NUPHONIC 01 AND NUPHONIC 02.

dereksmusicblog ♦ March 2, 2012 ♦ 2 Comments

NUPHONIC 01 AND NUPHONIC 02.

When I was looking through an old pile of compilations recently, I rediscovered a much loved, and sadly lamented compilation series that ran for four volumes between 1998 and 2003. This was the Nuphonic series, which began with Nuphonic 01 in 1998 and ended with Nuphonic 04 in 2003. In between, Nuphonic was at the vanguard of contemporary dance music released in the UK. However, there was so much more to the Nuphonic label than just four compilations. Nuphonic released the first two volumes of Joey and Norman Jay’s Good Times compilations, plus two volumes of David Mancuso Presents The Loft. It wasn’t just compilations that Nuphonic released though. They also released albums from Block 16, Fug, Idjut Boys, Faze Action, Black Jazz Chronicles and Adam Goldstone. Sadly, the Nuphonic  label only existed for eight years, but during those eight years released some of the most memorable music of that time. Before I tell you about the music on the first two volumes of the Nuphonic series, I’ll briefly tell you about Nuphonic’s history.

Nuphonic were founded in 1995 by Sav Remzi and David Hill in London. Their aim was to release and promote dance music, with the emphasis on house and electronic music. This music reflected the pair’s love for funk, soul, jazz and world music. The first album the new label released was in June 1995, and was Faze Action’s Original Disco Motion. After this, EPs from Blaze and twelve inch singles from Larceny and The Free Chicago Movement followed in 1995. 

In 1998, the Nuphonic 01 compilation was released. This compilation reflected Nuphonic’s passion for Nu-House music, with tracks from Blaze, Kerri Chandler and Joe Claussell. However, there was more to Nuphonic 01 than house music, with the compilation representing the eclectic quality of the label’s roster. Tracks from Black Jazz Chronicles, The Free Chicago Movement, Fuzz Against Junk and Faze Action. When Nuphonic 01 was released, it immediately became a hugely popular compilation, with Nuphonic becoming one of the hottest labels in the UK.

A year later, Nuphonic 02 would be released in 1999. By this time, Nuphonic had released the first volume of David Mancuso Presents The Loft, plus albums by Fuzz Against Junk, Faze Action and Soul Ascendants. On Nuphonic 02 were tracks from Nuphonic’s recent releases, with tracks from Roy Davis Jr., Blaze, Marcel and Soul Ascendants. It really was another eclectic selection of quality music from Nuphonic. 

In 2000 Nuphonic 03 was released, along with albums like The Idjut Boys’ Saturday Night Live and Andrew Weatherall’s Nine O’Clock Drop. Meanwhile, Nuphonic were releasing some of the best compilations of that time. This included Last Night A DJ Saved My Live, David Mancuso Presents The Loft Volume 2 and the first installment of Joey and Norman Jay’s Good Times compilation series. Looking back, the year 2000 was one of the biggest years in Nuphonic’s history. Little did people know back then, that the label would only last another two years.

While 2000 had been a big year for Nuphonic, 2001 was almost as busy. Nuphonic 04 was released, with compilations including Joey and Norman Jay’s Good Times Volume 2 and London Xpress demonstrating Nuphonic’s ability to release consistent, quality compilations. However, it was some of the artist albums Nuphonic released in 2001 that really stood out. 2001 was truly a golden year for Nuphonic and artists albums, with Fug’s Ready For Us, Block 16’s Morning Sun and Adam Goldstone’s Lower East Side Stories a trio of great albums from Nuphonic. Sadly, after this golden year for Nuphonic, 2002 would see Nuphonic close its doors.

Although Nuphonic would close its doors in 2002, it still issued some quality music. Among the highlights were a remix album of Block 16’s Morning Sun, entitled Morning Sun Remixed, along with the This Is Not A Soundclash compilation. However, apart from the odd EP and a couple of twelve inch singles, that was all that was heard from Nuphonic. The label folded in 2002, citing a fall in sales, the changing way consumers were buying music and a change in musical tastes. What had been one of the most influential and innovative labels in the UK ceased trading. By 2004, Sav Remzi was back in the music industry with a new label, Tirk Records. Two years later, in 2006, Dave Hill was back in music, having formed Radial Music a composing and supervisory company. However, many people, myself included, look back on the Nuphonic label with fondness, remembering the many great albums and  compilations the label released during its eight year history. Two compilations which contain the type of music Nuphonic were releasing during 1998 and 1999, are Nuphonic 01 and Nuphonic 02, which I’ll now tell you about.

