ArtistInfo

Larry Heard
Distance Revisited EP

Album 2012 on Airtight label
Dance (Deep House)

Unreleased edits of Larry Heard EP previously released on French label Distance (1995) - the release was pulled, with only five Test Pressings ever made : From the labels original press release, before the lawyers got involved / it all went t*ts up : We were a bit taken aback at Airtight towers to learn recently that legendary NY label Nu Groove had notched up a 1000 releases over five years in the early to mid 90’s . We tried to do some kind of data -led productivity comparison to Airtight’s 40 releases in 15 years, but got distracted and ended up falling asleep in front of Man vs Food, dreaming of Reggie Burrell surrounded by hundreds of chopped steak burgers the size of dustbin lids, as we fiddled joylessly with a grey, undersized hot dog. As a label, if you are going to choose your moment for putting your head about the release parapet every now and again, you may as well wait for a living legend to come along to mark the occasion, and so we’re happy to announce the forthcoming arrival of Larry Heard –The Distance Revisited EP . Any of you around for the last deep house revival- but- six may remember Heards ‘Dance 2000’ album on Parisian label Distance in 1995, and it’s from that album (via a licensing arrangement with Distance) that we’ve pulled 4 tracks for this EP . With the help of four of our favourite producers out there at the moment, we’ve also had some top notch re-interpretations knocked up for 2012 . Julio Bashmore needs little introduction at the moment, so we won’t, and instead point you towards the skittering drums, classic looped whistle/percussion sample and a heavy, post - funky 4/4 groove that’s been creating a quiet stir ever since he debuted his version of ‘And So I Dance’ on his Essential Mix in November. Wolf and Lamb’s take on Gentle Morning Sun builds slowly, happy to meander about, confident in the knowledge it’s boogie inflected, bass driven groove is holding it down while the keyboards are out and about spraying good vibes around with Heard-esque elan on ‘Gentle Morning Sun’. Mak & Pasteman wont necessarily have the same recognition factor as their cohorts on this project, , but anyone who’s heard their Bassy outings on Hot N Heavy, or their forthcoming future garage bangers on Shifting Peaks, will know why they got a wildcard entry here. The comparative rookies don’t disappoint , with the fat drums and lolloping funk bassline combining with gently trippy, pleasingly dubbed out keyboard work for that ideal dancefloor/headphone-friendly combination. Analogue, machine disco-heads Emperor Machine start off their take on ‘Long Story Short’ low and slow, with a hollow, live sounding, ESG-esque bassline and distant pads leading the way until the Larry Heard signature synth riff strides in and takes up centre stage, and stays there as the track warmly unfolds around it. The promo/digital bundle comes complete with all four Heard originals for a February, value busting extravaganza, and with Airtight 041 already in the making, we’re getting back on course to hit Air 100 for the London Olympics.

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Larry Heard key, *1960 US album by

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