Bastard Jazz HHV Records 43 Items

Pittsburgh synth wonder and beatmaker BusCrates presses two brand new tracks onto translucent vinyl for this cutting 7". On the A side, Anda channels her inner Gwen Guthrie on "Drift," with an anthem for the uncompromising types who will never hide their bright burning light. Lifted from BusCrates upcoming EP Altitude, "Drift" finds Buscrates and DJ Epik combining their arsenal of vintage synthesizers to produce a sophisticated, yet lowrider-ready boogie jam that recalls Deodato's overlooked work with the aforementioned Guthrie. On the back side, vinyl-exclusive "Serenity" is an instrumental offering that picks up the pace without disturbing the Minimoog meditation session.

-Returning to Bastard Jazz following two well loved albums Blasting Off (2020) and Control Center (2023)

-BusCrates' increasingly popular Twitch channel streams live every Thursday and Friday night to over 13,500 followers

-A noteworthy resume production credits including Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y, and Phonte & Eric Roberson

-He's toured throughout the US playing with artists like Rjd2, DJ Epik, J Rawls, Tall Black Guy and more

-BusCrates counts big names such as Jazzy Jeff, Francois K, Dâm Funk, Rich Medina and Spinna as fans

BusCrates is a Producer / Synthesist / DJ hailing from the Steel City -Pittsburgh, PA

BusCrates blurs the lines between boogie funk and boom bap hip hop beats

Returning to Bastard Jazz following two well loved albumsBlasting Off(2020) andControl Center(2023)

BusCrates' increasingly popular Twitch channel streams live every Thursday and Friday night to over 13,500 followers

A noteworthy resume production credits including Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y, and Phonte & Eric Roberson

He's toured throughout the US playing with artists like Rjd2, DJ Epik, J Rawls, Tall Black Guy and more

BusCrates counts big names such as Jazzy Jeff, Francois K, Dâm Funk, Rich Medina and Spinna as fans

Captain Planet has teamed up with 2 long-time collaborators (Zuzuka Poderosa & Raphael Futura) for a new Brazilian disco funk song, "Moqueca." The song harkens back to Brazil's legendary funk parties in the 70's and early 80's - where soundsystems bumped legends like Tim Maia, Sandra Da Sa & Gilberto Gil - while infusing some fresh contemporary energy and extra thump for today's dancefloors. Zuzuka's bright vocals bounce over a bubbly bassline, syncopated percussion and wormy vintage synthesizers, while an additional punch is brought in the form of horn arrangements by the prolific maestro Todd Simon, another frequent Captain Planet collaborator.

"Moqueca" takes inspiration from the Brazilian dish of the same name, a nationally famous fish stew that varies across the regions of Brazil. In her lyrics, Zuzuka talks about the origins and variations of Moqueca, starting with the style from Espirito Santo, her home state, and continuing to Moqueca Baiana, from Bahia, which incorporates African influences and ingredients. The result is a song that is as much an homage to Brazilian music as it is its food, culture and people.

Kool Customer is a collaborative project from B. Bravo and Bay area singer Rojai that brings together the sounds of future funk, 80s boogie, and a little bit of strip club sleaze.

B.Bravo is a 2010 graduate of Red Bull Music Academy with releases on Brownswood, Frite Nite and Ernest Endeavors.

Support from the likes of Benji B (bbc Radio 1), Gilles Peterson, DaM Funk, Sweater Funk Collective .

B. Bravo's shared the stage with artists like Chromeo, Dam-Funk, Flying Lotus and serenaded crowds across the world with his bass heavy outer space boogie and dirty grinding synth grooves at festivals like Sxsw, Detroit Electronic Music Festival, and Sonar in Barcelona.

Rojai (pronounced "row-juh") is a San Francisco born singer emerging as a leading voice in the modern funk scene with a vocal range from a raspy, percussive island vibe, to silky r&b.

As a frontman for Kool Customer and Latin-funk outfit Bayonics, Rojai has proven himself adept at crooning on any groove in his soulful timbre.

