In the week that sees the release of House Masters MURK, we ask some of the industry's leading lights to share their opinions of the US house duo.
Widely regarded as one of the very finest production outfits in house music, MURK have been highly influential over the course of their 20 year career. Here, some of the scene’s pioneering artists have their say about what makes MURK so special..
Danny Tenaglia
"I had ‘Fired Up’ about a solid year before anyone else in the world as Twisted was waiting to launch and get everything in place. I did a simple edit looping that powerful kick drum intro and on top of it being such an incredible song with great lyrics and performance, I was able to enhance it by turning their kick drum intro into it's very own hook by taunting and teasing the crowd with it, and by now I was also travelling globally and ‘Fired Up’ became an instant, untouchable production for MURK.
“It was my honor to serve Ralph & OG, Rob D and their Murk imprint for them everywhere I went because more than their songs being great, they were very humble and they truly earned their success."
Frankie Knuckles
“MURK has an iconic and legendary sound that was an integral part of the nightlife scene in New York City in the 90s. I've always been a big fan. Some of the best dance floor gems were created by these guys. Maximum love, infinite respect and full support!”
Terry Farley
“I can remember being on ‘Judge and the Jury’ on Kiss FM back in the day and they played 'I Believe' - everyone else on the panel slaughtered it for being too slow, whack drum programming, no big drops etc etc… It blew my mind! The thing with classic Oscar and Ralph, is the simplicity of the whole track and the fact that what's there is perfect. Like great sashimi it's simple but perfect.”
Rocky (X-Press 2)
“Some of my greatest memories of nights out involve Murk records. The Sound Factory New York and Danny Tenaglia's parties at WMC Miami. They make proper dark, dancefloor music. The sort of tunes that you lose yourself in, then when you lift your head, you look at you pal and you both mouth the words,"What the fuck is this?!!!"
Ralph Lawson
“I first heard Murk on their Intruder - 'U Got Me' record played by Danny Tenaglia. That hypnotic bass driven groove just 'got me' alright! I brought the record back to the UK and worked it every week at our back to basics club in Leeds until it became a firm favourite. Every production Ralph and Oscar touched at that time was gold dust, but perhaps the biggest of them all though was Funky Green Dogs - 'Reach For Me'.
“They knew how to get the sound right for a big room with a big system. If there is one element you can always pull out of a Murk production it's the bass - the bottom end. That bottom heavy Miami sound just hit right at exactly the right moment in House as clubs started to buy big systems. On a visit to Miami a few years back I found myself staring at a sign that said 'Liberty City', another Murk production name, and all the memories of their sounds suddenly made sense to me.
“That's what you get when you take Miami bass, House and Latin spices and shake them all up in a studio...”
Paul Woolford
“Murk are of particular importance to my relationship with house music as I’d bought a couple of their records - Ralph Falcon's ‘That Sound’ and a clear-vinyl copy of Liberty City ‘If You Really Love Someone’ in 1994, before I'd even stepped into a club that played house. I’d been collecting records and was glued to pirate radio at that time and as amazing as those tracks are, hearing them through a proper sound system and feeling the effect of them in this pure dancefloor context changed everything.
“Their catalogue is stuffed full of genre-shaping classics. It was honour to re-edit 'Reach For Me' a few years later with the blessing of the guys. Salute.”
Cevin Fisher
"I love Oscar and Ralph and when they get together, the MAGIC always seems to happen. I remember waaaay back, when I was doing records at a label called Hard Trax in NY . And Atlantic records sent me a promo of ‘Outta Control’ by Murk and i've been a Big fan ever since. Murk has been a Huge inspiration throughout my career and it’s always a total pleasure playing and supporting their music.
“I heard Danny Tenaglia dropping a tune called ‘Fired Up’ on Twisted Records at the WMC in Miami and again , my mind was BLOWN .. Fast forward to "Amame" and they've done it again .. Much RESPECT to Oscar G. and Ralph Falcon, they know how to create Masterpieces , whether it be a "Dark Beat" or the Brilliant Magical Melodies of tunes like "Fired Up" or "Amame" and all of the great tunes in between.”
Hector Romero
“Murk = ground breaking productions that changed the style of House Music in the early '90's. Their signature hard soul style that incorporated vocals and tribal rhythms totally grabbed me when I first heard their productions. Tunes such as, ‘Reach For Me’, ‘Some Lovin' & ‘If You Really Love Somebody’ still sound fresh to this day and go down as house music classics”.
