NRK Music present... Underground Goodies

“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.

Preview - Nick Harris "Under The Bridge"
Preview - Kerri Chandler - "Bar A Thym (Peace Division Mix)"
Preview - Sirus - "Shaman"

Purchase from Beatport
Purchase from Traxsource

Nick Harris - In The Shadows Of Simian EP - out Monday

NRK Music's headhoncho, Nick Harris, delivers the latest release for NRK on Monday, and Nick's debut for his own label. Three tracks then from Nick, each with a differing vibe and pace to them....

"In The Shadows Of Simian" is a chugging, loopy, tribal affair, with a chant based riff that powers this track nicely. "Shangri La" is a sparse, melancholic deep houser. A throbbing sub bass and heavy kick provide the bed for a slightly abstract percussive cut, lots of atmospherics, and a nagging bass riff.... The third track on this release, "Pony Trekkin" is perhaps the most straight up house cut on the release. Crisp drums, some subtle vocal touches, and one big fat groove on!

Nick Harris set up NRK back in 1993 as an artist management/promtions company, and the NRK label followed in 1996. The label's discography now reads like a who's who of house and electronic dance, so many artists have passed through his doors over the last 14 years. Nick has recently been remixing for a rejuvinated NRK label (Scope, David Durango, Kris Wadsworth) and has been busy recoding original material, much of which will see the light of day in 2010.

Check some reactions from selected Djs;

Paul Woolford (Intimacy) - Great to see & hear Nick flourishing! Great tracks, with 'Shangri La' being the favourite.
Stacey Pullen (Transmat) – “Shangri La” is the one i'm feeling. Good job
Terry Francis (Fabric) - like “Shangri La” . Cool
Florian Kruse (Kruse & Nuernberg) - Proper Deephouse!!! “Shangri La” is my fav here! Another great release on NRK!
Osunlade (Yoruba) - Lovin “In The Shadows..Nice percussion groove!
Lars (Funk D’Void) – “Shangri La” is great
Sasse (Mood Music) - “Shangri La” is a burner, wicked ! Full support !
Tedd Patterson (Vibal) - Love it!. Nick brought the drums back on “Shadows”. That’s the cut for me.
D’Julz (Soma/Ovum) - “Shangri La” is superb
Claudio Coccoluto (Italy) - Fine Tribal, full support
Ed Daveport (Liebe*Detail) - Yeah! Super funky workable grooves from Nick.
Alex Niggemann (2020 Vision/8-bit) – “In the Shadows of Simian” & “Shangri La” are really nice...
Jim Rivers (Global Underground) - Really tasty this...all good, “Simian” is nice and I like the low slung funk of “Pony Trekkin”
Matthew Styles-Harris (Crosstown Rebels) - Nice tracks from Nick, shadows will get the play i think :)
Chris Lattner (Moon Harbour) – “Pony Trekkin” and “Shangri La” are the tracks for me on this EP.
Eli (Wolf & Lamb) - Cool release. “Shangri La” is our fave and pony trekkin is cool too.
Enzo (Circo Loco) - Nice EP, liking In the Shadows of Simian
Mazi (Audio Soul Project) – “Pony Trekkin” will twist some brains in an afterhours
Alex Flatner (Circle Music) – “In The Shadows Of Simian” is amazing...Full support
Patrice Baumal (Get Physical) – “Shangri La” is my favourite here, hypnotic grower.

Purchase from Beatport from 8th Feb
Nick Harris on Myspace

Kruse & Nuernberg Top 10 for February

German duo, Florian Kruse and Nils Nuernberg, are fyring on all cylinders right now. So many great productions and remixes currently on the market from these guys! And of course, their latest NRK release, "Blunder EP", has been doing really well on 12" vinyl and download (has been in the Beatport Deep House Top 5 since release!).

Here's the tracks/records that are twisting the melons of K&N this month!

