DJ Sneak gives an insight into his Back In The Box selection

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,

This is essential, life affirming stuff!

CD01 (mixed by DJ Sneak)
01. Blak 'n' Spanish – Call Da Vibe
02. Freeform Five ft. Carolyn Harding – One Day (Freeform Re - Form Dub)
03. BT – Remember (Mood II Swing Dub Mix)
04. Blue Boy – Sandman
05. Chris Simmonds - Rush n Soul
06. Mousse T - Ooh Song
07. Deepah Ones – In The Sky
08. Johnny Corporate – Sunday Shoutin (B Boys Shoutin Dub)
09. Global Communication – The Way
10. Studio 45 pres Le Pamp Playhouse - I Like The Sounds
11. Bob Sinclar – Visions Of Paradise
12. Cheek – Venus (Sunshine People Mix)
13. Cajmere feat. Dajae – Brighter Days (Underground Goodie)
14. The Brand New Heavies – Shelter (Danny D Mix)
15. Cricco Castelli – Life Is Changing
16. DJ D presents Hydraulic Dogs - Shake It For Me (Original Mix)

CD02 (mixed by DJ Sneak)
01. Markus Nikolai - Bushes (The First Re-Creation) (Version 1.2)
02. Johnny Fiasco – Conduction
03. Secret Ingredients - Chicago Chicago
04. The Chicago Connection – Dancin’ (Mark Grant Mix)
05. DJ Sneak – You Can’t Hide From Your Bud
06. Paul Johnson – Hit It Up
07. DJ Sneak - All Over My Face
08. Roach Motel pres. 2 Stupid Dogz – Trouble
09. Deaf n Dumb ft. S. Leger & Nicholas de Floraiant – Holiday On Night
10. I-Cube - Disco Cubism (Daft Punk Mix)
11. Happy Human – Horn Junk
12. C-Dock – Traffic Jam
13. Ian Pooley – Higgledy Piggledy
14. Bob Sinclar – The Ghetto (Original Cleared Version)
15. Fantom – Faithfull (Original Mix Par Fantom)

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

Spirit Catcher's Coast2Coast out next month

Belgium’s Spirit Catcher inject some futuristic minimal grooves into the Coast2Coast series with an accomplished blend of tech-soul & future funk from the likes of Carl Craig, Johnny D, Jerome Sydenham & many more…

Spirit Catcher have carved out a very solid name for themselves over the past few years, with releases on labels such as Freerange, 2020 Vision, SAW Recordings and Mood Music, as well as blistering live sets across the globe. Their unique sound of disco flicked, driving techno house has rocked crowds all over Europe and into South America and Australia, and of late their sound has taken on a more energetic pace.

The Spirit Catcher Coast2Coast offering reflects the varied influences of Jean Vanesse and Thomas Sohet. Respected producers such as Carl Craig and Jerome Sydenham represent musically alongside leaders of the new school, Johnny D, Daniel Stefanik, Peter Dildo, Moodymanc and Johnjon.

An energetic mix, but with plenty of depth and soul, Spirit Catcher’s Coast2Coast comes with a bonus unmixed CD, a must for all CD-DJs and those who like to bulk up their iPod with some choice dance cuts.

NRK’s respected Coast2Coast series has been at the forefront of the underground house compilation market since the series surfaced in 2006. Other DJs to have contributed to the series so far include Âme, Kerri Chandler, Miguel Migs, X-Press 2 and Charles Webster.

Spirit Catcher - Coast2Coast - is released on 9th February 2009 on double CD and digital album.

01. Soul Designer - DDNA
02. James Talk & Ridney - Sunshyne
03. Raiders Of The Lost ARP - Summer 1986
04. Matthias Tanzmann - Swim (Peter Dildo Swimming In Deep Water Remix)
05. Bart Skils & Anton Pieete AKA District One - One 2 One
06. Johnny D - Orbitalife
07. Prompt - Evolve
08. Leif - OHNH
09. BLM - Nacho
10. Motorcitysoul - Fantasy (Daniel Stefanik Remix)
11. H.O.S.H. – Steppenwolf (Jerome Sydenham's Blacktro Dub Remix)
12. Moodymanc - Coleman
13. Johnjon - Meanwhile (Kollektiv Turmstrasse remix)
14. Tribe – Livin’ In A New Day (C2 remix)

NRK Music's Review Of The Year

As we draw to the end of the year, it's a time to reflect on another busy year at NRK HQ. Whilst the music industry has again taken a year of hard knocks (stores closing, distributors going bust, the decline in sales etc.) this has not stopped some quality music being produced this year, and another busy year in the clubs, with new DJs breaking through and new genres creeping in.

So this month we look at the tunes and albums released on NRK over the last 12 months. Many of these releases are included in our annual Winter Sale, so have a browse around the NRK shop and see if there's a bargain that takes your ear! Many 12" singles are available from £1.50, many CDs and mix comps available from £2.99, and tee-shirts have been reduced to £9.99.

