The classic New York label, Nu Groove, has had a hugely successful revamp and relaunch in recent years, working with new artists on vinyl and proving that its influence within the electronic music scene remains as strong as in the late 80s. The latest music for the legendary imprint comes from Tuccillo, no stranger to deeper grooves on fine labels, with his Sunshine City release.
Welcoming the release into the world is the vocal jam I Believe, featuring Howard Perry on vox, whose voice has echoes of a certain Robert Owens, which is no bad thing at all. The track itself is a shuffling bouncy groove, the focus being fixed firmly on the beats and bass, allowing Howard’s vocals to work perfectly with the groove, a neat keyboard making itself known just after the halfway stage. This is pure House music, both modern but referencing the NYC style that the label pioneered back in the day.
The A2 cut is the title track, again the percussion fairly rattles along, punctuated with a stabby bassline and delicious pads and keys. There is a delay-laden spoken vocal which appears periodically throughout the track, but it sits low in the mix, meaning the track’s pulsating backbeat is the main feature here, again a superbly classy piece of work.
The B-side opens up with It’s Not Over, which – thankfully – isn’t yet another remake of Let No Man Put Asunder, but is instead a chunky, stabby, deep affair. As with the title track, there are little hints of vocals, this time female, with the beats and bass nestled beneath a classic house synth workout. No-nonsense house music is the key here, but that’s totally fine when the vibe is this flowing, just proper dancefloor action all the way.
As is often the case, the closing track on the EP is deeper overall, which makes the track all the more pleasing. Let’s Do It rounds off this fine 12″, the beats here echoing late 80s house patterns, the bassline crisp and low, synths floating in, but not overtaking the main vibe from the beats & bassline. There’s even a cheeky “Uno, dos, tres, quattro!” vocal for good measure, another little nod to the late 80s and early 90s. It’s fair to say that this track could have appeared on Nu Groove in the early 90s, such is its ‘classic’ feel. A brilliant closing slice of deepness to a great overall House EP.
Tuccillo’s Sunshine City is out now on vinyl and digital via Nu Groove Records.
Words by Al Bradley
Torture the Artist 