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
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.
The Classic NRK imprint delivers the third episode of its Deep Sensation mixes this October, with long-time A&R Nick Harris mixing up a selection of the labels singles output on one cd and a selection of unmixed highlights on another.
After a short break from releasing singles, label boss Harris revived the label’s 12” operations just over 12 months ago and has seen the label live up to it’s legendary history with tracks and mixes from the likes of Steve Bug, Kris Wadsworth, Spencer Parker, DJ Q and AlexKid – all featured here.
Harris himself has stepped out from behind the turntables and A&R desk in recent times, delivering a string of 12”s which have caught the imagination of a staggering list of DJs, from new blood like Seth Troxler through to veterans like Tedd Patterson. His tracks stand out from the crowd and this mix does the same, as good a sign as any that this music industry veteran is paradoxically one of the brightest new talents around.
Just as Carl Craig did with his epic RA Podcast earlier this year, Harris kicks off with Justin Drake’s remix of Amir’s ‘Narrativity’ and the mix takes hold immediately. Shifting through the bumping drums of Kruse & Nuernberg’s remix of Scope’s “This Rhythm” into the 3am trip that is Chris Lattner’s remix of Lewis Boardman, it’s evident from the off that groove rules but melody and texture more than ably assist.
From the darker edges of ultra-modern stripped house such as Amir’s “Anekdote” to the overtly old school sounds of DJ Q’s relentless ‘Superclique’ (allowed to stretch it’s legs for a full ten minutes, here), Deep Sensation III is a superbly executed snapshot of house music, culminating in the epic Paul Woolford remix of Shara Nelson and NuFrequencies “Go That Deep”.
Nick Harris, NRK and all of the artists showcased in Deep Sensation III are deserved of high praise, as no part of this label compilation falls short of excellent.
CD01 MIXED BY NICK HARRIS
01. Amir - Narrativity (Justin Drake Remix) 02. Scope - This Rhythm (feat. Sandra Lima) (Kruse & Nuernberg Remix) 03. Lewis Boardman – Mist (Chris Lattner Remix) 04. David Durango – Supernature (Matthew Styles Remix) 05. Nick Harris – Pony Trekkin 06. Spencer Parker – You Got Me 07. Amir – Anekdote 08. Alexkid & Rodriguez Jr. – Jeri Call 09. DJ Q – Superclique 10. Kruse & Nuernberg – Mirrorball 11. Scope – Frequencies (Steve Bug Flying Faders Remix) 12. Kris Wadsworth – Direct (David Alvarado Remix) 13. Ed Davenport – Overdub In Am 14. NUfrequency feat. Shara Nelson – Go That Deep (Paul Woolford Main Mix)
CD02 DJ FRIENDLY UNMIXED SELECTION
01. Nick Harris – Pony Trekkin 02. David Durango – Supernature (Matthew Styles Remix) 03. Scope – Frequencies (Steve Bug Flying Faders Remix) 04. Lewis Boardman – Mist (Chris Lattner Remix) 05. Scope - This Rhythm (feat. Sandra Lima) (Kruse & Nuernberg Remix) 06. Kris Wadsworth – Direct (David Alvarado Remix) 07. Kruse & Nuernberg – Mirrorball 08. Amir - Narrativity (Justin Drake Remix) 09. NUfrequency feat. Shara Nelson – Go That Deep (Paul Woolford Main Mix) 10. DJ Q – Superclique
Deep Sensation 3 is out on double CD and digital download as from October 25th
“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.
2009 was a testing time for NRK, with the label having to downsize and restructure itself, and so the year started slowley, with those involved taking some time to reorganise and evaluate the future of the label. However, you can't keep an old dog down for too long, and the label fired out a serious contender for "compilation of the year".
Planned in 2008 and finally released in April 09, Loco Dice, the infamous DC10 resident and doyen of deep grooves, compiled and mixed the first in NRK's new mix CD series, The Lab. Designed to let the selector experiment with music, the Lab 01 found Loco Dice rejuvinate his love of pure deep house, and so his double CD spanned the more techno orientated sounds that he is know for as well as some classic deep house sounds from the likes of Nick Holder, 95 North, Tyree Cooper and many more. The Lab 01 was a great success, Loco Dice scooping the front cover of British dance bible iDJ, and the album appearing in the Resident Advisor Top 20 compilations of 2009.
September of this year saw The Lab reappear, this time with fellow German-based DJ/producer Steve Bug at the helm. Notorious for his labels Poker Flat and Dessous, Bug mixed up a double CD delight for The Lab, again pushing the sound towards the deeper end of the spectrum, as Loco Dice did. Choice cuts from MCDE, DJ Koze, H.O.S.H, Ben Klock and Joris Voorn made this compilation a must have for lovers of the deep tech groove.
Back In The Box also carried the torch for retrospective compilations, this time it was Chi-town legend DJ Sneak who got to ransack his record collection, all in the name of creating a mix that will drag you down memory lane to some of house music's most memorable years. Sneak literally slayed the turntables on this double mix, including blinding tunes from the likes of Daft Punk, Ian Pooley, Cajmere, Bob Sinclar, Cricco Castelli and Global Communications. Sneak showed us a masterclass in jackin, boompety house, with flawless mixing and tune selection.
And Belgium's Spirit Catcher offered us a brilliant mix in (the last of) the Coast2Coast series. A superb, contemporary mix of great electronic dance, Spirit Catcher selected great music from the likes of Carl Craig, Johnny D, Jerome Sydenham, Matthias Tanzmann and Motorcitysoul.
NRK got back on the singles racks in September of 09, after an absence of a year, with new singles by Scope (including a massive Kruse & Nuernberg remix), David Durango (with Tony Lionni and NRK's Nick Harris on the mix), Spencer Parker and a new single from Detroit's Kris Wadsworth (enlisting David Alvarado and Nick Harris for remix duties).
Frenchmen Alexkid and Rodriguez Jnr, both respected producers in their own right, have collaborated on a new release for NRK, to be released early in 2010.
Rodriguez Jr is also one half of the hugely successful The Youngsters, who graced such leading labels as F Communications, Ovum, 2020 Vision and Soma Recordings. Meanwhile Alexkid is no stranger to the world of electronic dance, having a well respected CV that includes recordings and remixes for F Communications, Rekids, Get Physical and Luciano’s Cadenza Split Composition label. Alexkid also recently remixed Spencer Parker’s “You Got Me” for NRK.
The duo collaborate on two tracks, “Jeri Call” and “Le Doight Africain”, with the latter getting the remix treatment from rising stars Bearweasel (AKA Dean Mushin & Louisa Page). “Jeri Call” is a simple yet powerful tribal beats driven track that ushers in some haunting horn-like sounds, not for the faint hearted! At the other end of the spectrum, “Le Doight Africain”is a delicate and minimal percussive moodpiece, with tropical vibes aplenty. Bearweasel bulk up this cut on their remix, retaining the relaxed pace of the original, but with a more solid house beat and some playful programming.
“Jeri Call”/”Le Doight Africain” gets a release on 12” vinyl and digital in January 2010.
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.
Following on from his huge remix of Foremost Poet's "Moonraker", berlin based Spencer Parker debuts a couple of original productions on NRK this Autumn, with the release of a two track EP. "Do You, Do You", and "You Got Me" will be released in October, with a remix from Alexkid.
"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.
"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.
