Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Mirage
A2 Coffee
B1 Tapioca
B2 Mirage (Elisa Bee Remix)
B3 Abalone

Release Info:

Label mainstays Fouk just dropped the perfect dancefloor Bomb with ‘Mirage’ paired with a high-octane Elisa Bee remix

We all know Dutch duo Fouk from their soulful, bouncy take on house music. They’re also responsible for some of Heist’s biggest tracks like Kill Frenzy or their Lil Louis inspired 2021 release ‘Blue Steel’. On their new EP, the talented duo shows us a fresh side of their sound: the main-room hands-in-the-air-going-wild side. To top things off, Italian producer Elisa Bee made time in her busy schedule of DJ’ing and releasing for artists like Ben Sims on his Hardgroove imprint and Unknown to the Unknown to deliver a killer remix of the title track.

Fouk’s return to Heist after 3 years is a welcome one and with ‘Mirage’, they might just have given us their biggest house track in their decade spanning career. The track is built around a stuttering synth loop and a seductive female vocal chanting ‘What made you wanna…” The real star here is the bassline, which propels the track into a seriously infectious groove. Add some lush strings and moody changeovers and you’ve got yourself a full-blown dancefloor weapon. Mirage has been a staple in Dam Swindle’s sets for the past months and has been one of their set highlights ever since.

“Coffee” is one for the classic Fouk fans. It’s got lovely Rhodes, a joyous combination of whoo’s, snare-rolls and synth hits grooving on top of an infectious orchestral background loop. “Tapioca” is a hybrid latin-electronic groove that builds on punchy synths, live percussion and drunk keys to balance the energy of the track.

Elisa Bee’s remix of ‘Mirage’ is an intense percussive workout that builds on a breakbeat loop and a rave-bassline. The tempo is turned up a notch or 2 and that stutter synth and vocal of the original make this remix a wild warehouse affair.

Closing track of the EP is ‘Abalone’; A lovely bleep-house affair that still has a bit of that warehouse vibe. It’s got the perfect amount of distortion the drums while keeping things dreamy with some face-melting pads throughout the track.

As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Lars & Maarten More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Closer (feat. AVA LAVÁ)
A2 Running from the Noise (feat. Life on Planets)
A3 Midnight Time (feat. AVA LAVÁ & Joey Hotwax)
B1 The Answer
B2 Gratitude

Release Info:

Makèz deliver the perfect follow up to their hit ‘Downstream’ with L.A. artist Life on Planets.

Dutch Duo Makèz had their big break when we released their first record on Heist in 2019, but it’s safe to say that ‘Downstream’ (on No Art records) has taken things to the next level for the talented Amsterdam duo. With support from pretty much the whole of Radio 1 (Pete Tong, Jaguar, Sarah Story, Danny Howard and more), and club DJ’s across the board ranging from ANOTR to Louie Vega, their fall 2023 release has really been a dream collab with vocalist and producer Life on Planets. It’s only fitting that the duo comes home to Heist with their follow up EP: ‘Midnight time’.

This new EP is a perfect blend of the intricate, soulful songs and punchy club tracks we’ve come to love from Makèz, On the A-side, we’ve got the jazz cut ‘Closer’ with AVA LAVÁ, who fans will remember from their Holy Sun EP on Heist. ‘Closer’ is equally laidback, full of textures and rich musical elements and a perfect mood-setter for the EP.

Next is ‘Running from the noise’ with Life on Planets on vocals. This is the follow up to Downstream that simply had to happen. It’s just as breezy and effortless as the duo’s biggest hit to date, but goes even deeper and minimalistic, taking you on a vibe that resembles the sound of that classic 100% Galcher mixtape/album from 2013. There’s definitely something in the air when these artists get together in the studio; The music is warm, fuzzy, and inviting, but most importantly, just about as sexy as can be.

‘Midnight time’ is another collaboration with AVA LAVÁ, and takes the EP into the club realm, while still keeping things jazzy. Lush Rhodes chords and a rolling live bass form the basis, while the young vocalist seems to freestyle her way through the track, much in a way an MC would do to get the crowd going. Everything about this track is infectious and you can just feel this go off in a club.

That club is exactly where we end up on the B-side, with ‘The Answer’ and ‘Gratitude’. Both have their own direction; ‘The Answer’ is a Chicago-inspired jam with acid licks, a powerful male vocal and clean 909 drums, where ‘Gratitude’ goes deeper with its haunting strings, clever vocal chops and loops and synths that somehow resemble static noise from an old radio. With their ‘Midnight Time’ EP, Makèz treat us to a gorgeous journey through their sonic world, a place we’re happy to hang out for a long, long time.

As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Lars & Maarten
More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:
A1 Love Can Make It Happen
A2 Going Back to It
B1 Full Cycle
B2 Pockets

Release Info:

House music legend DJ Sneak shows us why he’s a master of the groove on his ‘Back to love’ EP for Heist Recordings.

There’s only a handful of people that can really say they’ve seen House music since its earliest days. Puerto Rica-born, Chicago-bred, and LA-based artist DJ Sneak is definitely one of them. He has been the king of the groove ever since his big break back in ’94 through Cajmere’s label Cajual and was key in the development of that mid-nineties house sound with appearances on labels such as Strictly Rhythm, Henry St Music and 83 West. Sneak has worked with some of the biggest artists in the game including Daft Punk, (delivering lyrics for their track ‘Digital Love’), Armand Van Helden and many more.

After a break in the past few years where Sneak re-evaluated his relationship with the scene and his music, he’s now back doing the thing he loves most: Making killer tracks and slamming it on a record. We’ve always considered each other friends and Sneak has been a true supporter of our music and the label since day 1, so it’s humbling to realize that we’re now in a place where we can let his music shine on Heist. With that, we’re proud to present this future classic from the master himself.

The aptly titled “Back to love” EP starts off with one of Sneak’s most intimate productions to date: “Love can make it happen”. Built around an ever-evolving vocal loop, and dreamy strings this track is deeper than deep with the percussion matching that meditative energy, with the grunt only Sneak can bring.

“Going back to it” is Chicago house music in its core. Moody chords, some vocal chops, a badass bass line, and solid percussion is all you need. With ‘Full Cycle’ on the flip, we see Sneak take back his rightful place as the king of the groove. It’s a track that has us reminiscing the days of ‘Paperclip People’ where the bluntness of a live recorded ‘on/off’ arrangement really adds something special to a track.

The EP ends with “Pockets”, a house jam with classic 90s vocals and energetic snare drums to add that classic New York touch to this already amazing record and shows us that DJ Sneak has a great feel for bringing modern day house music with a vintage feel.

As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Maarten & Lars
More

Format: Vinyl 12” (Limited 180 gr. Blue Vinyl - Special Cut Out Sleeve - Printed Inner sleeve)

Track list:

A1 Crackazat - Alfa
A2 Andy Hart - Epsilon Girls
A3 Makèz - Different Planets
B1 Kassian - 8th Movement
B2 Nachtbraker - Hamdi

Release Info:

The Dam Swindle curated compilation Heist Classics Vol. 02 delivers even more of the label’s biggest hits in a beautiful limited-edition package.