So really, just to wish you a all a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year, thanks for all the support in 2008, and you'll be hearing from us very soon with some exciting new releases from NRK in 2009.

Check out our Review Of The Year newsletter

Paul Woolford remixes "Go that Deep"

"Go That Deep" has been one of those records that comes along every once in a while, wafting in like a breath of fresh air in a music scene busting with productions of differing quality. The unmistakable voice of Shara Nelson combined with the always on form Charles Webster, as chief remixer for "Go That Deep". Starting life as a downtempo song from Italy's Nufrequency, and picking up legendary deep house status from Webster, the track was also propelled to the fore, courtesy of great club remixes from Redanka and Skylark.

And so we leave the last word on "Go That Deep" (perhaps), to Paul Woolford, a remixer who was chomping at the bit to tackle the quite difficult task of remixing a future classic. Wooly has gone for the jugular on his two mixes here, utilising a part of the original vocal from Shara Nelson, and laying down a heavy and epic production that will certainly grab your ears. Very techno, very big, and hopefully a remix that will blow the socks off the party massive when dropped at the right moment. Wooly road tested this remix during his Ibiza Space residency this Summer, and by the grin on his face when I last saw him, I'd say it has the right effect! And most recently, Pete Tong and X-Press 2 have dropped the remix on their respective Radio 1 and Kiss FM shows!

Wooly's mixes of "Go That Deep" are out on December 15th, exclusively on Beatport.

Listen to a clip of Paul Woolford's "Go That Deep" remix

Exclusive news of Spirit Catcher's Coast2Coast mix

Belgium’s Spirit Catcher inject some futuristic minimal grooves into the Coast2Coast series with an accomplished blend of tech-soul & future funk from the likes of Carl Craig, Johnny D, Jerome Sydenham & many more… Available from mid-January, Spirit Catcher's C2C mix is the 9th compilation in the series that has so far had stellar contributions from Âme, Kerri Chandler, Miguel Migs, X-Press 2 and Charles Webster and others.

Spirit Catcher have carved out a solid name for themselves over the past few years, with releases on labels such as Freerange, 2020 Vision, SAW Recordings and Mood Music, as well as blistering live sets across the globe. Their unique sound of disco flicked, driving techno house has rocked crowds all over Europe and into South America and Australia, and of late their sound has taken on a more energetic pace.

The Spirit Catcher Coast2Coast offering reflects the varied influences of Jean Vanesse and Thomas Sohet. Respected producers such as Carl Craig and Jerome Sydenham represent musically alongside leaders of the new school, Johnny D, Daniel Stefanik, Peter Dildo, Moodymanc and Johnjon.

An energetic mix, but with plenty of depth and soul, Spirit Catcher’s Coast2Coast comes with a bonus unmixed CD, a must for all CD-DJs and those who like to bulk up their iPod with some choice dance cuts. The double CD is out on January 26th and will also be available as a digital album. Full tracklisting to be announced soon....

H.O.S.H. - Steppenwolf (Jerome Sydenham Mix)
Johnjon - Meanwhile (Kollectiv Turmstrasse Remix)
Matthias Tanzmann - Swim (Peter Dildo Remix)
BLM - Nacho
Motorcitysoul - Fantasy (Daniel Stefanik Remix)

DJ Sneak goes crate diggin for Back In The Box

Chicago veteran, DJ Sneak, has been confirmed as the next DJ to go crate diggin for NRK's popular Back In The Box series. Following in the trusty footsteps of Joey Negro, 'Little' Louie Vega and Dave Clarke, DJ Sneak will delve deep into the record collection to lay down a double CD mix of older house records that rocked the party time and time again, records that have since been left dormant on the shelves, waiting for the right monent to be dusted off (and this is that moment!).

Concentrating on the mid 90s period of disco flecked, jackin bass heavy beats, Sneak's mix looks likely to contain gems from the likes of Blue Boy, Johnny Fiasco, Mood II Swing, Markus Nicolai, Paul Johnson, Basement Jaxx, Daft Punk, Cricco Castelli, Mousse T and many more....

DJ Sneak - Back In The Box will be out in February 2009. Watch this space for more details as we get em....

Back In The Box

Nick Harris (NRK) - October 08 Hotmix

A new mix from NRK's headhoncho, Nick Harris.

Kerri Chandler pres. The Invaders – The Panic “Original Mix”
Matthias Tanzmann - Swim “Peter Dildo Swimming In Deep Water Mix”
Anthony Collins - Rabouine House “Soul Afrikadeep Remix”
Sunburst Band - Journey To The Sun “Dennis Ferrer Dub”
Peter Dildo – Womanizer
Johnny D – Orbitallife
Foremost Poets – Moonraker (Spencer Parker’s Gun For Hire Remix)
Radio Slave – Bell Clap Dance (Slam Remix)
District One - One 2 One
Johnny Fiasco - Conduction
DJ Q – Superclique

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