Heavee, Mainframe EP

Releases / Heavee

Released May 29th

The first single is Mainframe here, also available as part of the preorder.

Heavee returns to Hyperdub with Mainframe EP. In between this and his 2024 album he's been building his own space in footwork for his unique palette and ideas on Moveltraxx and through self-releases.

Here we have four contrasting tracks built for joyful high-speed dancefloor detonation.

Track one What U Need starts the EP with nimble drums and a sparse back-and-forth vocal before opening up into glittering, soulful vaporwave that carries across the drums until they dissolve into a blissful ambient coda.

Work it out speeds up a deep house vibe with trancey arpeggios and springy stabs, gentle vocals courtesy of Heavee's mum alongside seductive whispers and wonky bleeps.

Mainframe's piano intro shivers over a 2-step-like beat before the track rolls into strange plink plonk tones that feel like a marimba being dropped down some stairs, then into blaring synthy trumpets and back again. Exciting weirdness with every switch, that works brilliantly.

"Chainsmoke" with DJ Manny and Lucky is a battle track that feels like being beamed into *Mortal Kombat*, featuring rapped taunts to anyone who wants to step up. It begs the question: when will we get a footwork dance arcade video game?