It’s safe to say that in it’s 10 years of existence, Heist Recordings has given us plenty of amazing music and has cemented itself as one of the key labels in today’s house scene. The first 3 compilations of this year have had an amazing response with radio and club tastemakers (re)discovering some of the best music that has come out on Heist. With support from Paul Woolford, Luke Slater, Antal, James Zabiela, Nightmares on Wax, a 10/10 in Faze Mag and various radio plays on BBC R1 with Pete Tong, Annie Mac and more, it’s safe to say that everyone has been loving these releases. Now, Dam Swindle conclude their 10-year anniversary releases with Classics vol. 2: a limited-edition collection with hits from Crackazat, Andy Hart, Kassian, Makèz and Nachtbraker.

The release kicks off with ‘Alfa’: Crackazat’s biggest hit to date (and that’s saying something, coming from a producer that has delivered jam upon jam in his career). It’s a signature Crackazat song with an off-kilter live key loop, shuffling percussion and pumping low end.
Andy Hart’s ‘Epsilon Girls’ was originally released in 2014 and has helped cement the artist and label’s position in the house music landscape. A vintage Barbara St. Clair loop gives the track a lovely human touch, which is countered by layers upon layers of glimmering electronics.

Different Planets is the track that really kickstarted the career of the talented duo Makèz. Released in 2019, the track has everything we’ve come to love from their recognizable sound: lively drums, catchy hooks and warm & jazzy chords. UK duo Kassian are represented on this package with their track ‘8th Movement’. Their sound has progressed towards techno in recent years which has given them support from artists across the board such as Ben UFO, Special Request and many more. Their Heist classic ‘8th Movement’ - still housey in its core - already has hints of their newfound style in its sound design and rolling energy.

We end the record with what might be Nachtbraker’s biggest track of his career: ‘Hamdi’. You’ll find him currently at work with artists such as Shanti Celeste where he recently released his Capichone EP, but the sound he developed in the early part of his career had Heist written all over it. ‘Hamdi’ is a proper anthem, with African drums, an ecstatic vocal sample and a killer groove.

The vinyl release of Heist Classics Vol. 02 is printed on colored 180grams heavyweight vinyl and is limited to 1000 records with a special design by our Art Director Bas Koopmans (Wellness.)

Enjoy the music and play it loud!

Lars & Maarten More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:
A That’s Right
B1 Minor Fools
B2 Soul’s Lament

Release Info:

“Pumping, vibrant, and packed with energy”: Iconic duo Dam Swindle deliver once again with their ‘Minor fools’ EP.

Last year, Dam Swindle celebrated their 10 year anniversary with the ‘Keep on Swindling’ series. The hard-hitters ‘All I want’, ‘Good woman’, and ‘You’ showed various sides of that much loved Swindle sound as well as some steps into a more leftfield electronic area. Now, they’re back on Heist with a 3-track club EP full of that recognizable upbeat energy.

‘That’s Right’ has Dam Swindle in full live mode, not unlike their timeless classic “Call of the Wild feat. Jungle by Night”. Live keys, bass, percussion, and horns (the latter by the Jungle by Night’s trumpet guru Bo Floor) give you the feeling like you’re on stage with a full band, hearing them give their all to record this heartwarming piece of music. Over the course of its 7 minutes, the duo takes you on an electrifying feel-good trip through the Swindle sonic universe.

On The EP title track ‘Minor fools’, Dam Swindle go into classic US house mode. Shuffling hats, a bouncy bass and male vocal chops lay the foundation for some crunchy jazz chords (think Underground Resistance with a Swindle touch). The track builds tension with haunting organs, looped vocals and smart modulation in the keys. Add to that the bouncy synth section at the heart of the track and you’ve got a jam that slaps hard in the best way imaginable.

The EP ends with the dreamy & contemplative ‘Soul’s lament’; A slow burner that builds and builds on a relentless rhythm of bells and skipping hi-hats. Slowly, a massive string section takes control of the track, after which, an acid line takes over that gives the track its driving electronic touch. It’s a welcome deep note to an EP that shows you exactly why Dam Swindle are such well respected and versatile producers.

Grab this record while you can and dance, dance, dance!

Heist Recordings.
More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)


Track list:
A1. Everything alright feat. Aika Mal
A2. Everything alright feat. Aika Mal (Dam Swindle remix)
A3. Eleven eleven twenty two
B1. Crush
B2. Only breaks can love your heart

Release Info:
Amy Dabbs puts her heart and soul in the breaks anthem ‘Everything Alright feat. Aika Mal’ on her Heist debut EP.
Bonus: A tantalizing 140BPM Dam Swindle remix

Amy Dabbs might be one of the hardest working artists in the game right now. Making it in the current electronic music landscape is not an easy thing, which might be why this talented artist is so heavily invested in her musical output. With releases on Aus Music, Shall not Fade and her own Dabbs traxx, a monthly residency on Rinse FM and a tour schedule that seems to get busier by the minute, we’re happy to see her hard work is paying off. Add to that some support by artists such as Special Request, The Blessed Madonna, Jaguar and Cinthie and you know this Berlin-based artist is right where she belongs: in the spotlight.

With a love for all things high energy – including, but not limited to house music and breaks – Amy knows how to set fire to a dancefloor (or record for that matter). Her music has been described by Resident Advisor as “Elegant and soulful drum & bass, that’ll still catch the ears of house heads.” So here you go, house heads: Amy Dabbs on Heist. The ‘Only breaks can love your heart’ EP is packed with feelgood energy and comes with a Dam Swindle remix that has the duo laying down some pleasantly unexpected breakbeats on an altogether rush-inducing record.

Right from the start, you know you’ve got an anthem on your hands with ‘Everything alright’. The gorgeous vocals by Aika Mal give you that right amount of emotive, ravey energy and come wrapped in a package of solid breaks and mesmerizing chords. With a hint of acid and a couple of meticulously crafted breakdowns you’ll be singing along with this track before you know it.

The Dam Swindle remix drops the tempo a little bit, but with its 140 bpm, warm broken beat and UK bass, the duo delivers a curveball of a track with a lot of crossover appeal. They went for a more stripped back approach that combines introverted percussion with bouncy keys that complement the vocals perfectly for an altogether irresistible remix.

‘Crush’ is a signature Amy Dabbs tracks, with driving 909 percussion, female vocal chops, ethereal pads and classic strings. It’s a warmhearted affair laced with Amy’s feelgood DNA. On the flip you’ll find ‘Eleven eleven twenty two’; a classic deep house track with subtle hints of UKG in its sampling and bass. The pads and leads are moody and the skippy percussion gives this track the kind of energy you’d welcome when pulling an all-nighter.