Being legally blind hasn't slowed down Rojai's ability to write, record and perform. He has channeled his life experience into songwriting and singing, creating music with a spirit and soul that inspires.

Extensive sync history include Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens, Netflix's Fatherhood, as well as 3 unique songs featured on Tyler Perry's Sistas and more

*Special Edition Reissue of Potatohead People's critically acclaimed 2020 album "Mellow Fantasy" pressed on beautiful blue & black splatter vinyl*
Potatohead People's much lauded and instantly sold out third LP Mellow Fantasyis back with a very limited edition black & blue swirl vinyl repress. The album showcases the trademark instrumental prowess of the duo and their ease with the loose but hard-hitting drum style brought to the fore by Jay Dee's influential productions, but goes well beyond basic boom bap bread and butter, with singer-centered R&B and uptempo bumps sharing the stage. On this album, Potatohead People have widened the frame of their progressive musical vision and deliver a far-reaching yet approachable set of moods and grooves.
On Mellow Fantasy, they had some impressive inspiration. De La Soul immediately connected with "Baby Got Work," a sophisticated slap that went through several iterations before settling into its ultimate form. Appropriately, the song's diligent construction echoes the ethic of the grind in the clear-eyed, precisely dovetailed lyrics fans have come to expect from the Daisy Age don. Befitting Potatohead People's origins as a hip-hop group, cameos from Illa J and Slum Village's T3 on the summertime teaser "What It Feels Like" and Vancouver veteran Moka Only (the sassy, vanity take-down "Ungodly") add to the unimpeachable rap bonafides.
The hometown connections continue with Lotusland local Kapok slinging verses on a couple tracks and rising stars Kendra Dias and Clear Mortifee, who stake serious claims as names to watch with standout vocal turns on the low-slung neo-soul "Break Even" and the upcoming second single "Hidden Levels," a high-flying house/future boogie hybrid. Following up their successful 2019 collabo "Single Life," Bunnie makes her return to action with the group on "Kettle Boiling." Ranging further, Reggie B, who broke on the scene with his lead on Onra's "High Hopes," shines on the optimistic bounce of "Bring The World A Little Closer."
Mellow Fantasy is Potatohead People's most evolved collection yet, rooted in earthy low end but elevated, expansive and reaching new musical heights.

New Robohands LP 'Palms' is the fifth album from the London based instrumentalist and producer Andy Baxter. Moving towards different genres and arrangements from his previous albums, 'Palms' features duelling harp parts, tape echo, double bass and draws inspiration from artists such as Dorothy Ashby, Azimuth, Alice Coltrane and Toquinho.

In parts tropical and synth drenched, and in others stripped back and acoustic, 'Palms' is a journey back to saturated analog recordings of the late 60s and 70s, with a subtle modern layer of glitch FX and pitch control experimentation in places. The album makes also reference to classic releases from jazz fusion that feature the legendary Arp Odyssey synthesiser, used by artists such as Herbie Hancock and George Duke.

The seventeen track album features performances from multiple session musicians including Jim Piela on saxophone and Marco Cremaschini on Rhodes, with Baxter taking on drums, guitar, bass, keys and also mixing duties. 'Palms' is a new direction for his project and a record that thematically journeys into modern reinterpretations of jazz, downtempo, acoustic and ambient music.

From its humble beginnings in 2001, the Brooklyn label Bastard Jazz Recordings has trailblazed a unique path in the world of independent record labels. Appealing to both DJs and music fans from all walks of life, BJR has become known for its eclectic sound & community of global artists from Mumbai to Napoli, New York to Kinshasha, who touch on everything from funk to hip-hop, house music to forward thinking beats, soul to jazz and international sounds, along with its unrelenting commitment to the vinyl medium. This November, the label will be celebrating 20 years of operation in various incarnations and are releasing a special compilation and a DJ friendly 4xLP titled '20 Years of Bastard Jazz' filled with brand new cuts from its current roster, plus a selection of catalog material, some of it classic, some of it overlooked, and some of it unpressed.

