A renewed interest in early dance music and the resulting release of numerous remix compilations, edits and remakes, allows a new audience to get acquainted with this creative period in dance music. Now it’s time for seminal New York imprint Nu Groove to receive a well deserved remix treatment.
Although the Nu Groove label only existed 4 years, its 100+ output was prolific and almost singlehandedly produced by Ronald, Reginald and Rheji Burrell under various aliases. On Back on Track, Italian producer Nicholas Lammatteo reworks the imprint's back catalogue, taking a snapshot of an era when house music laid down some of its roots. A rising star on the Italian dance scene, the young producer is no stranger to the classic house sound with releases on labels such as Quintessentials, 4LUX and No More Hits.
The 11 tracks on CD (and 12 spread over 3 EP’s) have undergone some knob twiddling and subtle tweaks but retain their vintage sound. The result: a cleaner sound that respects the main N.Y. house aesthetics (soulful vocal house with ample room for organ riffs and funky trumpets). For instance, compared to the original, the remake of Bäs Noir’s I’m Glad You Came is slightly slower and the bass and rhythm are slightly altered. This is done in such a subtle way that I could be fooled into believing this was the original. More radical treatment is bestowed on N.Y. House N’ Authority’s Apt.1a. The acid squelches and some vocals are binned in favor of an organic melody line which allows it to fit better in the overall sound of the compilation. K.A.T.O.’s Booty Dance keeps its addictive piano loop but is graced with a much punchier and cleaner rhythm than the original. The rest of the tracks won’t disappoint too, take a minute to listen to the preview and let the music take you back!
With Back on Track, Nicholas reworked the Nu Groove classics in a respectful way with subtle touch - and rescued a seminal name in house history from oblivion.
8/10
Patrice Knap