Rounding off the EP, we’ve got the ep title track ‘Only breaks can love your heart’; another showcase of Amy’s knack to make house aficionados dance to drum and bass. There’s a certain contrast in pace – raging drums versus dreamy chords that makes you feel at ease listening to a fast-paced track like this. The vocals are equally hazy with a subtle 90’s and 00’s RnB feel. Bassface guaranteed on this one!

We’re extremely happy we get to call Amy our friend and proud to share her music through Heist. As always, play it loud and dance, dance, dance!

Yours Sincerely,
Maarten & Lars More

Format: Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:
A1. I need to know
A2. Do you think about me
A3. Freddie’s groove
B1. Phantom feat. The Potash Twins
B2. Endless life
B3. When we last met

Release Info:
Crackazat & Heist present: “Senses”. A stunning mini album that sees the artist deliver a heartwarming perspective on contemporary electronic
music
On “Senses”, we see the pure talent of Crackazat come to life like never before. We’ve all danced to “Alfa” or his most recent hit on Heist “Demucha” and
have heard his venture into the more poppy side of things with his 2022 album ‘Evergreen’ on Freerange. “Senses” however, is on another level. Crackazat
takes you on a sonic journey exploring his musical personality with live keys, vocals, bass and production all coming from his studio in Uppsala, Sweden. The
jazzy horns that are featured throughout are recorded by Adeev and Ezra Potash, better known as the Potash twins. The duo took a sidestep from their
recordings with John Legend, Robert Glasper and even Diplo to dive into this project with Crackazat and help him deliver arguably his best work to date.
The 6-track album starts off with the low-slung groove of ‘I need to know’. The whole atmosphere is warm, dreamy and seems to be written to lift your spirits,
no matter where you are in life. Plucked strings, arpeggios and long horn notes give this song its energy, which is subtly supported by lo-fi drums and sparse
bass licks.
“Do you think about me”, keeps the energy tight with a lovely drum groove and a sparse bass section. From the first note of the track, you get the feeling like
the energy could change any moment. Halfway through this is exactly what happens, when uplifting keys and a buzzing lead take control of the track. The
string arrangement is subtle enough to never overshadow the other instrumentation, but simply adds a beautiful layer to a track that’s already filled with
emotion. It’s all smiles when the energy of this track is set loose!
If “Do you think about me” is Crackazat in pop mode, “Freddie’s Groove” is Crackazat in full-on jazz mode. The nod to Freddie Hubbard is clear, and
Crackazat cleverly takes ideas from both the jazz legend and his legendary French sampler, Pepe Bradock for this track. The horns are deep and moody, the
groove is jazz-house at its best and Crackazat’s soft vocals have the perfect amount of fragility to fit the groove. The changeover into a stabby synth section
halfway through the track is a subtle reminder from the skilled producer that – even with all these musical elements – he can direct you to the front of the
dancefloor with the twist of a note.
“Phantom” sees Crackazat move into a shuffling Latin-dance vibe. Here, the song reaches its full potential through the horn section, so it’s only fitting that this
is the feature track for the Potash Twins. The Latin rhythms are lush, the key progression is on point and the energy on this track just keeps on going with
layers and layers of horns, powerful vocal chops, and subtle but effective percussion changeovers.
“Endless life” is a track that feels like it’s building up momentum with every repetition. Whether it’s the broken beat groove, the offbeat keys or the sparse
horn hits, chord hits or leads, there’s a certain energy in this track that takes a hold of you and simply doesn’t let go.
The outro “When we last met” is built around vibey drunk keys and a downtempo hip-hop groove. There’s a hint of old school D’angelo in this track and you
can clearly hear the artist feels at ease with the path he’s taking the listener on. It’s a perfect ending to a record that showcases the beautiful world that
Crackazat has crafted through his compositions and one thing is for sure: This is an album we will all keep coming back to for a long time to come.
Yours Sincerely,
Maarten & Lars More

Format: Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 – Won’t u take me
A2 – Piano heaven
B1 – Masterplan
B2 – Piano heaven (St. David remix)

Release Info:

Cinthie joins the Heist fam with an EP full of lush, epic house music with 3 originals and a St. David remix.

Cinthie is the kind of artist who seems to be everywhere all at once. In the past years, we’ve seen her compile a lush DJ Kicks compilation, release numerous EP’s on labels such as Aus music, run one of Berlin’s finest record stores (Elevate Records), tour the world fiercely, and create an all-new live show. Her EP for Heist has been in the works for a long, long time and it’s an absolute pleasure to finally present the ‘Music for Discotheques’ EP. Spoiler alert: It’s a no holds-back, ‘all killers, no fillers’ record. Just the way we like it.

In classic Cinthie fashion, this EP has the Berlin-based artist explore various sides of house music, starting with the vocal cut ‘Won’t u take me’. Lush pads, shuffling snares and a dreamy female vocal work together to bring a warm and classy house track with a clear nod to 90’s US house, but with its feet firmly rooted in the present.

Piano heaven takes you on an Italo-meets-deephouse excursion straight into…Drum roll…: Piano heaven. A driving 909 groove and a deceptively simple bass form the foundation of the track, but it’s the keys (and strings) that bring this track to its full peak-time potential. The energy in this track is of the ‘hands-in-the-air / screaming-out-loud’ type and it has already become one of the biggest tracks in Cinthie’s live-show.

On the flip, Cinthie explores the pacier electronic side of the dance spectrum, with the footwork inspired jam ‘Masterplan’. Think classic 808’s, loopy synths and a cheeky spoken word piece that lifts the song to a level where it’s extremely danceable and quite simply put; really fun.

The final track of the EP is the expertly crafted remix by Italian house maestro St. David; an artist Cinthie has always been a big fan of. He’s made a dazzling rework of ‘Piano Heaven’: A deep and driving deephouse version that’s layered in sweeps, fx and bleeps for an altogether mesmerizing effect.

We’re thrilled that we can share Cinthie’s music on the label and have her join the family after having played so many shows together and having spoken about doing something together for such a long time. As always, play it loud and dance, dance, dance!

Yours Sincerely,
Maarten & Lars More

Format: (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 – Orchid’s Wish
A2 – Make Me Feel Feat. Marina Trench
B1 – Blu Thang
B2 – Free Feat. Tour-Maubourg
B3 – Purple Corner Fig

Release Info:

Heist welcomes Belgian house maestro UC Beatz to the label with a 5 track EP featuring Marina Trench and Tour-Maubourg.

UC Beatz is a man who likes to do things his own way. You can hear it in his distinctive sound, but it also goes back to when he started producing and putting out records. If he would have asked us for advice back then, we would have definitely tried to talk him out of starting a record label without a good distribution deal. The hours of work to get the records made, printed and stamped is one thing, but going from shop to shop to sell your work, just because you believe in it? That’s just mad.

Thankfully, Belgian producer, DJ -and yes, label owner- UC Beatz didn’t ask our opinion when he started Entrepot Records in 2014 and we’re glad for it. It’s been a total success story for him and an inspiration for independent artists all around. His releases quickly gained momentum, all sold out in weeks and with that, helped him establish his name as stylish deep house producer with his own sound.

