search & destroy: NU GROOVE

From the Network comp 25 West 38th

All you ever wanted to know about Nu Groove.
An in-depth interview with Frank and Karen Mendez consistend of 28 questions by John McCready. Answers faxed by Judy Russell.

What are the origins of the name?
New sounds/music = Nu Groove

Is there any musical policy?
We try to be individual. We release what we like.

Are you bemused by the air of mystery people perceive in Nu Groove?
Maybe.

Do you try to create mystery?
No. This is the way we are.

Can you imagine people sitting down and listening to Nu Groove records at home?
Obviously not to relax to but maybe to party to.

Frank and Karen Mendez, man and wife or brother and sister?
Man and wife.

Tell us something about them.
Frank was a DJ in the '70s before 12" singles were invented. Karen was a music researcher at Hot 103.

Who is Kenny Gonzalez?
A DJ from Brooklyn.

Who are How and Little?
Two DJs from Brooklyn.

Is Joey Beltram a DJ from Brooklyn?
No. A DJ from Queens.

Are there any Nu Groove artists who aren't DJs?
Yes.

Who is the vocalist on Roqui's 'I've Just Begun'?
Roqui.

Why 33 1/3 Queen?
A play on words. 45 King.

Are Ronnie and Rheji Burrell prolific workers?
Yes.

Are they twins?
Yes.

Are they the same twins that ruled the London underworld in the early sixties?
No.

Do they have any musical influences?
Diverse. Stevie Wonder. Slave. Aerosmith. Carpenters.

Can we talk to them?
No.

Is there a plan for the future?
We take things day by day here at Nu Groove.

Does the phrase jazz-house mean anything to you?
Rheji Burrell.

Do you get English trainspotters turning up on your doorstep looking for releases they missed to complete collections?
Yes. What exactly is a trainspotter?

Are there any subsidary labels?
Yes. Dope Wax and a new label called Rave.

Rave?
Yes.

Are there any Network/Nu Groove parallels?
Yes. We are both geared towards new underground sounds.

Are you tired of answering questions?
Yes.

Thank you.

ha

i have nothing to add here except to say sound vandals thirded

very cool thread.

So many Nu Groove classics mentioned upthread but my favorite I think is Groove Committee's "I Want You to Know" because it just sounds so effortless and breezy.

Why 33 1/3 Queen?
A play on words. 45 King.

A couple of days ago I discovered this mix: the Nu Groove crash course. 200 minutes, really great.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=13EPH4I8

Tracklist is here:

http://www.discogs.com/groups/topic/162046

And my record dealer told me the other day that bootlegs of the old Network compilations are about to come out.

I've always liked that Bas Noir record... I'd imagine that one would get a re-edit from Rong, it just seems their sort of thing. Although of course I only have the Ten records release, not the nu groove one...

whatever happened to Victor Simonelli?...always thought his Critical Rhythm stuff was the highlight of Nu Groove...

i play out "my love is magic", Apt. EP, and Utopia Project - Files EP (which i just saw got booted, goddamn it) all the time. i would play more if i had the ones i really like (i try to avoid playing "searching" since it seems so obvious) outside of what i have on the first Netwerk comp. these records are really hard to come by in the 412 but i LOVE them, Nu Groove is the shit.

Transphonic - You Make Me Feel So Good. bring back the dreamy bleepin'

http://www.myspace.com/burrellbros .... "jesus crist-burrell" ... really?

i played that sound vandals track this weekend and like, 3 doods came up to check the label.

http://www.discogs.com/Roqui-Set-Me-Free-Ive-Just-Begun-To-Love-You-Day-By-Day/release/90391

a2 on this is like... hell chea

like the ultimate convergence of hip house, sexy diva house and dark reese style bassline house. so good

i like how that stirmonster list upthread is like £1000 worth of records

i mean, i love "the new age of faith" but do people really drop upwards of £40 on what basically sounds like a yamaha keyboard demo

Listening to the first compilation on Network now. Joey Beltram was bloody great back in the day, especially when he slowed the bpm's down.

This was a good introduction for me; http://www.discogs.com/Various-Nu-Groove-Here-Comes-That-Sound-Again/release/15657 . It does miss quite a few classics though. I saw APT ep. for sale yesterday but didn't stop to ask how much because I wasn't aware of the going prices.