As we navigate one of the most perilous periods in dance music history thanks a pandemic that has laid low nightclubs, festivals, dancing, fun and music played unnaturally loud, one thing we have come to realise is just how important music is to our mental health. It’s not just a nice add-on to one’s life, it’s at the centre of our well-being. Dancing is innate in humans, who have been finding ways to celebrate their joy, youth, sexuality for thousands of years. Even in a small corner of Germany, in the vicinity of Bad Fallingbostel. So here we are five years down the road and we are celebrating Heideton’s anniversary on this planet. In that time Donald Trump has risen (and fallen), France have won a World Cup, the last white male rhinoceros died, the UK left the EU and little Heideton Records released a whole slew of certified club bangers. To celebrate their five years on the planet, we have a trio of releases lined up. That’s three, as in a troika, trifecta, threesome, triumvirate, trilogy or even a hat-trick (or should that actually be a hat- track? Geddit?). Three releases, each containing three tracks. Three times three is nine. It’s a veritable prime number fiesta. Part two, which comes out on April 23th, features Borka and Joe collaboration, the Italo-house channelling ‘Closer is not enough’, a Metzenmacher solo joint, the deep-as-you-like ‘Petersika’ while Borka & The Gang complete the trio with the anthem ‘Salt Water’. Bill Brewster