Spencer Parker debuts new EP for NRK

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.

"Do You, Do You", and "You Got Me" will be released on 12" vinyl and digital download in October.

"You Got Me"
"Do You, Do You"
"You Got Me" (Alexkid Defmix)

Kruse & Nuernberg on the remix of Scope's "This Rhythm"

After a year long hiatus from single releases, Bristol (UK) based veteran house imprint NRK Music return with “This Rhythm” from Ric McClelland aka Scope.

With previous releases for Urban Torque and Plastic City, McClelland has established himself as one of the new breed of deep house producers, fusing the warmth and musicality of classic house sounds with modern production and arrangement.

“This Rhythm” is a shining example of McClellands approach to house, with percussion loops, Detroit string stabs and filtered chords all vying for attention while a subtle spoken vocal threads itself throughout.

Florian Kruse and Nils Nurenberg handle remix number one and turn in the sort of peak time mix the pair are known for. Firmly in the neo-Chicago realms of house, the mix builds with fluidity and uses simple but effective drops to make the most of the original’s chords and stabs. Already being played by Richie Hawtin, Doc Martin, Jimpster and Loco Dice, it's looking like this K&N remix will seriously kickstart the duo's production plans for this year!

Finally, long standing NRK A&R Nick Harris serves up an all too rare remix. Having been responsible for the development of many a big name in house music, Harris is about as safe a pair of hands as it gets and his mix more than proves that. Simple and effective is a suitable cliché begging to be employed here as Harris strips things back to drums and bass yet manages to retain the originals vibe through well placed flourishes.

This is a welcome return to singles for a label which has been synonymous with the word “house” for over ten years, and there’s more to come…

"This Rhythm" is releases on digital and 12" vinyl on 28th September. Check out the audio clips below....

Original Mix

Kruse & Nuernberg Mix

Nick Harris Mix

Steve Bug - The Lab 02 - coming soon

Respected German producer/DJ/label entrepreneur, Steve Bug, follows in the footsteps of Loco Dice, in compiling and mixing a double CD mix for NRK Music’s “The Lab” series. Committed to showcasing the house scene’s most innovative and technologically advanced DJs, “The Lab” is shaping up to be a series worth keeping your ears to the ground for.

Starting his career, quite aptly on the party isle of Ibiza, back in 1991, Steve Bug AKA Stefan Brugesch, broke into production in the early 90s, recording for the now legendary Hamburg based Superstition Recordings. A string of early releases (including one for Felix Da Housecat’s fledgling Radikal Fear label), shaped the ‘Steve Bug’ sound of minimal techno house aimed squarely at the dancefloor. By 1998, Bug had set up two record labels to reflect the wealth of talent in his musical circles, namely Poker Flat Recordings and Dessous.

And so it has been the past 10 years, since the inception of his record labels, that Steve Bug has gone from strength to strength, creating both an uber-cool brand in the Poker Flat label and parties, becoming a skilled producer of sleek, seductive house music, and a world renowned DJ with a annual party schedule that takes him to all four corners of the globe.

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.

Steve Bug - The Lab 02 - is out on September 28th, on mixed 2CD, unmixed 2CD, digital album, and three seperate 12" samplers.

CD1 (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

CD2 (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)

Nick Harris - August 09 Mix

NRK label boss, Nick Harris, spreads some musical love this month, with a brand new 60 minute DJ mix. Including some of his favourite cuts doing the rounds right now from the likes of DJ Koze, Tedd patterson, DJ Sneak, Peace Division and Ripperton, Nick's mix also includes two brand new cuts forthcoming on NRK Music, from Spencer Parker (remixed by Alexkid) and Kris Wadsworth. Nick also showcases a track he has just completed called "Shangri-la", a hypnotic and spaced out deep houser..... You can download the mix from Nick's Soundcloud page.