Fast forward to 2023, and we find UC Beatz on labels such as Classic Music Company, Razor ‘n Tape and now we’ve his debut on Heist for you. There’s no need for him to go from shop to shop this time, because we’re sure people will jump on this record the minute it hits the shelves.

UC Beatz delivers a stunning 5 track EP with guest appearances from Marina Trench and Tour-Maubourg. The EP sees the artist go from euphoric sample house (Orchid’s Wish) to his classic pad-driven sound on tracks like Purple Corner Fig and Blu Thang. The EP would be good without the collabs, but UC Beatz found a perfect match in style with fellow Heist artist Marina Trench on ‘Make me feel’. His co-production with Tour-Maubourg sees the duo dive deep into a classic Chicago deephouse vibe and deliver the most ethereal track of the EP.

Yours Sincerely,
Maarten & Lars More

Format: (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 - Soundsystem
A2 - High
B1 - Day by Day
B2 - 909 feat. Emil & Boo Williams (OV remix)

Release Info:

Orlando Voorn is back on Heist after his 2022 ‘Heist mastercuts’ EP and comes in with a heavy dose of soulful machine funk. ‘Heist mastercuts part 2’ has the techno & house veteran showing his eclectic style with the vocal cut ‘Soundsystem’, Midwest inspired sample jam ‘High’ and his Boo Williams collaborative drum workout ‘909’.

On the first Heist mastercuts, Orlando dove deep into his archives and presented a collection of old and new tracks, showing us that his music has aged well and reminding us that he’s a producer still on the top of his game. He kept busy in 2022 with releases on our own label Transient Nature, Kompakt, a handful of Bandcamp only tracks, and a self-released album. Somehow, he found the time to work on his follow up ep on Heist and managed to completely blow us away with the music.

The EP kicks off with Soundsystem: a masterclass in simplicity. A steady and minimalistic groove guides you through the track, where silky vocals and woozy chords take you on a trip through Orlando’s sonic universe. Orlando moves into freak mode with a trippy lead and dubbed-out keys to add some playfulness to an already outstanding track.

‘High’ is Orlando’s take on what could easily be an old Andrés track. Here, he samples a female vocal (I get high, I get high, I get high), and cleverly adds his own vocals to add depth and originality to the track. The percussion on high grooves in an effortless way and underlines the feel of this track: It’s fun, cool and incredibly funky. There’s a bit of Dam Swindle sauce on the mix to make sure this track hits the right spot on any dancefloor.

On the flip, there’s ‘Day by day’: A classic Orlando Voorn cut with a live bassline, plenty of chopped samples and a Rhodes loop that could have come straight from a B-roll of a ‘First Choice’ recording session. The b-side ends with a collab with Orlando’s close friend Emil and legendary Chicago producer Boo Williams. The producers take a monologue from Boo Williams about working the 909 and deliver a drum workout -yes with the 909- that keeps on building energy, showing exactly what Boo is talking about.

The digital package also includes an instrumental mix of Soundsytem and an alternative mix to 909, just for good measure. This is the first artist release in our 10 years of Heist anniversary year and this EP perfectly encapsulates the Heist Sound: varied, deep, soulful, and banging.

Yours sincerely,
Maarten & Lars More

Format: (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 - Dam Swindle - You
A2 - Dam Swindle - More love
B1 - Dam Swindle - The wrap around (2022 mix)
B2 - Dam Swindle - 64 Ways feat. Mayer Hawthorne (Nightmares On Wax remix)
B3 - Dam Swindle - The wrap around (DJ Bone’s doc ciroc remix)

Release Info:

We’ve come to the third and final installment of Dam Swindle’s ‘Keep on Swindling’ series and are proud to see them finishing off their 10-year anniversary with a bang. This final ep holds 2 new originals, remixes by Nightmares on Wax and DJ Bone and the long-awaited re-release of their seminal track from 2013: ‘The Wrap Around’.

‘Keep on Swindling part 3’ kicks off with ‘You’; a fast-paced slice of electronic funk that sees the boys dive into heady club territory. With this track, they show a new direction in their sound that combines their vintage sampled-based soulfulness with modern percussive and melodic elements. Whether it’s the moody arpeggio, the techno-ish stabs or the bell-driven percussion in ‘You’; it’s all coming together in a way that is both heartwarming and rush-inducing.

The A side also holds ‘More Love’; a track that takes you back to what has been the center of the Dam Swindle sound in the past 10 years. Conga loops, vocal chops, synth stabs and a simple string to keep the tension; it’s all in there. Add to that a simple funk bass loop and you’ve got yourself a modern-day Swindle classic.

On the flip, you’ll find a special song from the Dam Swindle catalog: ‘The wrap around’. When released on Huxley’s now defunct ‘Saints & Sonnets’ label back in 2013, the release made its way into many record bags and sold out quickly, never to be repressed again. Discogs prices went through the roof, while the title track became one of the biggest tracks for Dam Swindle in their early years. Now, it will be available on vinyl and digital again through Heist. It's had a few touch-ups in arrangement and mixing for the 2022 mix, but the boys worked hard to maintain the rough edges that made the original loved by so many fans.

The B2 is a collaboration with none other than Nightmares on Wax, who delivers a brilliantly creative version of ‘64 ways feat. Mayer Hawthorne’. N.O.W. completely flips the original, opting to use the spoken word intro in a mangled and chopped way on top of a nasty groove and soaring bassline. The main vocal comes in during the second part of the song and adds to the buildup with new Rhodes chords, cowbells, and electronic chops. It was already special when we got together and agreed on the remix, but the result really blew our mind and cemented the position of N.O.W. as a legendary producer even more.

The EP closes off with another special track: DJ Bone’s Doc Ciroc remix of ‘The Wrap Around’. DJ Bone has been living in the Netherlands for a long time already and it was only a matter of time before the legendary Detroit producer and DJ would meet Dam Swindle. It was on one if his ‘Further’ events that we laid the foundation for this collab and it’s an honor to have DJ Bone add his raw soulful techno style to the Swindle’s original track. DJ Bone goes for pacey percussion with a classic Detroit Techno feel. His version is minimalistic and raw, chopping up the vocal and using the original Prophet pad as a base layer of warmth. The track gets even beefier when the bassline comes in: A dirty modded 101 lick with so much electronic funk that makes it impossible not that dance.

On ‘Keep on Swindling part 3’, Dam Swindle showcase a more electronic side of their sound and sees them connect with likeminded artists who have delivered amazing interpretations of some of the most loved DS tracks of the past years. With that, we’ve come to a banging conclusion to 10 years of Dam Swindle. There’s only thing that keeps us up right now: What will their next step be…?