The Goods are back with a second single, "Peach," a collection of moods with an obsession for chasing the funk. When their vocalist Black Tree heard the beat for the first time in the studio, lyrics and melodies flowed instantly. He says: "My hope is that it becomes a feel good anthem for sexual liberation. Freedom from shame is after all about opening yourself up to the world and that act of vulnerability breaks down walls and allows us to come together." Reminiscent of early Prince, "Peach" is sure to keep you dancing through the Summer with a tasty combination of sweet melody and juicy rhythm.

Sammy Bananas, known mainly for his work on A-Trak's groundbreaking NYC label Fool's Gold flexes his versatility offering up 3 flavors of piano based, club ready dance tracks on his debut EP for Bastard Jazz, the "Piananana EP". The signature funky and quirky style which he developed over a decade of releases is still audible, but the material here is geared more towards foggy late night basements. "Non-Stop" is built around hypnotic, syncopated stabs which slowly grow into a bass heavy stomper, while "Thrilla" meets somewhere between Bmore and Hardcore while still staying in the pocket. "Finesse" is a hauntingly soulful groove with a snaking analog bass line and Parisian producer Hugo LX, fresh off an EP with DJ Spinna, rounds out the release with a reserved and enticing take on "Non-Stop".

After making waves a few years back via his Potatohead People project (with AstroLogical) and co-producing Illa J’s critically acclaimed self titled LP, Vancouver based playboy & producer Nick Wisdom steps out from behind the boards to deliver his first solo release for Bastard Jazz.
The “Intimate Strangers” EP mines deep into Nick’s proclivities for disco, hip-hop, and house flavours. “Good Times” kicks things off with a snapping four on the floor, deep Rhodes chords and a rollicking bassline and vocals courtesy of Mr. Wisdom himself. “Feelin’ Alright” heads into outerspace disco territory with cosmic synths, walking bass, and sultry vocals courtesy of Reva Devito (HW&W, Kaytranada). On the flipside “Don’t Tell” brings in some 80s boogie vibes with downlow vocals from San Francisco’s K-Maxx, while “Rock The Cash Bar” is an instrumental party rocking hip-hop jam sounding like a modern day Showbiz & AG.

Clattering drums hum alongside the chatter of birds, the trickle of rain, and the billowing of wind chimes, as Marina Price layers on her smooth, smoky vocals, creating gorgeous soundscapes.

Posy is the recording name of Rudy Klobas, Portland-based producer and multi-instrumentalist with a unique sound that intersects jazz, R&B, and electronic music

A true DIY and analog enthusiast, Posy plays every instrument but the horns onThe Gardenand recorded with vintage gear onto reel to reel tape

Has received extensive Spotify editorial playlist support having been added to Lofi Beats, Soft Office, Office Studio, Fresh Finds Jazz and more

Worldwide Radio support from stations like Kexp + Kcrw (us), JazzFM, Soho Radio, + NTS (uk), 2ser (au) and more

