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HEIST 089EP
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Crackazat seamlessly blends contemporary electronica with dancefloor euphoria on his new record In the sky. Crackazat has had quite the run of amazing releases on Heist since his first outing back in 2021. Alfa, 2022 follow up Demucha, and his mini album Senses released in 2023 have shown that Heist is the perfect label for him to show off his keyboard wizardry and broad musical influences. In the sky hits you right in the feels and sees the talented musician navigate from synth-happy dancefloor cuts to electronic and jazzy deep house. What might stand out most on his new record is how Crackazat feels totally at ease with all these different styles and how he blends his voice seamlessly in the tracks to add depth, meaning, and energy. This might be most apparent on the title track, which is built around a syncopated Alfa-esque key loop. There's gorgeous vocal chops and warm arpeggiated synths in the background that give the track lots of texture, while the percussion shuffles along in perfect swing with the song's energy. Add some lovely strings, leads, and a moody breakdown, and you've got yourself a fine piece of dancefloor magic. On "Burnin'," Crackazat channels his inner raver with '90s inspired percussion, a honky piano loop, and some very catchy and quirky vocal chops. He freely sprinkles claps and snares around like it's Christmas and the big breakdown has the kind of madness-inducing energy that gets every clubber going! EP closer "Dark" is Crackazat in his most contemplative mode; a vibe he always loves to explore on his Heist outings. The bass is deep, the kick heavy, and the synth licks are mellow but powerful. His voice and effects give this track a beautiful extra dimension that would even make Fred Again jealous. The stripped-back percussion has clear influences from contemporary African dance music, which adds yet another layer to Crackazat's broad sonic landscape.
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HEIST 088EP
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DJ Sneak returns to his roots on his Synesthesia EP on Heist Recordings. The Synesthesia EP is another showcase of the raw talent of DJ Sneak, skillfully working his gear and churning out massive tunes full of classic Chicago house references, '90s euphoria, and chunky synths. The EP kicks off with "I Can Tell What You Want," a deep and bubbly groover where DJ Sneak takes some naughty chopped up R&B vocals and adds a pinch of the ghetto sound that he adopted in his formative years in Chicago. Sneak manages to take that influence and deliver something altogether contemporary with this track, ticking all the right boxes of catchy vocals, moody chords, a nasty bassline, and clever sampling. If the first track embodies his Chicago spirit, then "A taste of the 90s" embodies DJ Sneak's New York spirit. With funky guitar and key licks, loopy horns, shuffling percussion and plenty of changeovers in the arrangement, he masterfully shows us the joy of classic house music. There's always another element that gets added or taken away to build anticipation or release the energy with its chunky low end. It's a true party starter with the energy of a young DJ Sneak spinning his first records way back when. On the flip comes "Dirty Jazz." This delicious piece of deep house is built around off-kilter drums with a syncopated bass line and quirky sample cuts. It's got enough beef to keep the energy going, and the right amount of weirdness to grab your attention whenever this is played. The closing track "You Know What I Mean" adds another layer of weird-sounding vocals that will stick with you until long after the song is over. This track -- and the whole EP for that matter -- oozes the playful energy of a producer who's completely comfortable with his musicality. It's fun and playful, delivered with the class that only a hero of the underground like Sneak can do. On the Synesthesia EP, DJ Sneak takes you deep on a trip through his musical roots and keeps you on the edge of your seat with four tracks bursting with personality.
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HEIST 087EP
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Dam Swindle return to Heist in excellent form with a four-track EP in their signature style. The iconic Amsterdam duo returned to the studio after their much-lauded Minor Fools EP, where the lead track "That's Right" became one of the most heartwarming tracks 2023. The guys are known for their ability to bend different styles into something very much their own and their newest addition to the Heist catalog is no different. The Touch Me Again EP sees them go from sample-heavy house to classic '90s piano-driven tracks with a touch of acid and it's one you don't want to miss. The record starts with "Touch Me Again," a house jam with chopped vocals, energetic synth stabs and a big breakdown. Add to that a touch of acid and you've got a follow-up to their Phonica hit of 2023. "Hang On" takes you back into classic Swindle territory, with their signature sampling style and knack for finding those lush vocals. The synth chops and bassline give the track its upbeat energy and the distant filtered pads move in an ever so subtle way, that there's always something new happening while keeping the attention on that catchy main hook. On the flip, the guys take things a bit deeper with emotive vocals and introverted keys layered over a steady groove on their track "The Joy of Melancholy." Fast-forward to the drop and all that energy comes free with a huge piano break, which propels the track into a blissful "hands-in-the-air" dancefloor moment. The EP closes with "Forever and Ever," a gospel-inspired deep house tune full of organ hits and off-kilter sample chops. This four-track EP gives you jam upon jam upon jam and sees Dam Swindle solidify their position as the go-to artist in the house scene and keeps them at the forefront of electronic music.
