "Brigade Honchos" was released in 2003, and compiled and mixed by Mazi, AKA Audio Soul Project. A veritable romp through the label's catalogue up til '03, CD01 started the ride on a deeper and diskofied tip, taking in tracks from Tony Thomas, Dirty Gringo, Ian Pooley and Mood II Swing. CD02 went darker and more percussive, with remixes from Peace Division, Dano, Piliavin & Zimbardo and more cranking up the tempos.
