House | Deep House 364 Items

For an understanding of the past, you have to look to the future – or was it the other way round? No matter how you want to put it, some things are an aesthetic choice, and the meaning of style does not necessarily go hand in hand with the latest fashion fad or an incurable retromania. Chinaski’s debut (album under that name) on Running Back seems predestined to resume these discussions. Drenched in sepia colors and faded VHS tapes memories, fed by a science-fiction that never became a fact, essentially made with the ultramodern instruments of yesteryear (see back cover for further reference) that became redundant through their own relatives and a need to ensure efficiency (time, space, money), it’s either concept art, an ode to Disco Piu, a post card from the early days of Frankfurt’s Dorian Gray or the search and itch for a time machine. All of the debate above is rendered useless by the title though: No Pop, No Fun! And those are the main musical reference points here: instrumental pop that you can dance to, pastel melodies that stick with you and fun frequencies. Downtempo ballads for video game characters in love meet cabriolet anthems and scooter songs. Perfectly composed and carefully made. If John Hughes would have ever aspired to make a high school movie set in a post-apocalyptic Italy: this is what the score would probably sound like.

Just when you thought the series was over, here comes a surprise fifth 12", which includes four tracks from the compilation, re-dubbed by Dj Sotofett!

Marco Funari’s Music Institute Records make’s a return with it’s first ever release from 1993, remastered and re-released. Another lost house classic !

Two supreme House Grooves from the world renowned “Maestro” of the dancefloor in the continuing build-up to the Louie Vega “Expansions In The Nyc” album release. With “Another Day In My Life” Louie Vega incorporates elements of the classic jam “Never Had A Love So Good” by Charles Johnson (fully cleared and licensed from the legendary Henry Stone Music Company), and creates a driving and infectious soul-infused club anthem that ruled the DJ download platforms prior to its vinyl release. On the AA side, Louie works with his long time collaborator Axel Tosca as well as legendary Chicago DJ / Vocalist Mike Dunn to create his own very soulful and New York flavored interpretation of the renowned 1999 Deep Burnt song by Pepe Bradock, done of course with Pepe Bradocks blessings and appreciation.

Rising talent No-e achieves a career milestone this October, making his maiden appearance on Jamie Jones’ Hot Creations with the three-track A List. It continues a highlight 2021 for the Welshman, which has seen him release on Food Music, Nothing But and several other labels already this year.

The title track begins with striking synth pulses and fast-paced kick-hat pairings, whilst old-skool disco samples march on throughout. Fleek manifests as a groovy, vocal-driven number, packed full of female lyrical samples that create a true celebratory feel, before Get It ends proceedings on an upbeat, feel-good note with warm percussion and a swinging underlying bassline.

Welsh DJ / Producer No-e is quickly becoming a talked-about name in today’s electronic music realm. Cutting his teeth in his hometown of Swansea, recent releases on Food Music and All Night Long Records have caught the eye of several well-known talents, including Shadow Child, Alex Virgo and now Hot Creations head Jamie Jones.

Mark Lower is back, and Nervous Records once again hand over the reins to the Nu-Disco prince for his second full length album. Through a series of high-streaming single releases and high-profile remixes, Mark has firmly established himself as one of the freshest sounds in the ever popular Disco-inspired House Genre. His relationship with Nervous Records goes back to 2013, when he released his break-out hit “Bad Boys Cry”. Since then Lower has gone on to see his discography on Nervous alone reach over 150m total streams, and he has developed an especially productive relationship with the A&R Director Andrew Salsano where he has full confidence to constantly push the envelope of genre and format to continue to be a creative leader in the industry, knowing the label will stand behind and work in tandem to bring his sounds to the widest audience possible. It took Mark 7 years (and a break-up) to release a new LP. On « Blurry Dreams Of You », Mark explores new horizons while also keeping his famous signature sound on a few cuts. While his first album « Mark Lover » (2014) was 100% made with virtual intruments and synths, « Blurry Dreams Of You » features talented musicians like Lefti (bass / guitars), Pete Whitfield (live strings) and Edouard Musiala (Sax) among others. On the vocal side, the album features good friends like Scarlett Quinn, Yota or Alexandra Price, but also the amazing Scavenger Hunt, Adeline, Alena and Leeloo.

The album marks one of the most enduring, extraordinary legacies to grace America’s illustrious music history, not just in electronica but far beyond. Founded in 1991 by Michael and his father Sam Weiss, and recognizable immediately by its distinctive character logo, the label grew rapidly, in no small part due to Michael Weiss’ practically unmatched passion for discovering new music.