NUPHONIC 01.

Nuphonic 01 was released in 1998, and was like a sampler of the music Nuphonic was releasing at this time. I remember buying this compilation, after being impressed by the variety and quality of music being released by Nuphonic from 1995 onwards. With tracks from Blaze, Kerri Chandler and Joe Claussell, Faze Action, Black Jazz Chronicles and The Free Chicago Movement, Nuphonic 01 was an eclectic compilation of nine tracks from artists on the Nuphonic label. I’ll now pick my favorite tracks from Nuphonic 01.

My first choice from Nuphonic 01 is Blaze’s Moonwalk, which opens with crispy drumbeats, before moody sounding synths atmospherically drift across the arrangement. Keyboards meander, adding to the atmospheric, mysterious sound that gradually, is revealing itself. There’s an interesting contrast between the crispness of the drums and squelchy, moody sound from the mainstay of the arrangement. Even when the tempo gradually increases, an air of mystery still hangs over this slice of deep house music. Since I first heard this track back in 1998, I’ve found it almost mesmeric and hypnotic. 

Kerri Chandler and Joe Claussell’s Escravos De Jo opens with just a trumpet blazing, accompanied by percussion and drumbeats. This combination is joined by backing vocalists that sweep in. By now, the track has a real Latin sound and feel, that’s combined with elements of jazz and house music. The house music element is provided by crispy beats that enter, helping drive the track along. Still it’s just percussion, trumpet and backing vocalists that accompany the drumbeats. However, they manage to give the arrangement a fuller, busy sound. Together, they create a track that combines elements of Latin, jazz and house music majestically.

Tribute by Soul Ascendants is one of the best tracks on Nuphonic 01. It’s a jazzy house track, with the crispest of drumbeats, joining percussion, stabs of keyboards and braying horns. Together they combine elements of jazz, Latin and house music. This is combined by the Soul Ascendants and transformed into a near ten minute epic track. With it’s joyous and infectiously catchy sound, it’s one of the highlights of Nuphonic 01, and a reminder of the quality of music Nuphonic were releasing in 1998.

The final track I’ve chosen from Nuphonic 01, is Ten City’s Nothing’s Changed. This track has a very different, but quite beautiful sound. Featuring flourishes of keyboards, cascading strings, percussion and punchy drumbeats, they’re joined by a lovely vocal. It’s emotive and joyous, accompanied by backing vocalists, while the arrangement is mixture of contrasting sound. There’s everything from bursts of rasping horns, lush strings, crispy drumbeats and a myriad of percussion. Much as I love the arrangement, it’s the vocal which is the highlight of track. Subtle and lilting, then emotive and expressive, it’s gorgeous, especially when combined with an arrangement this good.

I remember when I first listened to Nuphonic 01, I was immediately struck not just by the eclectic nature of the compilation, but the quality of the music. Back then, like now, I was buying many compilations. Many of these varied in quality, with it being a case of the good, the bad and ugly. Nuphonic 01 wasn’t just good though, it was very good. Then when I heard a second volume was about to be released in 1999, I wondered if Nuphonic 02 would match the quality of Nuphonic 01. Too often, I’d come across cases where volume two was but a pale imitation of volume one. This was at a time when it seemed new independent labels were starting up every week, all over the world. So when I received Nuphonic 02, it was with some trepidation that I started listening to it, hoping it would match the quality of Nuphonic 02? Was that the case though?

NUPHONIC 01.

NUPHONIC 02.

Released in 1999, a year after Nuphonic 01, Nuphonic 02 featured a few familiar faces from the previous volume. Again, there were songs by Blaze, Soul Ascendants, Faze Acton and Fuzz Against Junk. Alongside these familiar faces, were tracks from Roy Davis Jr., Tiny Trendies and Rollercone. So with a combination of eclectic tracks from old and new friends, I took the plunge, put on Nuphonic 02, hoping it was as good as Nuphonic 01. However, could and would, Nuphonic 02 live up to my expectations?

