Nu:Tone - Little Spaces (2021)

Nu:Tone is a name that instinctively populates in a seasoned drum & bass brain upon hearing the words Hospital Records. With five solo studio albums to boast, as well as a wealth of singles and EPs, Nu:Tone’s tracks can always be heard across dancefloors and throughout the festival circuit. Since joining the Hospital Records A&R team and setting up his own mixing and mastering business his ‘own music took a bit of a backseat’. It’s been six long years since Nu:Tone’s seminal ‘Future History’ album in 2014 and now Hospital is thrilled to present the creative mastery that is ‘Little Spaces’.

“Back in January 2020 I had a dream one night that I was holding my new album, and it had the words ‘Little Spaces’ on the front. I wrote that down as soon as I woke up, and the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. As much as I love playing at festivals and huge events, I feel most at home in a small capacity club, in a DJ booth rather than on a stage. This is music that hopefully still makes sense when it’s listened to in all the ‘little spaces’ that we find ourselves in at the moment. I’m really excited to play this music on a big system when society finally opens back up. Until then, I hope this album will be a source of comfort or distraction, in whatever little space you find yourself listening to it.” - Nu:Tone

Ever the tastemaker, Nu:Tone has been at the forefront of guiding and bringing through the next generation of artists, particularly focused on collaborating with new and previously unheard vocalists in drum & bass, placing them at the heart of the songwriting process which is beautifully demonstrated on ‘Little Spaces’. Embodying his classic sound and drawing influence from the iconic Korg M1 synth, One Day At A Time features stunning harmonies from Lalin St. Juste, based out of the San Francisco Bay Area where she also heads up the genre-bending six-piece band The Seshen. Nu:Tones’ long-standing collaborative relationship with Lea Lea has been refreshed, with two features on the album on ‘Instincts’ and ‘The Moment’.

‘Jonas’ brings old-school flavours into 2021 with a slick introduction infused with half-time breaks, before cutting to the chase as some of the most meticulously crafted drums and a killer bassline take centre stage.

Hazy arpeggios and twinkling chimes set the scene on ‘Sleepwalker’ which sees two liquid drum & bass legends join forces. Pairing up with Charlotte Haining who delivers her signature anthemic vocal style, skippy breaks and pressing bass lays the foundation for a truly remarkable collaboration of two highly esteemed artists.

‘Instincts (feat. Lea Lea)’ sees soulful synth stabs from the off, a clear nod to Nu:Tone’s love for house music, before Lea Lea injects sinister amounts of groove with her commendable vocal abilities. Expect stripped back dexterity in signature Nu:Tone fashion, this one means business.

A mainstay of Hospital Records since 2003, Nu:Tone’s contribution to both the label and the wider drum & bass has been highly commendable. From his debut album ‘Brave Nu World’ in 2005 to new-wave anthems such as ‘Everlasting Days (feat. Lifford)’ produced alongside his brother and fellow label legend Logistics, and remixes for the likes of Adele, Emeli Sande and Plan B, Nu:Tone’s music has welcomed support from an array of legends like LTJ Bukem, Annie Mac, Andy C, High Contrast, Sigma, Sub Focus, Norman Jay, Marcus Intalex, Bryan Gee, DJ Marky, and Laurent Garnier to name but a few.