"Ohhh yesssssssss, WILL hammer these" Laurent Garnier

“Retakes” EP is a curated celebration of highly respected underground producer, remixer, and DJ Hint. It is the pre-curser for the full ‘Hot Take Intake’ LP (out 24th February) and follows the ten-year anniversary of his ‘Daily Intake’ album. The releases features reworkings from the man himself under both his Hint and current Titeknots moniker. With previous supporters of Hint including Benji B, Tom Ravenscroft, Mary Anne Hobbs, and Huey Morgan (BBC 6Music), John Kennedy (XFM), Clash Magazine, DJ Mag, The Needledrop, Mr Scruff, Ben UFO and Rinse FM, this selection is unmissable for long-term fans and new cratediggers.

Focus track “Physical Stamina (Titeknots Remix)” heads up the release as the first of two previously unreleased tracks. The first move in connecting his older Hint material and the newer Titeknots output, the bass-heavy dancefloor spirit of the original remains as the track shifts to a more modern Broken Beat direction. Meanwhile “At The Dance (VIP Instrumental)” is a vocal-free version of one of the biggest Hint dancefloor tracks. After the original was released and promoted back in 2008, an instrumental was requested by a handful of DJs. It was never made available to the public beyond that until now as Hint offers up a fresh mixdown for 2023.

Hailing from Austin, TX, a teenage T-Fly provides vocals for Hint’s killer beat on “Aliens Enter”; “T-Fly really picked up on the more ‘far out’ elements of the beat. It’s off-key and peculiar. You feel that she gets really caught up in performing, and this is music as escapism, as something supernatural”, Hint adds. Enhancing the core boogie-style groove of the original, “Retakes” includes “Aliens Enter feat. T-Fly (Hint Remix)”.

Out 24th February, ‘Hot Take Intake’ highlights Hint’s versatility and ability to pair vocal talent from across the world with influences drawn from dancehall, hip hop, UK house and bass music. Jamaican vocalist Natalie Storm comes through with thought-provoking club banger “Crash and Burn”, which sees further reworkings from C.O.N.E. and Darq E Freaker. Oakland duo Josie Stingray and 1-O.A.K. infuse the feel-good “Give It Up” with West Coast energy. The track is taken to new heights on “Give It Up feat. Josie Stingray & 1-O.A.K. (Maddslinky Remix)” as Manchester-based producer, trailblazer, and UK dancefloor legend Maddslinky AKA Zed Bias takes the reins. “Retakes” EP features Hint reworks of both tracks.