Desert Hearts Black Opens the Door to Another Dimension on 'Gateways, Vol. 1'

Desert Hearts Black has looked to artists like Enamour, GNTN, Memo Rex and Susio, and more for the first edition of Gateways.

Last year, the Desert Hearts crew allowed us to peer into the deeper, darker side of house and techno with their new sub-label, Desert Hearts Black. Driven forward by Marbs and Evan Casey, the imprint focuses on heavier sounds in the realm of melodic house and techno that is perfect for late nights and early mornings wherever you may be on the planet.

Now, after a flurry of releases last year and early on in 2020 from artists like Tim Engelhardt and Anakim, Desert Hearts Black has now curated their first compilation and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Clocking in at 15 tracks in total, the first volume of Gateways offers up serene soundscapes and driving basslines that will have you entering a new plane of existence in no time.

While the entire compilation is just brimming with quality tracks, there are a few personal standouts that are impossible to not talk about. DJ AroZe kicks off the compilation with “My Shadow,” setting the tone with infectious techno grooves and an almost eerie vocal layered on top. In fact, if you liked that then you’re in luck as DJ AroZe appears again later with a tune called “Tern Haven” that will definitely find its way into my playlist rotation for some time to come.

GNTN has been on our radar as of late so the inclusion of “Ornaments” was a welcome surprise and the unique stylings from Enamour are always a treat and “Life In The Machine” really took us to a different dimension as well. Additionally, when Memo Rex and Susio get together in the studio pure magic happens and they’ve proven that yet again with “Fantastical,” a track I simply can’t help but get enough of during these weird days in quarantine.

Listen to Gateways, Vol. 1 on Spotify below, download or stream the compilation on your preferred platform, and let us know which track you fell in love with the most in the comments below!