HAROLD HEATH — Broke Beats EP

Harold Heath – Broke Beats EP arrives on Slackin as catalog SLACKIN001, a 12-inch vinyl that marks the debut of the producer’s new imprint. The record gathers three cuts that have been waiting in the vault since the mid-to-late 2000s, offering a fresh glimpse of Heath’s deep-house and tech-house sensibility at a time when his memoir Long Relationships has reignited interest in his career. While the label’s wider output remains undocumented, the EP follows a string of recent 12-inch releases by Heath on other imprints: Aretha’s Reign on Curated By Time (BYTIME016, 2026) and the two parts of Cheap Gear on Helix Discs (HLX004/HLX005, both 2026). Those records showcased his knack for marrying gritty club rhythms with thoughtful composition, a trait that resurfaces here in a more polished, archival form. Side A opens with “Blue Night”. The track unfolds as a weighty, trippy piece where warped bass underpins a sturdy house pulse, while fragmented vocal snippets and tech-house electronics swirl around the groove. Its depth makes it suitable for late-night moments where a hypnotic undercurrent is required. On the flip, “Cat Skillz” occupies the B-side’s first slot, delivering a heady blend of deep-house warmth and tech-house precision that feels ready for early-morning sets, its steady swing encouraging a smooth transition from peak to sunrise. The EP closes with “I’m The One”, a composition that fuses crunchy house rhythms with an acidic bass line, layered with ghostly textures and mind-bending samples that add a darker edge, perfect for moments when a DJ wants to shift the mood toward a more experimental terrain. Within Heath’s recent catalogue, the EP functions as a bridge between the narrative depth of his memoir and the sonic explorations of his earlier 2026 releases. It recontextualises material that has lain dormant, presenting it through the fresh lens of a label he now controls, and thereby underscores his ongoing relevance in the minimal and tech-house scenes. For DJs, the record offers three distinct tools: “Blue Night” works as a deep-house anchor with enough intrigue for a back-to-back set; “Cat Skillz” provides a clean, adaptable groove that can slot into both peak-time and after-hours programming; “I’m The One” supplies a darker, more experimental texture suitable for closing a set or injecting tension. Collectors will appreciate the continuity with Heath’s 2026 output and the archival quality of the cuts, which capture a period of his production that had previously been unreleased. The release is pressed as a 12-inch vinyl, matching the format of his recent records and delivering the tactile experience expected by vinyl enthusiasts. Its straightforward presentation lets the music speak without the distraction of extra embellishments. Harold Heath – Broke Beats EP, Slackin, catalog SLACKIN001, 12-inch vinyl, three tracks. Tracklist: A1. Harold Heath – Blue Night B1. Harold Heath – Cat Skillz B2. Harold Heath – I'm The One