DJ Alex Corton – Good Looking Records

Good Looking Records

Nookie – In @ The Deep End

2001

Plate 1: A / B 

For our third artist album on Good Looking Records, we return to a music producer who remains one of the key figures of the scene. A clinically high level producer, one of the best remixers that’s ever graced our world and an engineer of renowned distinction. Gavin Cheung – Nookie. 

   This was what must have been his 3rd or 4th project on specifically the Good Looking Records label, following his release under the Second Vision alias, his Lost File release and then the ‘First Light EP’? I know there were Cookin’ and Looking Good releases out there but I’m just talking Good Looking for now. His Oceanic EP was probably quite close to this one being released too. 

    Artwork duties fall to Gareth Jones, using shots of Gav standing in those sunglass donning poses. Big props out to you mate and loving the productions and artwork you’ve done recently. Here is a little info from Gareth on the art:

“Such a great LP this one. Innerspace gets me everytime. So, this was the first album sleeve artwork, Nick Purser let me loose on. I’d done a few artworks with Gavin Cheung and this artwork led on (or was around the same time as) the EP. Gav was always invested in the artwork and often gave us photos from his travels. I Can’t remember if we did a shoot for this, possibly we did at GLR hq? We were playing around with early 3D software (Stratavision) and I was looking to create this kind of suspended space, a digital realm that Gavin was almost suspended in. In at the deep end. Such an important one for me and still proud of it to this day 🫡❤️.

   As you can see, the CD accompanies the three disc vinyl set. Six tracks (one per side) reviewed over the next few days. Gavin was plugged into the atmospherics in a big way with his releases on the label, and the musical creativity and exuberance shone through like the flame through a petrol soaked handkerchief. The tracks that didn’t make the vinyl cut are ‘Beyond Therapy’, ‘Stepping Back (Made In Detroit Mix)’ and ‘My Lovin’’, none of which appeared on a vinyl release. At least we get the sounds of six belters from Gavin, on this package of wax plates. 

   Today we review the first disc. Side A has ‘Disillusion’ bringing that fuzed jazz funk swinging in from the rafters and flexing its live twists and turns. Nookie was always rolling out a style that exuded the elbow greased polish of finesse. Maintaining the dynamo of rapid snared percussion, that spectacular bass guitar and the soft cushioning of the pads, wrap this crisp and clean cut rhythm and future jazz cocoon up with a perfect balance of dance floor delights and zest filled oxygen for the intake. 

   On the flip side is ‘Natural Experience’ on Side B. This is one seriously beautiful piece of work. When Nookie lays down those piano keys in his tunes you know it’s a lit match to the firework sitting above. Elegance, finesse, an audio-stocricy of sound, where the combination of elements creates the desired in your mind. The vocals stretch the pliable dough of the music into wafer thin casts, tipping the sweetest of icebergs into a sea of pure heaven. This track sums up the way you could unmistakably realize this was 100% a Nookie track. No one else did it quite like him. 

Check that percussion rinse toward the end of the tune too. Fucking as stylish as Bond winning against the odds at the poker table and strolling up to the Vantage with the lady in his arm. Debonair to a tee! 

    Up tomorrow is plate 2 & 3. Keep your seatbelt on for more of the immersive sounds of Nookie. Big up to Gav every time. 

   Here’s that blog everyone keeps on about…all 2 of you. Ha ha! It’s part of my process now. I hope you get to venture back through the Good Looking vault of reviews on there at some point.