One of the familiar faces from Nuphonic 01, Soul Ascendants, were responsible for one of the best tracks on Nuphonic 01. Here, their contribution is String Thing, a combination of crunching beats which combine perfectly with percussion. They’re augmented by flourishes of synths and keyboards, before dramatic, grandiose strings enter. They’ve an orchestral sound, while the rest of the arrangement is a scintillatingly catchy sound. Bursts of of equally dramatic rasping horns enter, before furiously, quick chiming guitars join the mix. For just over six amazing minutes Soul Ascendants take you on a truly hook laden musical journey fusing house and jazz, with orchestral strings magically.

Blaze were also on Nuphonic 01, with their track Moonwalk another highlight of the compilation. Here, Swag’s Spiritual Mix of My Beat is even better than Moonwalk. It’s a track that reminds me of 1999, when Nuphonic 02 was released. With cruchy beats, a proliferation of percussion, stabs of keyboards and a confident female vocal that enters later in the track. The track is driven along, with Blaze’s unique brand of jazzy house, where the beats are crisp, the keyboard sound warm and the percussion plentiful. For me, the finishing touch is the slow, confident vocal. Together with the arrangement, Blaze contribute one of the real highlights of Nuphonic 02.

Faze Action’s Moving Cities, the title track from their 1999 album is another track that features stirring, dramatic strings. They’re fused with a dark, moody bass, drumbeats, percussion and keyboards. Chiming guitars enter, providing a contrast to the darkness and drama of the strings, during an arrangement that’s fast, catchy and mixes a variety of musical contrast. Layer upon layer of music gradually reveals itself thanks to brothers Robin and Simon Lee. Later, the strings take on a lush sound, as they glide gracefully atop the arrangement. To me, this track is a fitting reminder of the fantastic music Faze Action were making during their time on Nuphonic.

My final choice from Nuphonic 02 is Rollercone’s Palais Mascotte, the group’s only release on Nuphonic. Mind you, if you’re only going to release one single on a label, make it one as good as this. The beats are slow, crisp and slightly spacey as the track opens. Stabs of keyboards are joined by a scatted vocal, which has beautiful sound. Still, it’s just a compelling combination of keyboards and crispy beats, that accompany the jazzy, scatted female vocal as you await the track to reveal itself. Handclaps join the mix, before the track seems to have a false ending after two minutes. Instead, it’s just a case of rebuilding the track, with drums, percussion and keyboards accompany the scatted vocal. Although the arrangement is a variation on an earlier theme rearranged, it somehow draws you in. You become caught up in the track, find yourself almost hypnotized by the constant beats, so much so, that you hardly notice that over six minutes have passed before the track ends. However, what a fantastic way to spend six minutes, listening to a track as beautiful as this.

Having wondered whether Nuphonic 02 would match the quality of its predecessor Nuphonic 01, I shouldn’t have worried. The music isn’t just as good as that on Nuphonic 01, it’s even better. I’ve not even mentioned tracks by Fuzz Against Junk, Roy Davis Jr. and Tiny Trendies. Truly, the ten tracks onNuphonic 02 are an eclectic collection of music, with the emphasis on quality music. It’s an interesting snapshot of the quality of music Nuphonic were releasing in 1999. Back then, nobody thought that three years later, Nuphonic would fold. However, for eight years Nuphonic were one of the most innovative and influential UK labels, releasing music from not just the UK, but Europe, the USA and even further afield. After the release of Nuphonic 02, Nuphonic 03 would be released in 2000, with Nuphonic 04 following in 2001. Along with albums by Fug, Block 16, Faze Action and Adam Goldstone, the next Nuphonic release some of their most memorable artists albums between 2000 and 2002. That’s not to mention compilations like Joey and Norman Jay’s Good Times Volume 2 and David Mancuso Presents The Loft Volume 2. So, if when you’re crate digging in any record shop and see any album with the Nuphonic label on it, why not take a chance on it. Should you do so, what you’ll find is some fantastic music, from a much loved and sadly missed label, Nuphonic. Standout Tracks: Soul Ascendants Tribute, Ten City Nothing’s Changed, Faze Action Moving Cities and Rollercone Palais Mascotte.

NUPHONIC 02.