NICOLE
Rock The House (remixes)
High Fashion Netherlands
Format: 12"
Cat: MS 537
Released: 14 Oct 24
Genre: Funky/Club House
Tags: Disco House | 80s House | New York House
Review
While largely forgotten save for a few veteran DJs and dancers, Nicole's 'Rock The House' was a genuine underground club hit on its initial release in 1989 - a second wave New York freestyle treat informed by both house (Steve 'Silk' Hurley and Cliviles and Cole both provided remixes) and early 80s electrofunk. It's one that Dutch label High Fashion licensed and released in Europe back in the day, so they've decided to get Michael Gray - one of their go-to mixers alongside Ben Liebrand - to give it a 2024 makeover. A master at this kind of thing, Gray has done a good job in re-imagining the song as a funk-fuelled, synth-splashed disco-house monster. His A-side full vocal mix is the pick of the pair, though some DJs will naturally gravitate towards the more French Touch-flavoured, filter-heavy flipside rework.
