Harold Heath – Family Affair (Lost My Dog, LMDLP003) by Lost My Dog

Catalogue Number: LMDLP003 | Release Date: February 2011

Available to download from:
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iTunes
Beatport
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The Lowdown

‘Family Affair’ is a new series of full-length projects from Lost My Dog Records which shine a spotlight on the artists that have shaped the sound of the label. Up first is UK deep/tech house stalwart Harold Heath who presents a 13 track mix containing six original songs and five remixes previously released on Lost My Dog, alongside two brand new productions in ‘Antirobotics’ and ‘Daydreaming’. The collection will be released as a digital download package of the DJ mix and individual track downloads in February 2011.

Harold Heath’s first outing on Lost My Dog was in 2006 after he contacted the label asking to remix Adam B’s ‘Smoketoke’. As long-time fans of Harold’s music, it was a no brainer to take him up on the opportunity and launched a relationship which has seen the Brighton based DJ and producer release three EPs and six remixes for the careless canine owners. Supporters of Harold’s music on Lost My Dog have been wide ranging, including Tony Humphries, CJ Mackintosh, Mark Farina, Roger Sanchez and even Fedde Le Grand, who included ‘Streets Keep Rocking’ on his Ministry of Sound Sessions mix CD.

Harold Heath’s illustrious career began around the turn of the century and has earned him a reputation as one of the most consistent yet unsung heroes in UK house music. Aside form Lost My Dog his discography includes some of the worlds most respected underground labels including Detour, Plastic City, Stickman, Uhuru Beats, Oblong, Sensei and Urban Torque. It was for Urban Torque that he recorded his debut album ‘Hole Funk’.

Catalogue Number: LMD010
Release Date: September 2006

A1: Tommy Largo – Come On (Julian Sanza Remix)
A2: Adam B – Smoketoke (Harold Heath Remix)
B1: Jay Tripwire – Everytime (Pete Dafeet Dub)
B2: Subterfuge & Tony Thomas – Gettin’ Serious (Tommy Largo Remix)

The Lowdown

After a whirlwind first 15 months, we’re marking our 10 th release on LMD by revisiting some of the labels biggest tracks with fresh remixes. Stepping up are Argentina’s Julian Sanza (2020 Soundsystem, Ciudad Feliz), Harold Heath (Urbantorque, Sensei), Pete Dafeet (Lost My Dog, Uni.form) and the “Dutch Devil” Tommy Largo (Lost My Dog, Herbal Essence) who’s mixes all add up to make a varied EP taking in deep, techy and acid house elements. Both Julian and Harold got in touch with the label directly asking if they could remix their respective tracks as they loved the original version so much but wanted to add their unique twist.

First up is Julian’s mix of “Come On” which keeps the original hook and fuses it with 2020 style beats, a stomping electro tinged bassline and quirky keys. Harold’s mix of “Smoketoke” has an old school feel to it with a 90′s garage style synths, a deep growling bass, techy flicks and driving beats to carry it all along. Pete’s dub of “Everytime” is a chilled out groover with squelchy beats and warm bass. The original vocal parts, crafted into keys, stabs and pads, generate an ethereal mood which peaks as the track descends into an inviting, smooth breakdown. Tommy’s take on “Gettin’ Serious” rounds things off, giving the track an acid twist; aimed directly at the dancefloor his mix gets down to business from the off with pumping beats and a bassline that does all the work.

Magazine Reviews

DJ Mag – Aug 2006 5/5 ***Moneyshot*** 
This label has been one of the most inspiring over the year for me so far. Solid house is what they pedal and their tenth release reflects a continuing trend. Here you can sample some of those past 10 releases all mixed up and funked up, from the acidic ‘Come On’ recorded by Tommy Largo, to the deep ‘Getting Serious’ from Subterfuge & Tony Thomas. Four stingin’ cuts that stink to high heaven of old fashioned house values and flavours.

