Search - Various Artists :: Nu Cool, Vol. 4

Cooler than cool

Ryan Bissoon | 06/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The cool factor on Hed Kandi's fourth installment in the phenomenal Nu Cool series is through the roof. Mark Doyle and the kids at Hed Kandi really know how to pick em. Disk one features the cream of the crop in sweet, sweet soulful garage. This is the disk you'll want to put in while primping and preening before your night on the town. It opens with the chic and sophisticated "Misunderstanding" by Valerie Etienne. Etienne's creamy vocals bounce lightly above a sublime arrangement. On the second track, Louie Vega and the folks at MAW pump magic into the otherwise forgettable "Latin Lover" by Stephanie Mills. There isn't a bad track on this disk, but there are some that seem to really stand out. There's the pared down organic version of Tiefshwartz's Music, the catchy disco-tinged "The Time is Now" by Moloko, and the sweet and soulful "The Inner Side" by Shazz featuring Ron Trent. But the one track that truly shines on disk one, and the only reason you probably need to buy this disk, is the phenomenal "Under the Water" by Brother Brown. The boys at Deep Dish slowly build this track, holding the vocals off until about three minutes in. Then a strangely haunting, awe-inspiring female voice comes on lamenting the loss of a lover. House music, or any music for that matter, doesn't get any better than this. This is a graceful, elegant track that can bring you to tears by its sheer beauty.Disk two is for those in the know. If deep-house is your thing and you have an insatiable appetite for complex, adventurous arrangements with soulful determination then look no further. The real stunner on this one is a ten-minute triplicate of Isolee's Beau Mot Plage. This is the track that DJ's seem to love but don't know what to do with. Other notables are Summerland's "Soul Mate", Stunt Nuts "The Message", and the extraordinary "Tribute to Fela" by Masters at Work (an apropos title for these guys). This track is an 11minute opus that will completely blow your mind. MAW continue to prove that dance music can be profound and intelligent. All in all, Hed Kandi is your one stop source for delectable house music. Mark Doyle culls the globe for the best in house and puts it all together in a chic little package. Beware though, you might start craving Louis Vuitton luggage and Ferragamo shoes after just one listen."

Very "Cool."

The Groove | Boston, MA | 01/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On "Nu Cool," the folks at Hed Kandi give the same lethal dose of disco jams, but this time with a different twist. Many of the cuts on these two CDs feature the Latin flava of Masters at Work (Kenny Dope Gonzales and Little Louie Vega), who remix a good handful of the stuff on this fourth installment of the Nu Cool series. Hats off to Stephanie Mills for the delectable "Latin Lover," while Mondo Grosso gets things right with the memorable "Vibe PM." Both of these tracks get the Masters at Work treatment. Not that MAW totally dominate the set, mind you. Deep Dish goes full throttle in their electrifying remix of Brother Brown's "Under the Water," which keeps the disco ball spinning in all of its ten minutes. For those craving for a little mid-tempo flava, Fatboy Slim (Norman Cook) gives us a re-working of Groove Armada's "I See You Baby," while Jenny Devito stands out in the funky "Season of the Witch." Mark Doyle, who compiles these CDs, not only knows his dance music, but he also makes very tasteful and smart choices on this impressive collection. "Nu Cool" is certainly an apt title for a disc this blazingly good."