“Louie Vega and Kenny Dope woke me at 4am on Tuesday night, Wednesday morning from their studio telling me they had something really different that I needed to hear,” Michael recollects. “I asked if they could play it over the phone. They said if I wanted to hear it I had to come to the studio. So of course I got myself up, got dressed and went there. That “really different track” ended up being ‘The Nervous Track’, a tune that became our signature release and was also highly instrumental in the emergency of London’s ‘Broken Beat’ movement.”

The label’s willingness to take chances on fresh sounds and innovative concepts rising up from the melting pot sidewalks of NYC ensured a body of work that has become a living musical history of the city. House cuts ‘Unspeakable Joy’ and ‘Nitelife’ (Kim English), ‘Get Up (Everybody)’ (Byron Stingily) and ‘Feel Like Singing’ (Sandy B) bump up against hip-hop anthems like ‘Who Got Da Props’ (Black Moon) and “Bucktown” (Smif-n-Wessun) and reggae cut ‘Take It Easy’ (Mad Lion); soulful flows from Mood II Swing (Kim English ‘Learn 2 Luv’, Loni Clark “Rushing”), Armand Van Helden (‘The Anthem’) and Nuyorican Soul (‘Mind Fluid’) sit alongside seminal techno singles like Winx’ ‘Don’t Laugh’. The young artists and producers who joined the Nervous Records’ family have gone on to become some of the most hallowed and celebrated dance acts of all time: Louie Vega, Kenny Dope, David Morales, Tony Humphries, Roger Sanchez, Armand Van Helden, Kerri Chandler, Kim English, Byron Stingily, Josh Wink, to name just a handful.

“We did a release with Josh Wink under his Winx alias entitled ‘Nervous Build-Up’,” Michael said. “It did well and it was obvious how talented Josh was. Subsequent to that release I was pretty persistent in asking him to continue to play me his new demos. During one phone conversation he said, “Mike I’m gonna play you something over the phone but don’t laugh when you hear it.” That demo ended up being ‘Don’t Laugh’, which became one of our biggest international hits and still to this day is one of America’s earliest and most impactful techno hits.”

As much a celebration of the label’s future as it is of their past, Nervous Records: 30 Years is but a marker in the imprints’ history, a clear sign of where they’ve been and also where they’re going. With 30 years behind them, the label’s determination to unearth new raw diamonds in the rough is as unwavering as ever.

“I’ve always been one to look at what others are doing (the industry at large) and think, “ok, are they doing this specific thing for a reason, or doing it because everyone else is doing the same thing” and make my decision based on that,” says Nervous Records’ General Manager Andrew Salsano. “In an age where data metrics and analytics reign supreme, I remain steadfast that they should be complementary to your decision and not the sole indicator to make one. So many songs today are written with 15 second hooks in mind for social media, and while there’s nothing wrong with that business model you will always be chasing the wave instead of carving out your own path and identity.

“My primary focus for the sound of the label has and will continue to revolve around signing good songs and music that has the ability to react at the street level first. The best results come from artists that are firstly given a bit of local love that grows into a global impact. Fresh ideas that express child-like curiosity and artists showing vulnerability in their music are also something I look for, artists and producers that are not making music with certain markets in mind, but rather their own style and signature that is unique but able to straddle the fine line of underground and overground.”

Still as raw, as underground and as finely tuned to the dance floor as they ever have been, perhaps the secret to the success - and the longevity - of Nervous Records has something to do with that hard, dogged, no-holds-barred NYC edge that runs through the veins of the label. With the next generation of producers rising from the clubs of New York, one thing is certain; Nervous Records will be there to find them, nurture them and bring them to the world at large, over the next decade and beyond.

Published: 3RD September 2021

Esteemed artist Jamie Jones is set to drop an EP titled Handy Work on his Hot Creations imprint this September. The release features three standout tracks that emulate Jamie’s distinct production skills and ear for the dancefloor.

Title track Handy Work sets the tone with sharp percussion, prominent vocal stabs and a wonky, driving bassline. Next up, Mind Meld With Spock has a stumbling groove, with hypnotic keys and a striking clap. Last up, Sunday In Paris is a blissful number, perfect for the sunrise hours with emotive and elevating chords.

A globally respected and highly accomplished artist, label boss at the seminal Hot Creations, founder and curator of the worldwide Paradise event series and member of cross-genre band Hot Natured, Jamie Jones has achieved iconic status in the electronic music world. A trendsetter and seasoned tastemaker, the Welsh dance music superstar pioneered his own distinct sound, drawing on his deep knowledge and experience to cultivate DJ sets that weave through a range of diverse, complementary styles selected to energise and enchant the dance floor.