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HEIST 081EP
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Makèz deliver the perfect follow up to their hit Downstream with L.A. artist Life on Planets. With support from pretty much the whole of Radio 1 (Pete Tong, Jaguar, Sarah Story, Danny Howard and more), and club DJs 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 listeners have come to love from Makèz. On the A-side is 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. "Midnight Time" is another collaboration with AVA LAVÁ, and takes the EP into the club realm, while still keeping things jazzy. Everything about this track is infectious and you can just feel this go off in a club. With their Midnight Time EP, Makèz creates a gorgeous journey through their sonic world.
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HEIST 073EP
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Crackazat and Heist Recordings present: Senses. A stunning mini album that sees the artist deliver a heartwarming perspective on contemporary electronic music. 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 six-track album starts off with the low-slung groove of "I need to know". The whole atmosphere is warm, dreamy with plucked strings, arpeggios, and long horn notes 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. 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. "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. "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.
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HEIST 079EP
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House music legend DJ Sneak shows 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 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. 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, Sneak takes back his rightful place as the king of the groove. It's a track that is reminiscent of 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.
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HEIST 078EP
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The Dam Swindle curated compilation Heist Classics Vol. 02 delivers even more of the label's biggest hits in a beautiful limited-edition package. 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 and jazzy chords. UK duo Kassian is 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". It's a proper anthem, with African drums, an ecstatic vocal sample and a killer groove.
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HEIST 077EP
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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 three-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 seven 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 and 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!
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HEIST 076EP
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Amy Dabbs might be one of the hardest working artists in the game right now. 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 Cinthia and you know this Berlin-based artist is right where she belongs: in the spotlight. 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. As always, play it loud and dance, dance, dance!
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HEIST 072EP
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Cinthie joins the Heist fam with an EP full of lush, epic house music with three originals and a St. David remix. Cinthie is the kind of artist who seems to be everywhere all at once. In the past years, you've seen her compile a lush DJ Kicks compilation, release numerous EPs 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. 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 '90s US house, but with its feet firmly rooted in the present. Piano heaven takes you on an Italo-meets-deephouse excursion straight into: 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.
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HEIST 070EP
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Label bosses Dam Swindle dive into the label back catalog and compile two special edition releases of classics to celebrate ten years of Heist Recordings. Founded in 2013, Heist Recordings has quickly become a go-to house label, giving rise to a vibrant scene of groove aficionados and all things deep house. Now in the label's tenth year, Dam Swindle take a moment to reflect on the great tracks that have come out over the years with two limited edition compilations of classics. On this first compilation, the duo starts with the track that helped the label burst onto the scene: Their instant classic "The Break Up". With its vintage vocals, Rhodes chops and instantly recognizable bell loop, it's easy to understand why so many people are still in love with this track. It's only fitting that this anniversary release for Heist goes back to where it all started. The second track on the compilation is from the legendary Detroit outfit Scan 7: Their 2020 track "The Best Is Yet Come" from Heist's 50th release. The appearance of Scan 7 on the label turned quite some heads at the time, but in fact, it made total sense. The mutual love for house, key grooves and that classic Detroit vibe brought Scan 7 and Dam Swindle together and the result was an amazing release full of Midwest electronic funk. On the flip, is Dutch duo Fouk with their first hit on the label "Kill Frenzy", which kickstarted the rise of their signature sound back in 2014. The release ends with two extremely catchy and strong house releases by Demuir and Adryiano. Demuir's vocal cut "Werq. Feel. Gruv. Vogue." is one of the highlights in Demuir's catalog and a showcase of the producer's knack for sampling and writing a house groove. Adryiano's piano house track "Me And You And Her" is a perfect ending to this first compilation, showing that great house music can be as simple as repeating something over and over and over, until that groove is all you hear. Crystal clear vinyl; special cut out sleeve; printed inner sleeve.
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HEIST 068EP
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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 Pt. 2 has the techno and 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 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. 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. "High" is Orlando's take on what could easily be an old Andrés track. Here, he samples a female vocal 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. "Day By Day" is 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. It 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 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.
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HEIST 065EP
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The embodiment of modern-day electronic funk and a true wizard on the keys: Atlanta raised cool guy Byron the Aquarius. 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", 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. Enter "Get up". There's everything you love about house music: smart vocal chops, driving percussion, classic house keys, and a booming sub to get you bumping to this beat. Byron up the tempo and takes 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. Going back to classic house mode, you get "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.
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HEIST 066EP
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The third and final installment of Dam Swindle's Keep On Swindling series. This final ep holds two 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 Pt. 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. 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 ten years. Conga loops, vocal chops, synth stabs and a simple string to keep the tension. 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 sold out quickly and was never repressed. Now, it's available on vinyl through Heist Recordings. 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. Next is a collaboration with Nightmares on Wax, who delivers a brilliantly creative version of "64 Ways" featuring Mayer Hawthorne. NoW 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 EP closes off with another special track: DJ Bone's "Doc Ciroc remix" of "The Wrap Around". 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.
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HEIST 064EP
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After the chart-topping Keep On Swindling Pt. 1 (HEIST 061EP), 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 two of their ten-year anniversary series. Keep On Swindling Pt. 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" featuring 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 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. The Dam Swindle rework was first put out as a free download, but was taken offline quite soon after. Fast forward three 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 (HEIST 001CD/LP). 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 and 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.
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HEIST 063EP
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What do you do when you've just released an amazing album and your last EP on Heist Recordings 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 the label. His solution? Just deliver something even more amazing. Easy. When Crackazat released his Alfa EP early 2021, Heist 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 is 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 you 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 its full-length.
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HEIST 061EP
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Dam Swindle are back on Heist Recordings and coming in hot with a series of three releases in 2022 to celebrate a decade of Dam Swindle. The aptly titled Keep On Swindling EPs 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 shit (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. 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 (DIRT 006CD/LP) 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.
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HEIST 060EP
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Heist Recordings welcomes late '80s 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 hip-hop 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 two versions of "Tenderness": the original mix and the "Late Night Dub", both originally released on Clubstitute Records back in '95. The original has a '90s garage groove with male vocal chops, old school house keys and strings. The late-night dub is exactly that: a dreamy ethereal deep house 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.
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2LP
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HEIST 002LP
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Makèz have come a long way since they first sneaked into Amsterdam's studio 80 at the age of 17 to hand over their demos to Dam Swindle. Those demos led to their debut EP Different Planets on Heist in 2019 which gained major support from artists like Seth Troxler and Chez Damier. Quickly after, they signed two records on New York based label Let's Play House. Fast forward two years, and here it is: the release of their debut album City Of All. City Of All shows an admirable level of sophistication and matureness and effortlessly bridges genres across its 13 tracks. You can feel the amount of thought that has been put into this record, with songs happily blending into each other as Makèz submerge themselves in their concept of accidental encounters, inclusiveness and what it means to live in a city like Amsterdam. Makèz bring together all the musical influences they've picked up in their life as music fans, clubbers, and art students. The jazz-funk of opening track "The Entrance" feels breezy, casual almost, like the freeform rhythms that are played in a jazz club during soundcheck. That energy also oozes from "Not So Different", which features the smooth vocals of LYMA. There's a hint of the house-meets-Rn'B vibe that made Anderson .Paak the star that he is now. The song is brilliantly funky and shows the songwriting and arrangement talent of Makèz, who cleverly use pop and soul cues to create one of the album's highlights. What follows is four cuts ranging from the syncopated Balearic funk of "Orbit", the strings of album title track "City Of All", the organ-led jam "Gonna Getya" and the downbeat "Sonder". Allysha Joy -- best known for performing in Melbourne hip-hop collective 30/70 -- is featured on the deep and jazzy cut "Looking Up". These kindred spirits perfectly complement each other on this track, where the deep bass, warm harmonies and jazzy percussion prove to be a perfect foundation for Allysha's rhymes. Far from an album all about jazz and soulful tracks, there's a nice bit of dancefloor-oriented tracks, where the distorted filter funk of "Roselane" featuring Fouk proves to be a highlight along with what is arguably the heaviest cut of the album: "Bent With Funk".
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12"
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HEIST 053EP
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Heist Recordings regulars and all-time good guys Fouk are back! Their Blue Steel EP is filled with their signature grooves, chords and samples and might surprise a few of you out there. The sound design is top notch as always and there's some rough edges on these tracks for an added bit of depth and personality. Next to that, the boys collaborated with the talented Dutch saxophone player Rebiere, who features on the title track. The EP holds three originals and a beautiful remix by Girls of the Internet. This EP on Heist -- their fourth on Heist since their critically acclaimed Kill Frenzy EP back in 2015 -- is one you don't want to miss. The EP kicks off with the gritty live jam "Blue Steel", where Rebiere's saxophone solo is accompanied by a killer bass line and some lovely off-kilter percussion. It's deep, it's jazzy and at the same time it's a track that packs some serious peak-time punch. "Don't You Want To Boogie" ups the tempo and energy and can only be described as a 100% feel good filter-house track. It's got loops, loops and then some more loops. Mesmerizing, funky and unpretentious: this one is just here to boogie. The B1 is reserved for the low-end thump of the Girls of the Internet remix of "Blue Steel". After having released his album "Girls FM" only a few months back and a remix compilation for UNKLE, it's nice that he found the time to work on the remix and deliver this gem of a track. GOTI goes for an eyes shut, dancing-in-your-bedroom version with smooth keys accompanying the sax solo. Last but not least, "Money" shows yet another side of Fouk's sound, where you see the boys throwing in some beefed-up disco funk. The tongue-in-cheek vocals and the squeaking acid line recorded over at the Dam Swindle studio together make for a track that oozes fun and good vibes.
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12"
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HEIST 045EP
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Pitto is not one to flood the scene with new music considering he's only released two EPs in the last three years. He takes the time to let ideas evolve and it's clearly noticeable on 2019's EP on Something Happening Somewhere sublabel Ooshaa (OOSSHA 001EP), where his feel for an almost poppy hook is perfectly combined with his love for darker electronics. On the Baila Baila EP -- his return to Heist Recordings after his last EP in 2018 (HESIT 032EP) -- he explores this path further. The EP is filled with live percussion, a dark and rolling acid line, chopped beats, and catchy piano riffs. The three originals are accompanied by a remix courtesy of Pete Herbert that has "summer" written all over it. Opening track "Sammie" has a beautiful sense of melancholy to it, where an emotional piano riff is combined with some '80s tinged vocals and loads of live percussive elements for a smile inducing experience. "Discko" takes a darker approach with a deep and "dubby" low end and a guitar riff that wouldn't be out of place on a Caribou track. The horn section and synth lead give it a real crossover appeal and it's the kind of track you imagine working just as well on a summer festival as in a dark basement. On the flip, there's the title track "Baila", a proto inspired acid stomper with a nice wink to early '90s dance music vocals. An acid line gives the track its backbone, but it's the combination of Pitto's chords and instrumentation that give this track it's unique edge. The EP finishes off with Pete Herbert's remix of "Sammie". Pete's version has that full-on summer appeal with his recognizable style of modern day island disco. He adds a bit of drama to the track with some big breakdowns, changeovers in the piano riff and turns the Balearic vibe up a notch with an added dreamy solo.
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12"
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HEIST 044EP
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Third time is a charm, as the saying goes. But if the first two times were already so memorable, what more can one ask for? Nebraska comes back with a bang for his third release on Heist after Soften The Wireless EP (HEIST 017EP, 2016) and Metaphor To The Floor EP (HEIST 028EP, 2017). It's hard to believe it has been three years since his last appearance on Heist, but with Y'miss Me Baby?, Nebraska takes back center stage with another release full of disco-flavored electronics. Italian disco man-of-the-moment Giovanni Damico comes along for the ride and delivers a stunning '80s flavored remix. It's not to say that Nebraska (Alistair Gibbs) has been sitting still since 2017. He's launched his own label Friends & Relations where he explores his cut-and-paste style even more with some seriously cool disco dubs and other sonic adventures. Furthermore, he made a guest appearance on Aaron Dae and JKriv's Razor'n'Tape Reserve. His view is one of humor and positivity and one of creating new meaning through rearranging context. This is certainly true for his music and this new EP on Heist. The title track "Y'miss me baby?" oozes funk with a clever combination of samples from different contexts put together to create something altogether new, yet familiar. The track has a real '80s disco vibe to it and the vocoder adds even more to the Zapp and Roger flavor of things. It's a laidback track that feels like it was recorded on a gloomy Sunday evening with no pressure on anything and just room for fun. The vibe takes a complete left-hand turn with "Dip And Flip," a high-energy house track that rattles, loops and bleeps into a full-on disco frenzy. The B-side kicks off with Italian disco wizard Giovanni Damico remixing the title track. His "Jam" remix flips the track into a freeform arrangement where guitars, disco claps, delays, and retro synth licks all work together for a great taste of Italian boogie. The EP finishes off in true Nebraska style, with yet another curveball. "Xia Long Bao" sounds like a lost Nick Holder track with its loopy island-style Rhodes and lazy chanting. The choice of samples along with the catchy groove makes this a signature Nebraska track and a quality closer for this single.
