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ARTIST
TITLE
The Burrell Brothers Present: The Nu Groove Years 1988-1992
FORMAT
CD

LABEL
CATALOG #
RH 117CD RH 117CD
GENRE
RELEASE DATE
4/24/2012

Recording under different aliases, The Burrell Brothers were the backbone of Nu Groove Records. This New York label took inspiration from Trax Records, both musically and aesthetically. This compilation collects the absolute best of the Burrell's output and in doing so, gives us a valuable insight into the much-overlooked roots of New York house music. It is now close to 25 years ago that Nu Groove Records started operating from New York City, in which its house scene was starting to blossom at that time. In the four years the label existed, 1988 until 1992, it released over 100 records. Nu Groove started by releasing records by Rheji and Ronald Burrell and continued to do so until the label folded. The brothers were scouted by the label's A&R after they had recorded a ton of material for EMI America that never came out. The album that did come out flopped commercially. The deal with EMI was discontinued and the pair started to release stuff through Nu Groove. This release is a celebration of the work of The Burrell Brothers. The album includes a wide variety of their music under all their various guises. And despite their different guises, all the music they made always had a grainy quality to it, like house music with a sepia tint. In Rheji's words: "The first House'n Authority was straight to cassette. That's how we'd record our demos and stuff, so we didn't want to change what we did because it worked. I liked the fact that house music was crusty. Like an old jazz record, I liked the hiss." The CD features the 15 best tracks of their catalog. It zooms in on Rheji's N.Y. House'n Authority project. With its raw drum programming and going both in an energetic, jacking direction as well as a deeper, reflective direction, it reminds of early Fingers and Trax Records. His tracks recorded as Metro are another testament to Rheji's love for deep Chicago house tracks. Also included here is Ronald's K.A.T.O project which shows us a deep and hypnotic side to their music. Another highlight is the much sought-after house classic "I'll Say A Prayer 4 U" by Equation. The inclusion of Aphrodisiac material was a must, most notably the ambient-esque "Song Of The Siren." Another Ronald Burrell highlight here is the equally classic "How Do U Luv A Black Woman" and the energetic "The Answer" by Equation, which became a rave anthem in the UK in the early '90s. Too much good music to mention, just listen and take it all in. You don't get more classic New York house music than this.