Huxley & Ethyl - If The Pope Shits In The Wood And
No One Is There To Hear It (Cecille Numbers)

Peace Division – Gotta Have You “Rozzo Mix” (Tsuba)

Tedd Patterson – Hubble “Hubba Hubba Dub Mix” (Conaisseur Superior)

Spencer Parker – You Got Me “Alekid Remix” (NRK Music)

DJ Sneak – Bongosonic (Magnetic)

Metro & Sebo K – Saxtrack “Reboot Twisted Fist Rmx” (Cecille)

Precious System – The Voice From Planet Love “Marcus Worgull Rmx” (Running Back)

Blagger - Strange Behaviour (DJ Koze AKA Swahimi Remix) (Perspective)

Kris Wadsworth – Direct (NRK Music)

Nick Harris – Shangri-la (unsigned)

Ripperton – Prends-Moi Avec Toi “Isolee Rmx” (Perspective)

Any enquires, DJ booking requests etc. email nicknrk@btinternet.com

The Lab 01 - Loco Dice - full details here

Loco Dice will unveil the first "experimentation" in NRK's new series, "The Lab", later this month. A stunning double mix from one of the world's brightest stars on the house and techno music scene, this album has been rapturously received by the dance media already (look out for Dice on the front cover of iDJ Magazine this month!)

So, some words from the man himself...

"When NRK first appeared with the idea of THE LAB, I felt sincerely honored. At the same time it was pretty clear that it's a challenge which demands lots of fine feeling and care.

I have sincere respect for NRK. The label has been my regular companion. It has had a unique impact on me since the beginning of my career, it probably even had some fundamental influence on my style. I can't remember how many NRK tracks I've put on turntables in my sets!

This shared history and my personal connection to the sound of the label made me want to achieve a perfect result. And from the beginning I was aware of the direction: I didn't want a classic or best-of compilation and I also thought that a club or strictly dance floor orientated mix wouldn't be the best solution. Rather, I wanted to record a session inspired by the NRK Music label, and mix my personal classics with new and unreleased new tracks, a mix that transports modern sound and the philosophy of NRK Music - at least from my point of view. Deep, groovy, chunky and hypnotic - at home, in a car (...).

I don't know how many days or weeks I've spent at home in front of my record shelves. Slowly, it began to feel like I was in a laboratory. With THE LAB in mind, I experimented with different tracks and sounds for as long as I felt that I had finally found adequate tracks that represent both myself and my style, as well as the spirit of NRK.

The result: one music-collage of 27 tracks on 2 CDs, recorded in my living room in one take where I used possibilities of modern technology with Traktor, which expanded my classic set up consisting of two turntables, a mixer and a bottle of wine.

The first CD contains darker club tracks, while I wanted to keep the second CD deeper and housier, trying to capture all facets of NRK Music. All in all, THE LAB is a very private project that means a lot to me. I hope I was able to make a point with my music.
Enjoy listening.

Here's the full tracklisting for the mix, with audio clips. The project will also be available as an unmixed DJ friendly double CD, as well as a full digital album bundle. "Loco Dice - The Lab 01" gets a full release on April 6th.

CD01 (mixed by Loco Dice)
01. Akiko Kiyama - Hakobi (0801)
02. Second-Hand Satellites - Orbit 1.3
03. Chaton - +91 Ahead Session 1.5
04. Chris Lattner - African Children
05. Robert Dietz - Klondike
06. Önur Ozer - Eclipse (Loco Dice Remix)
07. Kerri Chandler - Pong (Ben Klock's Bones & Strings Dub)
08. MHM 1 - Bubububadub
09. Ion Ludwig - Transnoir
10. Damian Schwartz & Guti - Salon
11. Terrence Dixon - Below Radar (Rhythm Is Rhythm Remix By Mathias Kaden)
12. Someone Else - You Don't Got Me
13. Alex Flatner feat. Lopazz - Perfect Circles (Damian Schwartz Remix)
14. Mirko Loko – Serena

CD02 (mixed by Loco Dice)
01. Nick Holder - Inside Your Soul (Sirus Remix)
02. Jay Haze - Mama Coca
03. Terry Lee Brown Jr In A Deep Session With The Timewriter - Everyday
04. Loco Dice - Black Truffles In The Snow - (Mike Huckaby's The Jazzed Out S Y N T H Remix)
05. DJ Ali - You Don't Know (Ruff Cut)
06. Alix Alvarez - Boom Bip
07. Joseph Malik - Believe And See (Plastic Avengers Remix)
08. Franck Roger - Take Off (Matt That's House Bonus Beat)
09. 95 North - Forever Underground (Bass Dub)
10. Audio Soul Project - Song For Fred
11. Sascha Dive - Deepest America (Samuel Davis Dark Soul Mix)
12. Daso & Pawas - Det
13. Tyree Cooper - Love

