Anthony "Shake" Shakir/Underground Resistance/Kevin Saunderson - NSC 1-4 (1998)

This is without a doubt one of the most treasured artifacts in my collection, and I'm very pleased to be able to share it.

As the founder and operator of National Sound Corporation, Ron Murphy's role in shaping the sound of Detroit techno cannot be overstated. NSC mostly confined itself to mastering records for release on other labels, but Murphy also released a handful of records between 1998 and 2004 on his own label, NSC Records. The label's first release was a double pack pressed on gorgeous picture discs, featuring Detroit luminaries Anthony "Shake" Shakir, Underground Resistance, and Kevin Saunderson.

The Shake material, which comprises the entire first disc, is what makes this compilation essential. The highlight here is "NSC Tracker," a mesmerizing and utterly devastating feat of transcendent machine-soul. On the second disc, a rare and exclusive UR track and a vocal house jam by Kevin Saundeson round out the compilation. The Saunderson track is the only lackluster moment here, but given the other gems on offer, this is only a minor gripe.

Enjoy!

NSC 1-4

A - Shake - "NSC Tracker"
B1 - Shake - "Foundry"
B2 - Shake - "Landing, Surveying"
C - Underground Resistance - UR-046
D - Kevin Saunderson - "Talk to Me"

And finally, here's a Submerge podcast featuring an interview with the late Ron Murphy: