With his latest EP, Nottingham based producer and singer/songwriter Heurt (Lawrence Johnson) delivers a really solid slice of atmospheric future garage. The influence of artists like Burial is definitely there, which is a nice nod considering Burial’s iconic self titled debut just turned twenty years old. And this really makes us feel old, where did the time go?
The project opens with “Orpheus,” a track where the clean, late 90s inspired breakbeat stands out by clashing nicely against heavily saturated synth sounds, all while balancing a warm acoustic piano and clear lead vocals through chopped up vocal samples. That piano returns on “Giblet,” a smooth instrumental track that leans a bit more into classic UK garage, giving the various synth layers plenty of room to breathe.
The second half keeps that same moody, late night energy going. “Fragments” shifts the focus entirely to the rhythm, building a great groove out of the dialogue between the kicks and the snare alongside the chaotic rush of the high frequency hi hats. For any potential producer reading this, honestly, it is a great reference track for anyone trying to figure out how to program future garage drums. The EP wraps up with “Game Theory,” which feels like the most introspective track of the bunch. It brings the vocals back to the forefront, pairing them with an idm infused beat and the detuned synths that give the whole record its signature sound. It is a well crafted, cohesive listen that fans of the genre will easily appreciate.
Knots is out on Jun 05, 2026
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