Yours Sincerely,
Heist Recordings. More

2022 Repress

180g VINYL.Release: 24.06.2013 - UPC: 827170508361- Tracklist: A1. The break up B1. The make up
Vital sales points:
- First EP of the label by the label-bosses themselves; Dam Swindle
- Releases on Freerange, Dirt Crew, Saints & Sonnets and more
- Just back from their first US tour in May 2013
- Pressing on 180 grs black vinyl
Info: It's not often that silly, boyish dreams come true. But, if you take a closer look at our past 12 months, dreams seem to come true every other day. We've had a great year with releases on such great labels and had the opportunity to play our music all over the world and we've enjoyed every minute of this musical rollercoaster. And today, we've got another dream that's turning into reality: We're starting our own label. This is Heist Recordings, and you're looking at our very first release. We're extremely proud to share this two track EP of our own music with you and we hope you'll like it as much as we do. The break up is a track that checks all the boxes of the signature DS sound. An infectious set of airy chords, a bumpy bass-line and a lush female vocal give the track that feeling that bridges everything we love about the house from back in the days with the things that get everyone excited today. The make up is a deeper track, but still a genuine house tune, with some repetitive almost hypnotic vocals and stabs and of course, a pumping groove. You'll lose track of everything halfway through the break, but as soon as the beat kicks in, you know its business time. This is just the first step. Enjoy it, and be sure to keep an eye out for more of Heist in the near future.
Sincerely yours, Dam Swindle

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Format: (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 - Byron the Aquarius - I love yo
A2 - Byron the Aquarius - Get up
B1 - Byron the Aquarius - Love
B2 - Byron the Aquarius - Success
B3 - Byron the Aquarius - I love yo (Kush Jones remix)

Release Info:

Heist Recordings has been pushing the envelope for house music since day one and we’re always on the lookout for artists that represent our vision on electronic music. Our next guest on the label fits that profile and more. He is the embodiment of modern-day electronic funk and a true wizard on the keys: Atlanta raised cool guy Byron the Aquarius.

Byron has a solid history on the label: He remixed Parker Madicine back in 2017 and did a mad solo on the 2019 released Dam Swindle track ‘The life behind things’. We’ve done some shows together and stayed in touch while Byron was working together with Jeff Mills on his 2020 jazz crossover record ‘Ambrosia’ on Axis. Now, after a solid string of releases on labels like Shall not Fade and Purveyor Underground, Byron is making his solo appearance on Heist. His ‘Akira’ EP goes from dark basement grooves to dreamy broken beats and features a remix by New York dance music wizard Kush Jones.

The Akira EP kicks off with ‘I love yo’. In this track, Byron decides to leave his keys at home and goes in deep with a moody club workout. ‘I love yo’ is a track that juxtaposes dreamy samples with rough percussion and vocal chops with a clear nod to the work of Mr. G. The melody is mellow, but don’t be deceived; clever drum programming and plenty of sub take this track into the club vibe just the way Byron likes it: warm, hazy and sexy AF.

Byron is not known for delivering straightforward house tunes, but when he does deliver them, he does it in style. Enter ‘Get up’; the A2 of the EP. There’s everything we love about house music: smart vocal chops, driving percussion, classic house keys and a booming sub to get you bumping to this beat.

The B-side sees Byron up the tempo and take a deep dive into bass territory with ‘Love’. In this track, there’s lush pads running over a percussive broken beat and chopped R ’n B vocals to add some serious sex appeal. It’s deceptively simple and clean but ever so catchy, which clearly shows Byron’s prowess as an electronic music producer.

Going back to classic house mode, we’ve got ‘Success’: A spoken word house track that fits right in with the classics. Byron sets the mood with some bumpy key-and synth work while brainstorming about originality and blackness throughout the track. Even though the message underneath might be a serious one, Byron succeeds in delivering this in a fun, uplifting way that never gets pretentious or divisive.

The EP finishes with a remix by New Yorker Kush Jones. This is an artist who understands how to build a groove. He could take you anywhere from house to juke, footwork and techno, which is exactly why he’s been getting so much love for his music recently. Kush is an artist who sees no boundaries in his music and still manages to create his own sonic universe. His remix of ‘I love yo’ takes a dreamy approach with soft chords running over an electronic groove with a pure and improvised feel. All elements fit together perfectly and it’s the clever ad-hoc programming and arrangement that suck you into his unbounded world from the first beat.

As always, enjoy the music and play it loud.

Yours sincerely,
Maarten & Lars More

Format: (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 - Dam Swindle - Good woman
A2 - Gaoulé Mizik - A ka titine (Dam Swindle remix)
B1 - Dam Swindle - High Life feat. Lorenz Rhode (Ash Lauryn remix)
B2 - Dam Swindle - Yes, no, maybe feat. Tom Misch & Lorenz Rhode (Arp Frique remix)
B3 - Dam Swindle - Call of the wild feat. Jungle by night

Release Info:

After the chart-topping Keep on Swindling part 1, that included summer anthem ‘All I want’ and the live jazz rework of ‘The break up’ by Emma-Jean Thackray, Dam Swindle are now back with part 2 of their 10-year anniversary series. If you thought the first edition had the goods, you’re in for a treat with this one. Keep on Swindling part 2 includes a new afro-tinged DS original, alongside a never-released remix of an obscure Guadeloupean record and remixes by rising star of the Detroit music scene Ash Lauryn and Rush Hour favorite Arp Frique. To top things off, the boys release their afro-brass dancefloor burner ‘Call of the Wild’ feat. Jungle by Night for the first time on a single.

The EP kicks off with a new original production by DS: ‘Good woman.’ This track has Dam Swindle on their best dancefloor behavior: Powerful live drums with an electronic edge and a big smudge of soul through smart sampling. The track has the feel of a soulful drum workout, taking its warmth from the lovely organ hits played by the talented Tim Jules and lush vocals. It also has plenty of low end with its offbeat sub and heavy kick, which give this track all the beef it needs to make any dancefloor -big or small- move in ecstasy.

The next track is somewhat of a special project. Tipped in 2019 by close friend Vincent ‘Venz’ Reinders who now runs one of Amsterdam’s finest venues Radioradio, Lars and Maarten started working on a rework of the song ‘ A ka titine’ by Guadeloupean band ‘Gaoulé Mizik’. The original release was only distributed from private press in small amounts, and therefore did not reach that many people. Versions of this record are rare on Discogs and unfortunately change hands for large sums of money, which keeps the music in obscurity.

The Dam Swindle rework was first put out as a free download, but was taken offline quite soon after, when we started our path to locate the original rightsholders and get their approval. Fast forward 3 years and we’re here with an official remix of this amazing piece of music where the guys add an electronic twist to the original to bring that classic Gwo Ka music towards today’s clubs.

On the flip, we’ve got the amazing Ash Lauryn remixing the title track of Dam Swindle’s 2018 album: ‘High life’ co-written by Lorenz Rhode. Ash Lauryn has been moving from strength to strength and is proudly representing the city of Detroit and all its musical heritage with her DJ sets, productions, and the content she makes. We recently got the opportunity to meet in person and this woman is about as real as it gets. Her aura simply vibrates when she plays, and she oozes class behind the decks. This remix – co-produced with Stefan Ringer- takes a deep and grooving approach to the original, with new heady percussion to add that original Detroit flavor.