01. Kruse & Nuernberg - Mirror Ball (NRK)
02. Kris Wadsworth - Deep Inside (Dark Energy)
03. Ethyl & Flori – Tanqueray (Freerange)
04. Alex Dee – Fireworks (Supplemental)
05. Jimpster – Sleeper (Freerange)
06. Lovebirds - N2 Deep (Lazy Days)
07. Florian Kruse - Be Active “Daniel Kyo Remix” (Brown Eyed Boyz Records)
08. Neighbour feat. Think Tank – Reputation (Kolour Recordings)
09. Scope – Magic (Large Music)
10. Audio Soul Project - In The Tide (Kolour Recordings)

All these tracks are available to purchase from Stompy.com

Kruse & Nuernberg - Blunder EP on 12" vinyl

Scope (Ric McClelland) Top 10 for February

Scope AKA Ric McClelland, compiles his Top 10 tracks for February. Look out for his new single on NRK later this Spring, "Frequencies" with remixes from Steve Bug and Nick Harris.

1. Scope – Magic – Large
2. Marcel Jochmann – Booty Count – Opsm
3. Scope – I Want - Onethirty
4. Delano Smith – Truth – Third Ear
5. Erich Bogatzky – Murex (Phogenic Mix) – Dieb Audio
6. Sanasol – Tambourine Man (Christopher Groove mix) – Fear Of Flying
7. Sebo k – Spirits – Mobilee
8. Yosa – Plastic People – Dirt Crew
9. Scope – This Rhythm - NRK
10. Einmusik – Fountain – Einmusika

All these tracks are available to purchase from Stompy.com

Amir gets "Uneasy", with Justin Drake on the remix

Amir, AKA Rimah Khalouf, has been bubbling under on the house fraternity for a couple of years, and with a slew of stella releases for high profile labels such as Nick Curly’s 8Bit, Trapez, Great Stuff Recordings and bouq, he debuts for NRK next month with a cheeky 3 track EP entitled "Uneasy Listening EP".

“Narrativity” is a funky, bass driven workout with some frenetic percussion and shuffling groove, and is backed up on this release by a Justin Drake remix. “Drakey” is no stranger to the NRK label, being one half of house ‘legends’ Peace Division, who recorded for NRK many times over the years. Justin delivers a murky yet swinging remix, holding down some strings for a bit of drama. Great club tackle from a seasoned pro!

“Anekdote” on the flip is a stripped back percussive track, not too dissimilar to that old Derrick Carter style from back in the day, with assorted vox clips, heavy stabs and teasing FX easing the track along. Perfect deep, jackin house.

"Uneasy Listening EP" will be released on 12" vinyl on February 15th, with a digital release two weeks later on 1st march.

Preview "Narrativity" (Justin Drake Remix)
Preview "Anekdote"

Alexkid & Rodriguez Jr's "Jeri Call" EP out now

Frenchmen Alexkid and Rodriguez Jnr, both respected producers in their own right, have collaborated on a new release for NRK, out this week on 12" vinyl, and as a Beatport exclusive release for the next 4 weeks.

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.

Joris Voorn - Bearweasel remix for me!! Nice sexy groove..
DJ Hell (Gigolos) - some good tunes in this package !!
Orde Meikle (Slam) - nice grungy trippy house - like this- originals of both tracks are great
D’Julz (Ovum/Poker Flat) - Bearweasel delivers again
Michel Cleis (Cadenza) – Nice release!
Yousef (Cocoon) – Love ‘Jeri Call’! So good
Tony (Brothers Vibe) - Like the beats on Jeri Call - Bearweasel Rmx of Le Doigt Africain is tight as well...
Wally Lopez (Pacha/Underwater) - Jeri call for me ...excellent ethnic grooves
Milton Jackson (Sole Music) - quality package here, liking all 3 mixes thanks
Ed Davenport (Liebe Detail) - lovely intricate work on the remix! support!
Chris Woodward (Buzzin Fly) - great package, Bearweasel mix is the one for me
Chris Lattner (Moon Harbour) - Le Doigt Africain original and Bearweasel remix are great tunes! Especially Bearweasel did it again!!!
Enzo (Circo Loco) - Really feeling all these tracks. Looking forward to playing them all, full support.
Alex Cellar (Freak n Chic) - 3 very good productions, Bearweasel rmx for me :)
Louis Osbourne - A great release. All trax are in the playlist for the festive season. Jeri Call will KILL IT in the right environment! 10/10
James Teej (Rekids) - Bearweasel does it once again, great remix. like the original of le doigt africain tho, will definitely play both of these
Brendon Moeller (Wave Music) - the Bearweasel mix for me!
dOP - great hypnotic record.Like all the tracks here .

