BackTrax with Nick Collingss

BackTrax with Nick Collings

BK - Revolution (Nukleuz Records) - 2002

Ben Keen aka BK is without doubt one of the most respected and loved producers and DJ’s of the UK Hard House sound. Ben Keen began his career at age sixteen as an apprentice audio engineer gaining experience via Media Records who at the time were on the cusp of launching a new UK division of their very successful Italian franchise in the form of Nukleuz Records. He helped co-engineer some of the early releases and eventually got his own releases on the label under various guises and as part of groups such as Astra, Beat Busters & Twink. It wasn’t until 1999 that his music got major attention as part of the Cortina ensemble with their remake of the 1992 euro hit Music Is Movin’. As the hard house movement became more prominent at the turn of the millennium his BK production name was front and centre as the well-oiled BK machine pumped out future hard dance classics such as Tragic, Bad Ass and Higher which gave Ben the opportunity to remix for all the super labels including Ministry Of Sound, Positiva, Incentive & Virgin Records. Whilst Ben was engineering at Nukleuz Records they received numerous awards including Best Dance Label of 2001 by Music Week and attaining the best-selling 12" vinyl label in the world for three years running from 2001-2003.

As the saturation of the UK Hoovers & Horns style of Hard House became apparent in 2001, BK branched out and changed up his style to a slightly techier edged sound with more trance influenced elements. He once again hit the jackpot releasing Revolution in 2002. Originally released as its own stand-alone vinyl 12” it became an instant hit and a big seller for the Nukleuz label, leading to a re-release later in 2002 including a UK pop chart position of #47 making it the last vinyl only release to feature in the UK top 100. A James Lawson Remix of Bad Ass on the release helped cement its place and with a flurry of remixes from DJ Energy, Mr Bishi, Alphazone & more catered for every uplifting market at the time.

My fondest memory of Revolution is hearing BK play this as part of the Fevah Party in the Regent room of the St James Complex in Auckland around 2003. Its distinguished stab chimed in and hundreds of screaming fans danced just that little bit harder. For the trainspotters out there, the Revolution sample came from Daft Punks - Revolution 909. Revolution was updated and re-released again in 2009, making it relevant again with versions from Alex Kidd & Kid Kaos, Lee Haslam and two reworks from BK himself. BK left Nukleuz to begin the label Riot! Recordings (named after his night in London) in 2004. He is still currently at the forefront of hard dance looking to push it forward with new sounds and also dabbles in electro house under the name Black Russian.