00Deep - A Review Of The Decade - 2009

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).

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

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