Plasticsoup.com 8/10 
It’s sometimes said that a remix can only be as good as the source material. Now that’s not strictly true, there have been several turds polished into diamonds over the years, but that’s the order of things here, my favourites on the EP are remixes of the tracks I preferred on their original release. First up, Julian Sanza tackles Tommy Largo’s acidic ‘Come On’. The Silver City man has injected an early 80s electro strut that adds a funk rarely found in acid house. It’s the female vocal from the original that makes Pete Dafeet’s bubbling tech-house version of Jay Tripwire’s ‘Everytime’ my other favourite from the EP. Tech-house is very much the order of the day on the remaining tracks, and while not at all weak, Harold Heath’s rolling take on Adam B’s ‘Smoketoke’, and the deep acid of Tommy Largo’s remix of Subterfuge & Tony Thomas’ ‘Gettin’ Serious’ don’t have the standout qualities of the others. Looking forward to the next batch of original material from this crew.

DJ Reactions

James Talk 
The whole EP is large, Julian Sanza remix of Tommy Largo is the top pick. but all of them are amazing. Charted.

The Littlemen 
Love the Pete Dafeet Mix, fave mix by far, will be caining this over the summer.

Spettro (Doubledown, Amenti) 
Julian Sanza mix does it HOT for me on this EP. This trax is poppin and jumpin like a wet noodle out the boiler. Julian’s mix will definitely be on my top ten.

Tyler Stadius 
Great EP! Love the remix of “Gettin’ Serious”. Real groovy.

Jay West (Lowdown, Agave) 
I like the tracks a lot!

Murray Richardson 
Great! Charted #5

Shafunkers (Saved) 
Wicked tracks. Reckon that there’s something in the package for all occasions. Particularly liking the Julian Sanza remix of “Come On” – nice funked up 303 vibe. Will be rocking these in Brazil later this month!

Luckystars (Urbantorque) 
Great production, loving the Pete Dafeet Dub, 4/5.

Leigh Morgan (Urbantorque) 
All round cool release, Harold works his tech magic as ever, the pick for me goes to the house vibes ‘Come On’, cool lazy acid house…wicked!

Cosmic Groove Transmission (Brique Rouge, 2020) 
Julian is quality. Nice gentle start with the original acid – then two minutes in, hold on to your drinks ‘cos you know people are about to rush to the floor!! Pete has nailed a “calm before the storm” track that DJs should lap up. This is the unsung hero of your set that tirelessly works for the team so the strikers can score and get all the credit. Owen Hargeaves in disguise?

Catalogue Number: LMD002
Release Date: May 2005

A1. Pete Dafeet – Tube Groove
A2. Pete Dafeet – Hula-Hula
B1. Adam B – Smoketoke
B2. Adam B & Tom Golden – Homegrown Headz

The Lowdown

Pete Dafeet

Pete Dafeet has already impressed with releases on Bosh, Boxa, Foot Fetish and his own online label Southside Shuffle which have picked up plays from Yousef, Lottie, Jon Carter, MYNC Project and Jason Hodges to name a few.

Tube Groove is driving peak-time house cut with beefy beats and a strong bass led groove. Hula-Hula has a hypnotic groove that works well on a full floor or earlier on. Once again tight beats and bass lead, this time paving the way for a Hawaiian influenced xylophone groove and a vocal that will shock once you decipher the words!

Adam B & Tom Golden 

Northwich’s Homegrown posse have been making waves on the underground house scene with their productions and DJ sets for the last 2 years as well as their work on homegrown-music.com taking the sound of the underground to the masses. A host of the best British club nights have recently demanded their services (Tribal Sessions, The Bomb, Turnmills) and several labels are starting to take note of their unique sound.

Smoketoke is a hypnotic cannabis inspired groove, with deep, Jay Tripwire inspired drums, and a driving bass which builds and builds. Coupled with an infectious vocal hook this track has seen support from Greg Vickers, Phil Weeks, Tyler Stadius, Junia Ovadose, Jimpster and Joey Youngman amongst others aafter being included on the Lost My Dog promo only sampler and has been likened to early Kings of Tomorrow material. Homegrown Headz builds upon a foundation of crisp beats, cut-up spoken vocals and smooth synths to create a deep but bouncing groove.