The next track is a remix by of our favorite and colorful Dutch artists: Arp Frique. Arp Frique is known for his multicultural take on music, combining Caribbean and Cabo Verdean styles with classic disco and funk. He decided to write a whole new song around the vocals of the Swindle, Rhode & Tom Misch hit ‘Yes, no, maybe.’ He takes a loose-limbed, tropical disco direction where the live, analog recording lays a perfect foundation for this breezy track. The vinyl release contains the vocal mix, while we also have the instrumental available for download.

The Ep closes with a Dam Swindle original for the 2018 album High Life that really needs no introduction: ‘Call of the wild feat. Jungle by Night.’ It’s a track that seems to keep the dancers happy wherever we play it and hasn’t lost any of its appeal in the past four years. Originally only released in album format, this track now makes its way on a single 12” to round off an exciting new release by the Swindles. Enjoy the music, play it loud and remember…

Keep on Swindling!

Yours sincerely,
Maarten & Lars
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Format: (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A Demucha
B1 Sarge
B2 We know

Release Info:

What do you do when you’ve just released an amazing album and your last EP on Heist was one of the label’s best selling records in recent years? This is the ‘question’ Crackazat had to answer when writing his new EP for us. His solution? Just deliver something even more amazing. Easy.

When Crackazat released his ‘Alfa’ EP early 2021, we knew it was going to be a great record. It had everything we’ve come to expect and love from him; a great balance between creative musicality and downright beef for the club. Fast forward a year and a half and here we are, super happy to release his new ‘Demucha EP’.

Title track ‘Demucha’ starts with the jazzy energy of a double bass, flanked by brushed percussion and some vocal chops. You feel the speed of the track working through every part of the song, which becomes even more evident when the main key comes in. A typical Crackazat-esque finger-twirling loop brings the track to its top speed, where horn stabs add to the excitement. This is peak-time jazzy house executed to perfection.

‘Sarge’ takes a more mellow approach, where we see Crackazat navigate the idea of timelessness with dreamy keys, strings and a dubby bass. A mid track crackly arpeggio and faraway voices add to the contemplative vibe of the track to great effect.

The EP closer ‘We know’ stays away from Crackazat’s renowned skippy beats and instead, make way for a driving staccato stomp. Rough key stabs along with the talented multi-instrumentalist’s own faraway vocals make for a mesmerizing track that takes you on a lovely sonic journey that will work as well on the dancefloor as in any other space.

The Demucha EP is another great example of Crackazat’s talent to write an earworm of a melody and produce a sonically rich record in a manner that feels both effortless and compelling throughout it’s full length.

Yours sincerely,
Maarten & Lars More

Format: Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Body control
A2 The break up (Emma-Jean Thackray remix)
B1 64 Ways feat. Mayer Hawthorne (2022 mix)
B2 All I want

Release Info:

Dam Swindle are back on Heist and coming in hot with a series of 3 releases in 2022 to celebrate a decade of Dam Swindle. The aptly titled ‘Keep on Swindling’ EP’s form a collection of classic DS tracks that have been re-engineered and remixed as well as new material from the Dutch duo. The first EP features two new originals, a stellar rework of ‘The Break Up’ by rising UK jazz star Emma-Jean Thackray and a 2022 mix of their 2014 hit: ‘64 Ways’ featuring Mayer Hawthorne.

The EP kicks off with ‘Body Control’: A fresh DS production that has all the elements in there to become their next club hit. A tight garage groove smothered in congas forms the basis for this track along with its deep repetitive bassline. It’s the musical elements that make this track really stand out though. There’s swinging offbeat synth hits, sample chops, lush pads and vibrant arpeggios building momentum for dancers to lose their sh*t (or their body control) to, every time this track is played.

‘The Break Up’ - originally part of the first release on Heist back in 2013 - has only been remixed once in that same year by Max Graef. The track now gets a full makeover courtesy of the amazingly talented Emma-Jean Thackray, who has been playing the original in her sets for since day one. Her version is loaded with newly recorded parts – vocals and horns included - and gives the original an amazing live jazz twist. This remix gave us some serious goosebumps when we first heard it. It’s in one word: essential!

On the flip, the duo offers a 2022 mix of their track ’64 Ways’ featuring Mayer Hawthorne. ‘64 Ways’ was originally released as part of their album Boxed Out in 2014 and was their first venture into vocal collaborations. None other than Mayer Hawthorne -a serious house-head himself- came over to Amsterdam to record the track and it was an instant hit. Now, with some new engineering done, the guys have dusted off their old project to great effect. The 2022 mix makes this track sound warm, powerful and well rounded, giving new life to this DS classic.

The final track of the EP is ‘All I want’; the second production on this record that sees Dam Swindle deliver a track that has ‘summer festival’ written all over it; synth stabs, diva vocals, acid lines and a huge breakdown included.

The ‘Keep on Swindling’ EP part 1 is the first outing of Dam Swindle in their anniversary year. A year that will be filled with curated events, headline shows, fan specials and most importantly, a lot of new music. As always, enjoy the music and we hope to see you on the dancefloor.

Keep on Swindling!

Yours sincerely,
Maarten & Lars More

Format: Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Be with you
A2 Love feelings
B1 Tenderness
B2 Tenderness (Late night dub)

Release Info:

Heist welcomes, late 80’s DMC World DJ Championship contender, Techno veteran, and house royalty Orlando Voorn to the label
with his ‘Heist Mastercuts’ EP.

Orlando Voorn is a man who needs little introduction. He’s played a pivotal role in the development of the electronic music scene in the Netherlands, as well as in the USA where he now lives. With countless aliases, he has released everything from old school hiphop to sample heavy breaks, to banging Detroit techno to soulful house music. His recent outings as ‘Frequency’ on Clone, as well as his latest EP on our sublabel Transient Nature, are proof that even after 30+ years, the man is still very much on top of his game.

The Heist Mastercuts EP sees Orlando dig deep in his archive for some of his undercover hits from the nineties that have been remastered for
this EP. On top of that, he delivers a new track in the form of soulful house bomb “Be with you.”

“Be with you” starts off with a hazy groove and distant pads. The steady beat and funky electronic chops set a steady foundation for a rush-inducing string sample that works together with looping diva vocals for maximum dancefloor excitement. No heavy drumrolls, FX or other tools necessary here: It’s clever sampling and Orlando’s soulful touch that make this track tick.

Next up is the vinyl only track “Love Feelings” – originally released in ’96 on Urban Sounds of Amsterdam-. Think 130+ BPM vintage house grooves with hazy pads and you’ll get an idea of what’s coming. Love Feelings is an up-tempo dreamhouse track that, even though it’s almost 25 years old, still ticks all the boxes of a contemporary festival groover.