12" vinyl release
Beatport digital release

Kruse & Nuernberg's "Blunder EP" out now

German duo, Florian Kruse and Nils Nuernberg, have had a rather busy 2009, releasing and remixing on labels such as Moodmusic, Dark Energy, Global Underground, and remixing Scope’s most recent NRK single “This Rhythm”, a remix that held top ten position in the Beatport deep house chart for over 6 weeks.

And now a full EP for NRK Music, with three solid deep/techy club tracks to get your ears round. “Blunder” is a bouncy, jackin cut, with an almost Teutonic techno breakdown.

“All That Djass” is an all together more funky affair, produced in Hamburg but with almost a Chi-town house vibe, cut up vocal snips coming across like a Derrick Carter production from yesteryear, and some deep Rhodes keys to drive the track along. “All That Djass” is currently sitting pretty in the top 5 Beatport Deep House charts.

Finally, “Mirror Ball” wraps up this solid EP with a distinct French house flavour, some nice filtering and a heavy backbeat, with a subtle D.I.S.C.O vibe stamped all over it.

The "Blunder EP" is out now on 12" vinyl and digital download.

Listen to "Blunder"
Listen to "All That Djass"
Purchase from Traxsource
Purchase from Beatport
Purchase 12" vinyl

00Deep - The Album - Out Now

00Deep celebrates another 10 years passing for UK label NRK Music, a label that has always stuck true to the deep, underground house and techno sounds. If the 90s saw house music come to mainstream appeal, then the 00s fought off the inevitable backlash and threw up so many different sounds and styles which won over a new generation of fans.

2000-2009 is the period then that 00Deep delves into, and this compilation really does show the breadth of styles that NRK Music has pushed over the last decade. Kicking off in 2000 with cuts from Sirus and Plastic Avengers (with H-Foundation on the remix), the deep, tribal house sounds pick up pace throughout the following ten years, taking in the tech-house sounds of Jamie Anderson, Peace Division and Rocket, whilst the deeper styles were reflected with the likes of Nick Holder, Joey Negro and the awesome Francois K remix of Audio Soul Project. Middle of the decade saw two bonafide classics come to the NRK stable, in the shape of Kerri Chandler’s “Bar A Thym” and Quentin Harris’ “Let’s Be Young”, nuff said! And the latter years saw NRK’s A&R policy as diverse as ever, with the disco vibes of Blackjoy, the ultra dark minimalism of Radio Slave, the classic garage sounds of Trackheadz and the polished deep techno of Chymera.

00Deep collects the best of NRK’s output over the last ten years, and the label is gearing up for more solid music releases over the next 10 years.

Beatport https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/release/detail/208129/00Deep
Traxsource http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=43928
iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/album/00deep/id343206778

Nick Harris - December 09 Hotmix

NRK's Nick Harris presents a brand new 60 minute DJ mix. Download here

Martin Landsky - Who's Laughing Now (Poker Flat)
Mountain People - 008.3 (Mountain People)
Justin Drake - Slow Hand (Tsuba)
Pawas & BLM - Online (Cally Vinyl Remix) (Fear Of Flying)
Steve Lawler - Hocus Pocus (Radio Slave's Mole People Mix) (Viva Music)
Alexkid & Rodriguez Jr - Le Doight African (Bearweasal Linear Dub ) (NRK)
Matthias Meyer - Infinity (Liebe Detail)
Neville Watson & Kink - Blueprint (Rush Hour)
Ben Klock - Goodly Sin feat. Elif Bicer (Robert Hood Remix) (Ostgut Ton)
Baeka - Right At It (Michael Cleis Deeper Remix) (Rekids)
Radio Slave - Orchestrating Maneuvers In the Dark (Om)
Nick Harris - Another Sleepless Night

DJ bookings: ally@avant-booking.co.uk

00Deep - A Review Of The Decade - 2002

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".

00Deep - A Review Of The Decade - 2000

As we approach the end of the decade, the NRK Music blogspot hi-lights each of the years that made up the "noughties", a year that had it's ups and downs for the house music scene, but is certainly come out on top as we approach 2010. So here we go with the first installment...

2000

NRK Music surged into the new millennium with all cylinders’ firing, having already spent the late 1990’s making a big impact on the deep house scene. Already a label noted for bringing forward cutting edge trends in house music, via artists and releases from the likes of Dimitri From Paris, Francois K, Ian Pooley and Nick Holder, the year 2000 saw the label’s long standing relationship with a certain Mr. Miguel Migs, via a release called “Inner Excursions EP”, featuring the classic “Petalpushing” track.