Magazine Reviews

IDJ Magazine – June 2005
Not too sure how clever it is to upstage the label boss but former I-DJ Raw Talent winners Adam and Tom have sure done that here. Not that ‘Feets two deep electro house cuts aren’t useful, it’s just that the shimmering 3am tech funk of ‘Smoketoke’ and the appealing tribal-cum-Chicago of ‘Homegrown Headz’ would stand out in any crowd. 4/5

Night Magazine / Infusion Magazine – **House Single of the Month** 
Pete Dafeet’s “Tube Groove”, the lead track on this EP, is one of the finest tech-house tracks I have heard in some time. Bouncing along with a slightly jacking, yet still very techy beat, the bassline twists & turns keeping the vibe totally appealing & aimed squarely at the dancefloor. ‘Hula Hula’ adds some Latin cheekiness to proceedings, followed swiftly by the more minimal, yet still 100% dancefloor efforts from Adam, in the sleazy form of ‘Smoketoke’ & the bumpy house ride on Adam & Tom’s ‘Homegrown Headz’. Wicked stuff all round. 4/4

DJ Mag 
No indication from Mr Dafeet here as to why this four tracker is limited, but it’s worth asking around before it disappears. Why? Well, the two tracks from the main man are tight, economical grooves that could prove very useful. ‘Hula’ is particularly good – xylophonic percussion rolling on and on – although both might benefit from more melody or a stronger hook. Adam and Tom take the flip, meanwhile, with a chunky proggy number and a more interesting leftfield electro houser. Simple stuff but pretty sophisticated. 3.5/5

TTR Magazine / Resident Advisor / Pitch Ajust 
Four tracks here, two from Pete Dafeet and two from Homegrown’s Adam B & Tom Golden. Pete Dafeet kicks off with a jackin, driving, work out in “Tube groove”. Snappy beats sit comfortably over an electronic bass line and bleepy effects. “Hula Hula” is a stripped back, hypnotic, xylophone-led work out. Adam’s “Smoketoke” is another warm, hypnotic techy builder, with an engaging vocal loop and excellent arrangement. “Homegrown headz” lends a humorous feel with its simple arrangement and spoken vocals. 4/5

DJ Reactions

DJ Heather (Chicago / Blackcherry / Fabric) 
I’ve been playing the Adam B & Tom Golden record “Homegrown Headz”…very nice. Pete Dafeet’s “Tube Groove” is a lovely too.

Tyler Stadius (Fabric, Frying Pan – Canada) 
Great tracks! Loving “Smoketoke” & “Tube Groove” is really growing on me. Real funky groove there!

Sonny Wharton (Renaissance) 
Played Tube Groove at Chibuku aftermath on Sunday and it rocked BIG time!!! Got full support on this – fast becoming my fave label of the year so far!!!!

Ross Couch (Tekstyle) 
‘Tube Groove’ is my pick from this EP, like the drums a lot, cool bassline – nice work!

Joey Youngman (Fetish, Nightshift, Detour) 
Really feelin Smoketoke!

Sound Navigators (Blockhead, 3am) 
Lovin it for sure!

Greg Vickers (Tribal Sessions, Sankeys Soap) 
Particularly into Smoketoke which will definitely get plays.

Harold Heath (UrbanTorque / Detour) 
Adam B – Smoketoke – I like the bass line, its nice and rolling, with a good groove…

Toka (Bosh) 
Top selection of floorshakers, like Tube Groove best.

Jay West (Huron, Blockhead) 
Like this release, especially Tube Groove. Will be playing!

Steve Conry (Flygaric) 
Love Homegrown Headz!

Ben Morgan (Chibuku Shake Shake) 
Tube Groove is wicked. Nice bit of melodic tech house. Reminds me of the European stuff being pushed by 2020 a couple of years back. Can’t wait to play this out.

Junia Ovadose (Greenhouse / Igloo) 
Smoketoke sounds very much like an old K.O.T style which I dig big time, nice!