SUPERLOUNGE — Tool Series By Superlounge (the Remixes)

Superlounge – Tool Series by Superlounge – The Remixes is the first vinyl release in Superlounge’s dedicated Tool Series remix project, issued as TS001 in July 2024. Pressed as a limited 180-gram marbled heavyweight 12-inch vinyl and released exclusively on vinyl, the record revisits four tracks from the Düsseldorf duo’s long-running Tool series through new interpretations by Nu Zau, Mihai Pol, iO Mulen and Superlounge themselves. The result is a tightly curated four-track minimal and deep house record that brings together some of the most respected names in the contemporary Romanian and European underground house scene. Superlounge have been developing their particular approach to deep, reduced house music since the duo began producing together in 2006. Based in Düsseldorf, Germany, the pair have built a catalogue around raw minimalism, stripped-back house structures and smooth, atmospheric textures, with their music repeatedly crossing into deep house, dub house, microhouse and rominimal territory. The Tool series became one of the defining threads in their catalogue, with individual “Tool” releases appearing over several years and attracting support from artists including Arapu, Silat Beksi, NTFO, Cosmjn, Mihai Pol and others. TS001 takes material from that archive and places it in the hands of three outside producers before closing with a new Superlounge rework. The A-side opens with “Tool#10 (Nu Zau Remix)”. Originally part of Superlounge’s Tool catalogue, the track is reworked by Romanian producer Nu Zau, whose approach is particularly well suited to the source material. Trommel describes the original “Tool#10” as already possessing a relatively techy character, while Nu Zau transforms it through his tightly woven groove construction, pushing the track into a deeper and more forceful club direction. Rather than radically changing the identity of the original, the remix concentrates on its rhythmic potential and makes the groove more immediate. Nu Zau’s contribution is an effective example of how a remix can operate within the reduced-house tradition without becoming overly decorative. The emphasis is placed firmly on rhythm, space and the interaction between individual elements. The result is a track that can function as a powerful DJ tool while retaining the subtlety expected from the Superlounge catalogue. Its position at A1 also establishes the tone for the entire record: deep, controlled and highly focused on groove. A2 features Mihai Pol’s interpretation of “Tool#12”. Among the four versions on TS001, this remix is particularly notable for the way it strips the original composition down before rebuilding it according to Pol’s own production language. Trommel notes that the original “Tool#12” begins with an almost plucked-guitar motif, while Mihai Pol removes that initial emphasis and reconstructs the track around a more reduced rhythmic framework. Mihai Pol’s version is characterized by crisp, swinging percussion and a deep, dubby atmosphere. Elements appear and disappear gradually, allowing the groove to develop through subtle changes rather than obvious arrangement tricks. The percussion moves around the central rhythm while additional layers are introduced with restraint. This creates a spacious but highly physical interpretation that reflects Pol’s established position within the deeper side of minimal and microhouse. The A-side therefore establishes two complementary approaches to remixing Superlounge material. Nu Zau concentrates on tightly woven groove and increased rhythmic impact, while Mihai Pol explores space, swing and dub-influenced depth. Both retain the stripped-back philosophy of the Tool series, but neither simply reproduces the sound of the original productions. The B-side begins with “Tool#05 (iO Mulen Remix)”, a particularly atmospheric reinterpretation of one of Superlounge’s earlier Tool tracks. iO Mulen approaches the source from a different direction, preserving its deep character while introducing a warmer and more spacious sonic palette. Trommel describes the remix as a “cosmic” interpretation, built around a warm bassline, punchy drums, flute-like synth elements and distant atmospheres. The combination gives “Tool#05 (iO Mulen Remix)” a notably fluid character. The bass provides the physical centre of the track, while the melodic and atmospheric elements create a sense of space around the groove. Instead of pushing the original material towards a harder or more aggressive sound, iO Mulen deepens its hypnotic qualities. It is a natural fit for the B-side, where the record begins to move further into atmospheric and dub-oriented territory. Closing the record is “Tool#03 (Superlounge’s Vinyl Bonus Rework)”, a new interpretation by the duo themselves. The original “Tool#03” dates back to 2019, making this rework part of a longer development within the Tool series rather than a completely new composition. For TS001, Superlounge revisit the track and take it in a noticeably dubbier direction, updating the original production specifically for this vinyl project. This final rework is particularly significant because it gives TS001 a connection between Superlounge’s earlier catalogue and their approach in 2024. The duo do not simply reproduce the original version; instead, the new arrangement emphasizes the deeper and more dub-oriented side of their sound. Trommel described the rework as a contemporary update that brings the earlier Tool track into the context of the new vinyl series. The four tracks work particularly well together because each remix retains the DNA of the original Superlounge material while highlighting a different aspect of the duo’s sound. Nu Zau emphasizes tightly constructed minimal grooves, Mihai Pol introduces crisp percussion and dubby depth, iO Mulen brings warmth and atmospheric movement, and Superlounge themselves close with a deeper reinterpretation of their own early material. The result is cohesive without becoming repetitive. The Tool Series by Superlounge – The Remixes is also notable for its physical presentation. TS001 was released as a limited 180-gram marbled heavyweight vinyl edition and was explicitly marketed as a vinyl-only release. The record was mastered by Pheek, whose work with minimal, microhouse and experimental electronic music makes him a natural choice for this particular project. The combination of heavyweight vinyl, marbled pressing and exclusive physical format gives TS001 additional significance for collectors following the contemporary minimal house vinyl circuit. For DJs, the record is particularly versatile within minimal house, deep house, microhouse, dub house and rominimal-oriented sets. The four tracks are long-form club productions designed around groove rather than conventional song structure, making them useful for extended blends and gradual transitions. “Tool#10 (Nu Zau Remix)” provides a more tightly wound rhythmic option, while “Tool#12 (Mihai Pol Remix)” moves deeper into dubby territory. “Tool#05 (iO Mulen Remix)” adds warmth and atmosphere, and “Tool#03 (Superlounge’s Vinyl Bonus Rework)” provides a darker, more spacious closing track. The release also documents a particularly strong connection between Superlounge and the Romanian minimal house scene. Nu Zau, Mihai Pol and iO Mulen have all developed highly recognizable approaches to reduced, groove-led electronic music, making their involvement more than a conventional collection of guest remixes. Each producer brings an established production language to the Tool material, allowing the original Superlounge tracks to be interpreted from three different perspectives while remaining within the same broad underground house aesthetic. For collectors, TS001 is an important release within the Superlounge catalogue because it transforms the Tool series from an ongoing collection of original productions into a dedicated remix format. The record also includes a track that is not simply another remix: “Tool#03 (Superlounge’s Vinyl Bonus Rework)” is a vinyl-specific reworking created by the duo themselves. Combined with the limited 180g marbled pressing and vinyl-only format, this makes the release particularly relevant to collectors of Superlounge, Nu Zau, Mihai Pol, iO Mulen and contemporary minimal house vinyl. Superlounge – Tool Series by Superlounge – The Remixes, TS001, is ultimately a focused study in deep minimal house remix culture. Four Tool tracks are revisited without losing the stripped-back identity of the original series, while Nu Zau, Mihai Pol, iO Mulen and Superlounge each reveal a different side of the material. From tightly woven grooves and swinging percussion to warm basslines, dubby textures and spacious atmospheres, the record captures the deeper and more refined end of underground house music. As a limited 180g marbled 12-inch vinyl release, TS001 is both a practical DJ record and a significant collector’s edition within the Superlounge Tool series.