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12"
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HEIST 043EP
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Heist Recordings are finishing their sixth year of the label with their annual potpourri of remixes with 2019's artists on The Roundup Part VI. There are a few really cool newcomers on the label like Demuir, Perdu, and Makèz, as well as label mainstays Fouk and Detroit Swindle delivering a great collection of remixes. The EP starts off with label heads Detroit Swindle giving their high-energy take on Fouk's "Need My Space". They've chosen for a stabby club version of the more introverted original, with different layers of synths building up alongside a pumping drum track and a punchy Moog bassline. Check the break for a nice dreamy broken beat section before the track comes back into full dancefloor madness. Makèz have only just released their well-received debut EP and now they're flanking Detroit Swindle on the A-side with their remix of Perdu's hit "Sacramento". They replace the broken beat vibe of the original and instead go for a 4x4 track with a driving bassline, warm pads and subtle placement of Perdu's original elements. On the B-side, we have Fouk reinterpreting Demuir's take on Detroit techno with their remix of "3nity returneth". Their version is a tom-heavy high-energy club track with a strong nod to the past, whilst still keeping that strong Fouk signature intact. They mangle the vocal sample in a drunk and twisted break before setting the track back on fire with an extra acid line for good measure. The B2 goes to Perdu's dreamy slow burning remix of Detroit Swindle's classic house bomb "Music For Clubs" featuring Lorenz Rhode. His version takes the tempo down and dials the dreamy level up a notch. A mellow but punchy acid line and worldly synth hits give this remix it's cool twist and it's a great showcase of Perdu's view on the broad world of house music. 2019's Roundup finishes with Demuir's trippy "Playboy Edit" of "Random Visits" by Makèz. He takes the vocal sample and layers it behind a haunting string, dreamy keys and a steady groove. It's got a funky vibe where Demuir's knack for a good groove fits perfectly with the fresh original.
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12"
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HEIST 042EP
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Canada's number one jackin' house ambassador Demuir drops an EP loaded with that true house energy and it comes topped off with a swirling and twirling trip of a remix by Lady Blacktronika. This EP is the result of that short online interaction and a mutual love for high energy house music. This record showcases Demuir's knack for rolling grooves and also shows a deeper, more electronic side of his that might surprise you. The track is "Werq. Feel. Gruv. Vogue." A rough sounding, bumping house track that would have worked just as well in any club in the '90s as it will in today's world of clubbing. The "Vogue" sample has that "tongue in cheek"-vibe and the groove is just irresistible. Top that off with some lovely Rhodes loops, a little disco chop here-and-there and you've got yourself a very original party starter. Heist Recordings always tries to put out diverse EPs, and with "The 3nity Returneth", Demuir delivers a Detroit-tech inspired steam train of a track. The track represents the confidence an artist needs to make it in the music scene. He lays down the groove with a rough bass, rolling hats, and a lovely string sample alongside glimmering electronics for a touch of spirituality. The B-side has two versions of "Philippine Sunrise". The original is a rolling house track with airy synth hits, a Moog-ish rising lead and a freakishly good bass line. The remix comes courtesy of LA native, Berlin-based Lady Blacktronika, who turns the trip factor up a notch or two. She chooses to go for a heads-down direction with a series of dreamy loops to set the mood, all alongside an endless bassline and a steady house groove.
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12"
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HEIST 041EP
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Detroit Swindle is back on Heist Recordings. They come in with full force, delivering a set of Swindle-styled house tracks, accompanied by a jazzy remix by Volcov in his Isoul8 moniker with guest appearances by Kaidi Tatham on keys and Nigel Bennett on vocals. The EP kicks off with "The Life Behind Things"; a life affirming soulful house tune that's cleverly built around a set of switching organ stabs. The energy in this track keeps on building with the filter slowly opening up while live percussion oozes its way through the track (courtesy of Mauskovic Dance Band member, Chris Bruining). After a well working surprise acid break, the track breaks down into a jazzy organ solo by Byron the Aquarius, building up momentum till the full track comes back in for an ecstatic delivery of feel-good dancefloor emotions. The second original of this EP is Detroit Swindle's view on what a party-starting piano house track should sound like with "Music For Clubs". This track is all about rolling drums, lush piano stabs and possibly the funkiest baseline in four-to-the-floor house music. The latter two are made possible by the quick finger work of their live show collaborator and close friend Lorenz Rhode. The full B side goes to Volcov's remix of "The Life Behind Things". He takes his inspiration from the energy of the original and chooses to set a steady groove where the lush key work of Kaidi Tatham shines both on the chords and a muscle-flexing organ solo. The vocal sample from the original is accompanied by some great ad-libs by Nigel Bennett. With these elements working together in perfect harmony, you can practically feel the good vibes these three friends had when recording the remix. It's been on our to-do list for a while to record a full-on house record.
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