NRK Music - An official statement

Contrary to certain internet reports, NRK Music will continue to trade under the new company, Strobelight Limited. However, it is correct that NRK Sound Division Ltd. has gone into administration. Here is an official statement from label boss, Nick Harris…

"It is with great regret and sadness to tell you that NRK SOUND DIVISION LTD. went into administration on Friday 30th January, meaning that the company has dissolved. However, the sale of the assets, intellectual properties, contracts, publishing, stock and copyright of NRK SOUND DIVISION LTD. has been made to STROBELIGHT LTD. of which I have been appointed a Director of. The new company will continue to trade as NRK MUSIC.

This means that NRK MUSIC will continue as from today, Monday 13th February, under "new management”. The label will stay committed to releasing fresh, interesting and quality music releases across all the release formats; digital, vinyl and compact disc.

New compilation releases from Spirit Catcher (Coast2Coast), DJ Sneak (Back In The Box) and Loco Dice (The Lab), remain on course for release over the coming months, and will be distributed worldwide through Ministry Of Sound/Universal. I am also committed to releasing brand new material from a variety of house and techno artists, so watch this space! Thank you to all those who have supported NRK since we started the label in 1996, and it is hoped that this will be a new chapter for NRK Music. Special thanks to all the artists that have helped shape the label over the years, and their understanding with this matter".

Nick Harris

Loco Dice experiments in The Lab

Tunisian born, Dusseldorf raised, Loco Dice has firmly established himself as a major player in the electronic techno house field with an incredible reputation as both DJ and producer. Beginning his career as a hip-hop MC and Urban DJ, supporting the likes of Snoop Dog, Ice Cube and Jamiroquai all over Germany in the early 90s, Dice made the switch to more house orientated beats in the latter part of the decade, spinning at legendary German clubs such as La Rocca and Tribehouse.

Perhaps the style that has elevated Loco Dice to A list DJ status has been the minimal techno explosion over the last few years, but quite simply, Loco Dice plays house music, “deep, groovy, chunky, driving, 123 Music for the terrace” as he describes it. A residency at the now legendary DC10 in Ibiza and an association with fellow German DJ/producer, Timo Maas, propelled Loco Dice to the fore, with hot productions on labels such as 4:20. Ovum Recordings, Cocoon, M_nus and Cadenza Records. And let’s not forget his own label, Desolat, an imprint that has fired out a select bunch of records that all hit the spot.

And so to The Lab, a new series of DJ mix compilations launched by undisputed Kings Of House, NRK Music. Each mix in The Lab series will be a double CD of forward thinking electronic dance music, a platform for the selector to experiment with sound and rhythm, and create a 2 hour + mix that folk are gonna talk about! And Loco Dice does not disappoint; just shy of 30 tracks over two discs, with a mixture of all the styles that make up the Loco Dice sound. Disc One concentrates on the darker club moments, otherworldly and hypnotic grooves from the likes of Terrence Dixon, Kerri Chandler, Second Hand Satellites, Robert Dietz, and other leaders of the nu school sound….intelligent minimal dance but with a great groove and swing….. Disc Two ploughs a deeper house path, winding things down a little from Disc One’s upfront and urgent selection. Many familiar names make up this second mix; dance veterans such as Nick Holder, 95 North, Audio Soul Project, Tyree Cooper and Terry Lee Brown Jr mix it up with Franck Roger and Alix Alvarez beats, and contemporary deepness from Sascha Dive and Daso & Pawas. Mightily impressive stuff from Loco Dice, who is set to have a huge year in 2009, and a great start to NRK’s latest series, The Lab.

The Lab 01, compiled & mixed by loco Dice, will be released on March 16th on 2CD (Mixed), 2CD (Unmixed), two 12" vinyl samplers and a ful digital album release.