With the first instalment of “The Lab” from Loco Dice receiving critical acclaim, it’s no surprise that for ˚2 the prestigious NRK imprint have drafted in Steve Bug, arguably one of the finest and most innovative underground DJs in the world.

With a career which has seen him excel as a DJ, Producer, A&R and Label Manager, Bug has always been on point and this mix is no different. Having started his career, quite aptly on the party isle of Ibiza, back in 1991, the man known to his parents as 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 tech 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, Poker Flat Recordings and Dessous.

Now, in 2009 and fresh from releasing his “Collaboratory” long player earlier this year, Bug returns to the decks to deliver 2 discs of house music as only he can. Taking in the length and breadth of contemporary house, the mixes are programmed in a way that screams Bug.

From the opening melodies of Ostgut man Nick Hoeppner via the low down grooves of Londoner Kevin Griffiths, CD1 is a fluid succession of electronic deep house cuts with an emphasis on melody and variation. From the revivalist feel of Kai Alice feat. Azulu Panton’s “Power Thru 3” and Rocco’s “The Man” to the futurist funk of Berkson and What’s “Cycles”, the transitions are smooth and the overview warm before culminating in the warped funk of Kiki’s “Good Voodoo”.

CD2 develops things wonderfully, picking up from CD1’s deep vibe and adding an angular, peak time edge to the mix. Opener “The Soul Part 2” by Craig Smith on the fledgling imprint Delusions of Grandeur sums this transition up perfectly with its warm outlook spiked by a bubbling acid bassline. Nagging and hypnotic, the mix remains heads down but resolutely compelling with DJ Koze’s remix of Blagger on Perspectiv, Art Of Tones’ “Call The Shots” and Cobblestone Jazz’s “Traffic Jam” providing forward thinking highlights.

The Lab 02 further cements the reputation of one of electronic music’s best love sons whilst establishing this compilation series as a must have for music fans everywhere

Label: NRK Music
Release: 27th September 2009
Cat No: LAB002

—–Tracklist—–
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)

Leading UK house/techno label NRK Music unveil ‘The Lab’, a brand new compilation series with the inaugural mix compiled by none other than Loco Dice.

Joining legendary comps such as ‘Coast2Coast’ and ‘Back In The Box’, ‘The Lab’ will be a double CD of forward thinking electronic dance music from the most dynamic artists around, which is why the Tunisian born and Dusseldorf raised Loco Dice has been drafted in.

The last few years have seen ‘Dice release singles on M_Nus, Cocoon and Cadenza as well as an acclaimed debut artist album via his own Desolat imprint but the ‘The Lab’ see’s the behemoth slip behind the decks to showcase his skills as one of the world’s greatest DJs.

Shunning trends and fads Loco Dice simply plays house music or “deep, groovy, chunky, driving, 123 Music for the terrace” as he describes it. Here, on ‘The Lab’ he showcases exactly what that means with a 2 hour + mix which includes 27 faultless tracks within 2 very different discs.

Disc One concentrates on the darker club moments; otherworldly and hypnotic grooves from the likes of Terrence Dixon, Kerri Chandler, Second Hand Satellites and Robert Dietz. Bass heavy, heads down and percussive, this mix highlights everything that is exciting about modern house music.

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 as well as contemporary deepness from Sascha Dive and Daso & Pawas.

All in all, mightily impressive stuff from Loco Dice, and yet another feather in the cap of the ever consistent NRK Music.

——–Tracklist———

CD1 (Mixed By Loco Dice)

01. Akiko Kiyama – Hakobi
02. Second-Hand Satellites – Orbit 1.3
03. Chaton – +91 Ahead Session 1.5
04. Chris Lattner – African Children
05. Robert Dietz – Klondike
06. Onur …zer – Eclipse (Loco Dice Remix)
07. Kerri Chandler – Pong (Ben Klock’s Bones & Strings Dub)
08. MHM 1 – Bubububadub
09. Ion Ludwig – Transnoir
10. Damian Schwartz & Guti – Sals—n
11. Terrence Dixon – Below Radar (Rhythm Is Rhythm Remix By Mathias Kaden)
12. Someone Else – You Don’t Got Me
13. Alex Flatner feat. Lopazz – Perfect Circles (Damian Schwartz Remix)
14. Mirko Loko – Serena

CD2 (Mixed By Loco Dice)

01. Nick Holder – Inside Your Soul (Sirus Remix)
02. Jay Haze – Mama Coca
03. Terry Lee Brown Jr In A Deep Session With The Timewriter – Everyday
04. Loco Dice – Black Truffles In The Snow – (Mike Huckaby’s The Jazzed Out S Y N T H Remix)
05. DJ Ali – You Don’t Know (Ruff Cut)
06. Alix Alvarez – Boom Bip
07. Joseph Malik – Believe And See (Plastic Avengers RMX)
08. Franck Roger – Take Off (Matt That’s House Bonus Beat)
09. 95 North – Forever Underground (Bass Dub)
10. Audio Soul Project – Song For Fred
11. Sascha Dive – Deepest America (Samuel Davis Dark Soul Mix)
12. Daso & Pawas – Det
13. Tyree Cooper – Love

Label: NRK

Release: March/April 2009

Cat No: LAB001