Carsten Schnell is a German musician classically trained in composition and production. He released his debut album in 1992 followed by several other albums in the same era, which is proof of his longevity and experience in the music scene. After a long hiatus, he came back in 2021 with a new set of singles and EPs. “Heiss!” is the latest addition to his discography.

The track has old-school music production written all over it. It manages to capture the essence of vintage and lock it in four minutes of sound. The constant echo that accompanies the production is a reflection of the sound quality of those times and this effect is one that invokes nostalgia. The instrumentation doesn’t rely heavily on the post-electronic sound either, which makes the track thematically coherent.

The keys and synth form the core of the track and hold the melody that repeats itself throughout.  This repetition when used as a device creates a hypnotic effect. The echoed-out vocals in the background with its whispery effect add a haunting yet sultry ambience. The vocals get more robotic as the track progresses, adding much needed variation. The light percussion brings a great deal of energy to the track without ever letting the song get heavy.

The post chorus section that is especially old-school in terms of its sonic palette was one of my favourite sections on the track.  “Heiss!” by Carsten Schnell is a great electronic number to add to your playlist if you want to amp up the energy in the room!