Yousef Unearths Lost House Cut ‘Had No Sleep’ As Circus Enters Its 24th Season
Liverpool house and techno mainstay Yousef has reached into the Circus Recordings archives to release ‘Had No Sleep’, a previously overlooked production featuring Tom Crew that has spent 14 years waiting for its own release.
Originally recorded in a surround sound studio in Liverpool, the track remained unreleased as a standalone single until Yousef revisited it with fellow producers Bontan and Melé. Their encouragement prompted him to bring the record back into circulation, giving a long-forgotten piece of his catalogue a new lease of life.
Built around rolling drums, hypnotic rhythms and melancholic synth lines, ‘Had No Sleep’ combines the physical pull of house music with a distinctly offbeat vocal performance. Tom Crew’s playful storytelling captures the disorientation and questionable decisions of sleepless nights, bringing an eccentric, almost Talking Heads-like character to the production.
Despite its age, the track feels closely aligned with the groove-driven house music currently finding favour on underground dancefloors. Its stripped-back rhythmic focus and unusual vocal give it a personality that stands apart from more conventional club productions.
The release also arrives as Yousef prepares for another major chapter in the history of Circus Liverpool. Now entering its 24th season, the long-running event series continues at Blackstone Warehouse with a programme featuring Chris Stussy, Rossi, Marco Carola, Franky Rizardo, Jayda G, East End Dubs, Loco Dice, Dennis Cruz and Maxinne.
Since its beginnings, Circus has become a defining part of Liverpool’s electronic music landscape, connecting international house and techno talent with the city’s club community while providing a platform for emerging artists.
That relationship between the music and the events remains central to Yousef’s work. With Circus Recordings continuing to release club-focused material and its Liverpool parties entering another season, ‘Had No Sleep’ offers a reminder of the catalogue and culture built around the brand over more than two decades.