Miguel Migs was already making a name for himself, via super deep and sophisticated releases for Naked Music and Yoshi Toshi. And the “Inner Excursions EP” marked out Miguel’s love of deep, tracky house music, a sound that was to become synonymous with NRK Music over the decade.



2000 also saw another relationship develop, this time with UK house stalwart Dave Lee AKA Joey Negro, who went on to record for NRK many times. He releases the superb “Your Wildest Dreams” 12” in this year, along with a robotically funky 2020 Vision remix (AKA Ralph Lawson and Carl Finlow) on a nice clear 12” vinyl pressing!



The decade also kicked off with one seriously major music trend, that of the reverberating, dub heavy house sounds of the West Coast crews. NRK Music was one of the first UK labels to pick up on these sounds, and in 2000 releases 12”s from Twisted Pair (AKA Dano & Joeski) “Horny Hustle”, Onionz & Master D’s “Celia’s Groove” and Dano’s “Drifting On Continents”. Perhaps the most successful artists emerging from that scene, H-Foundation (AKA Hipp-e & Halo Varga) supplied a killer remix of Plastic Avenger’s “El Bombata” whilst Halo went solo for a devastating remix of Sirus’ “An Eye For An Eye”, a track that was already huge with Danny Tenaglia that year.

It was decided to test the waters in this year with out first ever DJ mix compilation series (a format that the label still excels in to this day), and so “nite:life” was born. The scene’s most celebrated DJs, and the most cutting edge, underground sounds, our first three selectors did not disappoint. Jon Marsh, lead singer and producer of The Beloved, mixed up a great CD to kick start the series, whilst the aforementioned H-Foundation set the standards high with a genre defining double CD mix for “nite:life 02”. Miguel Migs nailed the sound of the Millenium with “nite:life 03”, a mix that has beome such a huge favourite with many fans.



Other notable releases for NRK this year include Nick Holder’s second album for the label “Underground Alternatives” and Sirus’ “On The Edge Of A Dream” featuring the singles “Big Ben” and “An Eye For An Eye”. The year 2000 also saw NRK’s sister label, Honchos Music, make its first steps with a more trackier/tribal sound, and it’s first two releases from Dirty Gringo and George T.

Alexkid & Rodriguez Jr collaboration for NRK

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.

Jeri Call (Original Mix)
Le Doight Africain (Bearweasel Linear Dub)
Alexkid remix of Spencer Parker’s “You Got Me”

Kruse & Nuernberg "Blunder EP" coming soon on NRK

German duo, Florian Kruse and Nils Nuernberg, have had a rather busy 2009, releasing and remixing on labels such as Moodmusic, Dark Energy, Global Underground, and remixing Scope’s most recent NRK single “This Rhythm”, a remix that held top ten position in the Beatport deep house chart for over 6 weeks.

And now a full EP for NRK Music, with three solid deep/techy club tracks to get your ears round. “Blunder” is a bouncy, jackin cut, with an almost Teutonic techno breakdown.

“All that Djass” is an all together more funky affair, produced in Hamburg but with almost a classic Chicago house vibe, cut up vocal snips coming across like a Derrick Carter production from yesteryear, and some deep Rhodes keys to drive the track along.

Finally, “Mirror Ball” wraps up this solid EP with a distinct French house flavour, some nice filtering and a heavy backbeat, with a subtle D.I.S.C.O vibe stamped all over it.

Kruse & Nuernber's "Blunder EP" will get a 12" vinyl release on 7th December, with a Beatport digital release to follow on 21st December.

Listen to "Blunder"
Listen to "All That Djass"
Kruse & Nuernberg's Myspace

David Alvarado returns to the fold

David Alvarado, the LA based house veteran, makes a welcome return to the music scene this month with a remix of Kris Wadsworth's "Direct". Alvarado has been a long time associate of NRK Music, and released the ultra deep mini album, "Transiguration" on the label back in 2004.

David has been a consistent favourite on the house scene since his early productions for Strictly Rhythm, Groove On, Yoshi Toshi and Ovum in the 90s, as well as productions for legendary labels such as Peacefrog, Guidance and Plastic City. Recent years has seen David taking a back seat from the wheels of music production, but it is hoped that his remix here for NRK will spark the flames of musicality for more productions to come out over the next year.