On the B-side you’ll find 2 versions of “Tenderness”: The original mix and the Late nite dub, both originally released on Clubstitute records back in ’95. The original has a 90’s garage groove with male vocal chops, old school house keys and strings. The late night dub is exactly that: a dreamy ethereal deephouse groove with warm synth hits, introverted percussion some very on point sax loops.

The Heist Mastercuts EP is the first EP of Orlando Voorn on Heist Recordings but considering the connection we’ve built with him over the last year and having heard the music he’s shared with us, we’re sure you’ll see much more of him on Heist in the future.


Yours sincerely,

Maarten & Lars More

Format : Vinyl 12” (180 gr., Limited Full Cover)

Track list:

A1 Chant des Oiseaux (Feat. BeBelle)
A2 Skelp Tune
B1 Cop Show
B2 Henri Rousseau (Feat. BeBelle)

Release Info:

Stepping up for his fourth release on Heist, we’ve got sample wizard Nebraska coming in with some lovely chops and a giant curveball of an
a-side that has summer anthem written all over it. Curious? Dive into this massive 4 track EP by the London native who keeps on bringing the goods.

The Chant des Oiseaux EP is built around a collaboration between Nebraska and BeBelle. Anyone who’s picked up Nebraska’s 2021 release on his own Friends & Relations label will have already heard a glimpse of what happens when these 2 get into the studio. They have a mutual love for French vocals and we can’t blame them; everything BeBelle says, whispers and chants just sounds syrupy sweet.

This might be most evident on the title track of this single, where modulated Rhodes chords, distant chirping and fluttering of birds and a minimal beat form the foundation for BeBelle’s mesmerizing vocal. The dreamy and contemplative vibe of this track makes you long for those endless days of summer. We’re not sure if it’s a 70’s summer we’re longing back for, or 2022’s summer to look forward to, but with music like this, it doesn’t really matter, does it?

If you were still hovering mid-air on the vibe of the A1, ‘Skelp Tune’ – the second A track – will take you back to the ground and straight into the club. Skelp tune is a Detroit inspired house track (Nebraska sent us a ‘note to self’ saying ‘you are not Moodymann’ along with the first demo of this one). He doesn’t have to be; this track has all the clever sampling and disco energy of a classic Nebraska track, nicely tucked into one hell of a groove.

The flip starts with ‘Cop Show’: A no frills disco house track with a life affirming string section, guitar licks all over and a bottom end to freak out your neighbour’s neighbours.

We round up the EP with another collaboration with BeBelle, with the track ‘Henri Rousseau’. The track is built on a groove that almost gallops along, with strings, outer-worldly vocals and howling soundscapes that turn this track into a covert disco burner on the more experimental side of house music.

On the Chant des Oiseaux EP, Nebraska effortlessly shows off his impressive sampling skills, electronic fiddling, and powerful drum programming, reminding us that he’s not lost an inch of talent over the years and manages to surprise us with his music. Knowing him, this is simply because he’s simply exploring new ways to keep surprising himself.

Yours sincerely,

Maarten & Lars


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Track list:
A1. Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
A2. Elastick
B1. Shook
B2. Brake Root


Highlight:
Wisdom Teeth co-founder K-Lone is dropping two EPs on Aus Music: the first instalment nods to UKG and house flavours, landing mid-May, while the second offers a deeper, broken techno vibe, arriving in late June. Opener 'Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah' is a deep and bubbly cut with dubbed-out rhythms and a one-vocal refrain that's looped, panned about the mix and doused in reverb to serve as a trippy hook. Further stabs, deft synth details, whirring pads and neon colours all add detail to this warm, dynamic sound. The fantastic 'Elastick' is a tight and kinetic minimal kicker with gorgeously smeared pads. Fresh sound designs bring it to life next to lush background chords that layer in plenty of signature K-Lone colour.
'Shook' is a dubby and bouncy rhythm with rubbery bass and glitchy hits that hook you into a world of gloopy pads and heady cosmic ambience. Last of all, 'Brake Root' keeps the good vibes coming, this time with a tumbling broken beat that makes you shake your body loose amidst balmy pads and beautiful melodic curlicues that ooze late-night soul.
UK trailblazer K-Lone heads up the label Wisdom Teeth with fellow producer Facta and has released everything from club-primed garage to innovative home listening records. Whether cooking up kinetic beats and bouncy bass or soundtracking a lazy summer's afternoon with synthesised bird calls and lush marimbas, the London-bred artist is a proven studio wizard. Critical acclaim has come for both his ‘Swells’ and ‘Cape Cira’ albums, and now his ‘Catching Wild’ EPs for Aus Music offer yet another portal into the colourful world of his idiosyncratic, signature sound.







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GENRE/S: House, Deep House, Acid House, Breakbeat

TRACKLISTS:
A1 Green Ink - Level 2
A2 Green Ink - Level 2 (Will Hofbauer’s Ground Floor Mix)
B1 Green Ink - Dafen Village
B2 Green Ink - Nierpa

SHORT INFO:
Green Ink is back with his third entry in the Altered States EP catalog! His "Level 2" EP comes with three original gems made for the dance floor.
Joining on remix duties is none other than the very talented producer and "Third Place" label head Will Hofbauer who delivered a catchy, stripped-back interpretation of the title track.


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REPRESS!
Sau Poler teams up with Modern Obscure Music label boss Pedro Vian on this beautiful record,
inspired by the dialogue between darkness and light. The Catalan duo previously worked together
on the hard hitting Paral.lel, which was released via XLR8R in 2015. On El Pas Del Temps, they
present four melodic efforts.
“This record shows our desire to tell stories with each track. With the combination of our sonic
palettes, we present a dreamy, hypnotic and beautiful journey. The result is a rich sound between
light and darkness, where the tracks never remain in the same place for too long. Everything
changes, everything moves, it’s all in the detail.” More

12”, 180 gr. vinyl


GENRE/S: Deep House

TRACKLISTS:
A1. Cecile (with Eliana Glass) (Charles Webster Remix)
A2. By The End They Will (C.K Remix)
B1. Olympia (Timmy Regisford Instrumental Remix)
B2. By The End They Will (Octo Octa's Dazed These Days Dub)

SHORT INFO:
Frank and Tony’s long history together has produced many seminal moments, and the release of the Ethos album this year on their own Scissor & Thread imprint marked yet another high point.
The album saw the friends and long term collaborators produce a body of work that was both joyous, thoughtful and politically charged. Adding to that is this five track remix EP which enlists artists of a distinct pedigree to reimagine some of the tracks, and to stunning effect. First up is Cecile featuring Eliana Glass, the pianist and singer who graces a pair of tracks on the album and this EP. Charles Webster is responsible for the flip - a typically moody and atmospheric vibe brings out new layers in the original. Eliana Glass also features on Timmy Regisford’s remix of Olympia, which exhibits some of the New York legends greatest attributes - a hypnotic, uplifting masterclass ensues. Regisford’s instrumental version of Olympia is also shared here. Elsewhere C.K brings the heat with a rework of By The End They Will, creating a bumping, raw cut. The same track is flipped by Octo Octa, who takes the vibe fathoms deep and produces an idiosyncratic ravey version while honouring the spirit of the original.











