Bristol-based house label NRK Music launched the first installment of its thelab compilation series back in April this year, enlisting the talents of German minimal and progressive godsend Loco Dice to produce two discs that feature some of the best new sounds and styles that house has embraced and encompassed. For those lucky enough to have shoved that double-disc dose of deep, deep goodness into their hearing holes, it’s clear the bar was raised high from the get-go. So, who better to follow up such a success than fellow German genius, Mr Poker Flat/Dessous Recordings himself Steve Bug? Well, if a compilation series is going to become a success, managing to stand out among the plethora of much-loved (and oft extremely well established) compilations jostling for eye-height shelf space these days, it’s going to have to offer superb quality. Consistently. Which is something Bug delivers time after time after time, across sets, mixes, albums and, indeed, compilations. So, with that said, it’s no wonder thelab02 is good. Really good.

Disc one displays an array of soft, deep, smooth tracks you’d expect to hear towards the end of a set; something that could ease its way around the room in the background of a laidback get-together, or a dark and dirty underground club. Eargasm central from track one. The first 60 seconds of Nick Heppner’s Makeover delivers an uncanny amount of unexpected drops. You might think it’s gone as deep as it can go and then, boom. Down deeper. It’s almost enough to make you wonder for a split second whether the compilation is peaking too soon; until you remember you’re in the capable hands of Bug. Never fear. From there it picks up the pace (whipping you along with it) while retaining the ultra smoothness with Kevin Griffiths’ Cantona Kung Fu. Next up, Kai Alce feat. Azulu Phantom’s Power Thru Pt 3 (Mush Remix) is a heady vocal house track introducing a slight tribal element into the mix. As always, Bug has an incredible gift for balance, bringing things deeper and deeper, before giving light relief by upping the tempo or softening the bass, to offer what feel like natural breaks, yet all the while maintaining musical flow. In simpler terms, it’s as though the music of disc one is slowly and steadily breathing in and out, peaking with David Durango’s uplifting Iberian-influenced, acid-laced track, Perfect Day.

For disc two, Bug takes things to a techier, heavier place. It’s more bells and whistles compared to the first disc’s smooth and unobtrusive style, tipping the hat to heady 90s house disco days, while maintaining that futuristic style typical of Bug. Not only is the sound bigger and bolder on disc two; so are the names. Heavyweights such as DJ Koze, Ben Klock, Audiofly, Motor City Drum Ensemble and Trentemoller are all here. Flavour of the 16 tracks has to be Joris Voorn’s remix of Bug’s own collaboration with Paris the Black Fu Swallowed Too Much Bass.

Indeed, disc two is so superbly produced, it’ll leave the technically-challenged (and even the not-so-challenged) in ever more awe with both Bug and thelab series. If you haven’t already caught on, have a listen to the first two installments of thelab, and keep those ears to the ground for round three.

Check out the tracklisting:

Disc One:
1. Nick Höeppner, Makeover
2. Kevin Griffiths, Cantona Kung Fu
3. Kai Alce feat. Azulu Phantom, Power Thru Pt 3 (Mush Remix)
4. Alex Flitsch & Audiofly, Long Way To Go
5. Rocco, Da Men (Dub)
6. Dplay, Huub Sand
7. Claire Ripley, Kismet
8. Henry L, The Other Day at the Basement (Marcus Worgull's Flugskompensator Dub)
9. David Durango, Perfect Day
10. Sideshow feat. Paul St. Hilare, If Alone (Chateau Flight Remix)
11. Dan Berkson & James What, Cycles
12. Jay Tripwire, Save Each Other
13. STL, Silent State
14. Nick Solé, Simple Things
15. Kiki, Good Voodoo

Disc Two:
1. Craig Smith & The Revenge, The Soul Part 2
2. Outmode, The Examiner (Tom Taylor Remix)
3. Blagger, Strange Behaviour (DJ Koze aka Swahimi Remix)
4. Channel X, Ticket
5. Jay Tripwire Presents 8 Channels, Control
6. Andrade, Fingers (Dirk Lamprecht Remix)
7. Ben Klock, Subzero
8. H.O.S.H., Better and Sweet (Audiofly Remix)
9. Steve Bug, Swallowed Too Much Bass (feat. Paris The Black Fu) (Joris Voorn Remix)
10. Art of Tones feat. Jaw, Call The Shots (Motor City Drum Ensemble Remix)
11. Dop, 36500 Days
12. Cobblestone Jazz, Traffic Jam
13. Peace Division, Eh Oh Um
14. Trentemøller vs. DJ Lab, Rauta (Girls Mix)
15. Re-Up, Inside Us
16. NewWorldAquarium, Trespassers (Redshape Remix)