His remix of Kris Wadsworth's "Direct" is in classic Alvarado style, heavy tribal beats, dubby reverberations, trippy deepness, and dense and engaging production. His remix is already picking up support from the likes of Dixon,Rocky (X-Press 2), Paul Woolford and Jay Tripwire.

Wadsworth's new EP comprises two tracks, "Direct" and "Full Body", both treading similar paths of stripped back, raw house tracks. Bleepy yet with plenty of deepness, it's refreshing to see a producer out there not following suit, but producing an individual sound. Certainly these tracks are intended for those who like their house deeper than the black hole!

The package is completed by a remix from NRK's Nick Harris, who neatly moulds "Full Body" into a more club firendlier version, utilizing some of the original's chords and bleeps and turning out a solid, hypnotic rework.

Kris Wadsworth "Direct"/"Full Body" is released on 30th November as a digital EP, with the vinyl release concentrating on Alvarado's remix of "Direct" and the original Wadsworth version.

Direct (David Alvarado Remix)
Direct (Original Mix)
Full Body (Original Mix)
Full Body (Nick Harris Remix)

Back to basics with Kris Wadsworth

Kris Wadsworth, an artist who has had an incredible year to date, with releases and remixes on labels like Poker Flat, Hypercolour, Dark Energy and Fresh Meat, showcases two fresh new tracks on NRK Music next month.

Renowned for his "back to basics" approach of house, prefering the raw and gritty sounds of yesteryear to the somewhat sleeker production sounds of the current crop, Detroit based Wadsworth drops two tracks in his own inimitable style.

The new EP comprises two tracks, "Direct" and "Full Body", both treading similar paths of stripped back, raw house tracks. Bleepy yet with plenty of deepness, it's refreshing to see a producer out there not following suit, but producing an individual sound. Certainly these tracks are intended for those who like their house deeper than the black hole!

Kris Wadsworth "Direct"/"Full Body" gets a release on 2nd November with remixes.

Full Body
Direct
Kris Wadsworth Myspace

NRK's Nick Harris on his Lifetracks

NRK's Nick Harris is the subject of the Bristol based Byte Blogspot's Lifetracks series. Focussing on the various talent from the city, Lifetracks features a special "influences" mix, and an accompanying in depth interview with its subject.

For his mix, Nick delved deep into the tracks that influenced him and helped shape his long career in the dance music industry, drawing on significant tracks from the likes of The Clash, Dub Syndicate, Plastikman, St. Germain and Killing Joke.

You can read the full interview with Nick here, and also listen and download his special Lifetracks mix.

Steve Bug's "The Lab 02" out this week

This week sees the release of Steve Bug's "The Lab 02" mix compilation project. Already picking up rave music in the dance music press, Bug follows in the footsteps of Loco Dice by compiling and mixing for NRK's newest series.

The album is available as a mixed 2CD and also as highly popular unmixed 2CD, featuring selected tracks in their entirety. We have also issued three seperate 12" samplers for those that still play and cherish the vinyl format!

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.

Click on the tracks below for audio previews

CD01 (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

CD02 (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)

Steve Bug - The Lab 02 (2CD Mixed)
Steve Bug - The Lab 02 (2CD Unmixed)
Steve Bug - The Lab 02 (12" vinyl sampler 01)
Digital album on Beatport

Scope's "This Rhythm" out this week on Beatport

NRK breaks a long silence from the singles market this week, with the release of Scope's "This Rhythm". Available now on Beatport, and 12" vinyl (remember those things?), "This Rhythm" sees Belfast based Ric McClelland up the ante on the deep house sound, dragging some dramatic Detroit stylings to the proceedings, and featuring hypnotising vocals from Sandra Lima.

Remixes on this release come from Hamburg's Florian Kruse & Nils Nuernberg, and NRK headhoncho, Nick Harris. Both the remixes have been getting an airing recently from Mr. Richie Hawtin, and others to lend their support to the release include Doc Martin, Laurent Garnier, Jimpster, Osunlade and Ashley Beedle.

Purchase from Beatport
Read Datatransmissions.co.uk review
Scope's "Omoplata" (NRK148)

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)

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.