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Vinyl Only / NO Return!

700 limited copies, hand numbered, vinyl only, mastered by DJ Steaw, Made in Europe

A1: Latino
A2: Paradise
B1: It was just a dream
B2: RUFF Menace
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It's a pleasure for us to present one of the most awaited albums of the MM Saturns saga, a record on which we have been working for almost 3 years, and it finally sees the light.

Corben introduces us to "Peachland," an introspective retro-futuristic journey where early electro and downtempo go hand in hand in order to create a cybernetic vision of the '80s subculture. It's like an inner spaceship that immerses you in infinite space, allowing you to reach unknown universes.

Pure no-wave nostalgia filled with contagious vocoders and hypnotic synthesizers that shape a dreamlike and unsettling landscape, in which Corben shows us what could be the most sentimental and human side of an imaginary and futuristic artificial intelligence.


TRACKLISTS:

a1 Make It Move
a2 Fire to Flame
a3 Six Inches
a4 Get Open
b1 Staring Into the Sun
b2 Potion
b3 Precious
b4 Falling Backwards

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Kicking off the sixth various artists record, ‘The Works’, on the Detroit-based Infolines label is Shaun
Reeves’ ‘Playground’. The co-founding member of the Visionquest project utilises a low-slung groove with
snaking, sizzling hats above while mysterious bell-like keys toll in the background. Up next, Infolines label
founder ADMN and Aran Daniels, one-half of the Remote Viewing Party alias who featured on the previous
Infolines VA, team up for ‘50 Gallon Drums’, a wonky trip boasting wild and whirring percussion in an
infectious drunken groove working perfectly alongside crunchy synth-lines.
"Cranberry, extra ice. IYKYK" - Infolines
On the B-side, the anonymous Bendersnatch returns to Infolines with ‘Doppler’, taking us deep under the
waves for a submarine expedition. The sonar bleeps among electrifying zaps, a steady techno beat leading
the way. Closing out this fantastic next instalment on the Infolines label is Snack Time founder Gino, who
brings us ‘Bonedog’, finishing the release on a high with psychedelic synth elements and an iconic, earworm
vocal over a slick groove - secret weapon energy!
Infolines, a dynamic collective of Producers, DJs, and friends hailing from Detroit, is renowned for its
compilations that showcase the distinct styles of its artists. Following the success of Infolines 005, ‘CAID’,
which garnered support from artists like Anfisa Letyago, Paco Osuna, and Korea Town Acid, the label is all
set to launch its superb sixth record. More

Genre : Electronic - Downtempo

Tracklist :

A1. Jail Time with Mr. Murd (Feat. Yonatan Albalak) - A2. Graveyard Party - A3. Your Tissue SVP - A4. SNG PLSTN - A5. - I Think This Is Reasonable - A6. HRTSPC - B1. NOZPLZ - B2. Dada’s Bone - B3. OCNC XTR - B4. EZ PPL 4 TRTH - B5. Don’t Forget to Not Remember Who

Yuval Havkin, also known as Rejoicer, is one of the foremost exponents of downtempo music, inspired by the fusion of jazz and hip-hop. His new album thus draws on his early influences while exploring the world of calm, melodic electronic music that borders on ambient.

This Is Reasonable has a chill-out feel to it, a record filled with melodies and atmospheres that, throughout its eleven tracks, conveys a sense of calm and floating, akin to ambient music. Stripped of the clichés of the genre, the album is built around subtle melodies and rich harmonies from keyboards and synths, which borrow as much from the spirit of jazz as from the inventions of electronica, whilst being supported by a gentle groove. This equilibrium is perfectly captured by Rejoicer's moniker, a term that evokes both the idleness of artificial paradises and a soft, caring form of spirituality.

Musical path
Yuval Havkin was born in Israel in 1985, and grew up in England before returning to his homeland. He began studying classical piano as a child, but was put off by such conservative teaching and turned to hip-hop and beatmaking in his teens. Throughout the 2000s, he learned his skills "on the job", working with musicians he met in Tel Aviv, a local scene that nurtured a sense of community and emulation. Back then, he was particularly impressed by the grooves and electronic inventions of Detroit producer Dabrye, who had a revelatory effect on him, before he discovered legendary musicians Madlib and Jay Dee aka J Dilla, who led him down the path of beatmaking.

Yuval Havkin's music career got off to a more serious start in the late 2000s with the creation of his own label, Raw Tapes, both based in Tel Aviv. Blending jazz, funk and hip hop, whilst still embracing pop influences, the label's productions showcased the richness of the new Israeli scene combining cool, elegance, playfulness, and a degree of research and inventiveness, thanks to the talent of artists and bands such as Duo Brothers, Maya Dunietz, iogi, Nitai Hershkovits, the Buttering Trio and Rejoicer, the artist's most personal project.

In 2018, Rejoicer's warm and engaging sounds caught the attention of the prestigious Los Angeles label Stones Throw, renowned for having signed his idols Madlib and J Dilla, not to mention Aloe Blacc and Peanut Butter Wolf (its founder). Two albums followed, Energy Dreams (2018) and Spiritual Sleaze (2020), both of which demonstrate his instrumental mastery, jazz culture and lush orchestrations. Both albums are on a par with more renown sampling prodigies of the beat scene, and gave him his first international recognition.

Now based between Los Angeles and Savyon, near Tel Aviv, this hyperactive and instinctive artist simultaneously pursues a career as a composer, musician and label owner, member of numerous bands and collective projects (Apifera, PlayDead, collaborations with Jimi Prasad and Avishai Cohen) while also offering his studios and production skills to other artists. “Fela Kuti meets Aphex Twin”

This new Rejoicer album, which follows three earlier jazz-tinged records, marks a new and more personal musical direction for an artist who previously favored group work and collaborations. Yuval chose here to delve into a more electronic and sequenced style of music, playing Prophet 6 and 8 synths, a Juno 60, a Minimoog and his Fender Rhodes keyboard, in contrast with the more organic sounds of his previous albums. While a few tracks on this new album may sound like a laid-back version of some of the Warp label's early electronic classics by Aphex Twin or Boards of Canada, Yuval Havkin claims to have also been inspired by the great Fela Kuti, particularly in his search for harmonies between bass, keyboards and
percussion, and by his elder trumpet-playing friend Avishai Cohen, a musician he particularly admires.

Beyond these various influences, This Is Reasonable is an album of compelling and bewitching melodies. The moods, peacefulness and sheer beauty of This Is Reasonable are, indeed, quite paradoxical, in stark contrast to the country's tragedies (the title explicitly refers to recent political disputes in Israel) and the war currently raging less than a hundred miles from his studio. A paradox fully embraced by the artist, who views his music as a response to the violence of our times.
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