Press support includes Jazziz, Stereofox, Clash Magazine, Fusicology, and more

Bastard Jazz is proud to present the debut EP from producer and multi-instrumentalist Simon Mavin. Most well known as the Grammy nominated keyboardist/co-producer and co- writer of the celebrated Australian band Haitus Kaiyote, Simon's had a hand in multiple projects across the spectrum, but has yet to release under his own moniker until now.
The EP, which features two original tracks and two remixes from fellow Aussies Harvey Sutherland and Close Counters starts out was recorded in-between projects at the Grove, a small recording sanctuary in Melbourne. In Simon's studio, he had installed a library of keyboards. 30-40 synthesizers, all of which were painstakingly patched in to be simultaneously accessible and ready to record in an instant. A drum kit in the corner was constantly mic'd up, and everything routed through a multitude of analog mixing desks providing different flavours of tone and texture. The Grove had such appeal that it was chosen as the studio to record the Gilles Peterson compilation 'Sunny Side Up' on Brownswood Recordings.
Things kick off with "Good Hair Day", a track originally blossoming from an infectious piano loop in which fellow collaborators Nick Lam and Henry Hicks added guitar parts and bass parts. What's resulted is a danceable, infectious feel-good dancefloor jam with an ultra funky synth bassline that harkens back to Herbie Hancock's 1970's repertoire. Harvey Sutherland takes the tempo up and takes the track deeper into outer space with deep synth work, four on the floor drums, and a punchy bassline for late night sessions.
On the flip, "Only You & Me" is a lower tempo, slow burning joint with a live drum loop played by Nick Martyn, with an alien bassline, squelching keys, otherworldly oscillating vocodor parts and jazzy keyboard solos. Up and coming trio Close Counters take the song into new territory, stripping things down with a classic Broken Beat vibe, a driving bassline and synth stabs from the original, moving things squarely on the dancefloor – definitely atrack for the breakers in the building.

"Thermae" and "The Atrium" have been streamed over 450k times across DSPs since being released in the fall
Support from BBC 2's Jamie Cullum (Best in Jazz), BBC Radio's Huey Morgan (including Huey's Album and Beat of the week), KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, Soho Radio (uk), Paste Magazine and more
With over to 1 million monthly listeners and 75,000 followers on Spotify he's been added to multiple editorial playlists including Jazz Vibes, Mellow Morning, State of Jazz, Jazz UK and more
Additional DSP playlist support includes Apple's Jazz Chill, Jazz Scene: UK, New Latitudes and Amazon Music's Laid Back Jazz and Fresh Jazz
With approximately 10,000 vinyl records sold the world over Robohands is a rising international star with his ambient & cinematic jazz stylings
A prolific producer, Robohands has released five albums since 2018 including his debut LP 'Green' released on Village Live records, incorporating elements of jazz, krautrock and ambient music
Has performed across the globe including Montreal Jazz Fest, Waking Life Festival in Portugal

Peter Matson is a Brooklyn, NY based musician, producer, DJ, and founder and leader of the seminal NYC post-punk dance outfit Underground System.

Hotel PMis the debut LP from Matson and third release with Bastard Jazz having released two EPs Short Trips in 2019 and The Right Way in 2022.

Album features a who's who of artists collaborating with Matson including Toribio, Kendra Morris, Pahua, The Phenomenal Hand Clap Band, and core members of The Rapture, Ibibio Sound Machine, Poolside, and Sly5thAve.

Including Bastard Jazz, Matson has released music with Soul Clap, planet e, Razor N Tape, Heist Recordings, Heavenly Sweetness, and Hell Yeah.

Recording, production and mixing by Ross Orton (M.I.A., Arctic Monkeys) and Ewan Pearson (Depeche Mode, Confidence Man) between London, Sheffield, UK, Mexico City and Oaxaca, Mexico and Peter's home of New York City.

Press, Radio, and Sync support include Apple Music's Wwdc22 Keynote Speech, Rolling Stone, DJ Mag, NTS, Worldwide FM, BBC Radio 6, Kcrw, Ibiza Global Radio and more.

Denver producer and visual artist John T. Hastings aka Rumtum returns to Bastard Jazz for his second album on the label, "Arcadian Daze". The album is a contemplative drive down a nostalgic highway, reflecting on a period of his late adolescence growing up in Ohio, spending time at Arcadia Beach on Lake Erie and discovering the likes DJ Shadow, Madlib, Fila Brazilla, early Four Tet, the original Ninja Tune roster and more. Revisiting these coming of age memories, John purchased an older MPC 2000xl and set out to musically capture the excitement of putting his first nascent loops together, inspired by this pivotal era of electronic music that has since birthed movements like such as Lo-Fi/Chillhop, Vaporwave, LA's mid-2000s Beat Scene / Low End Theory, etc.


The end result of "Arcadian Daze" is indeed filled with that nostalgic spirit paying homage to those aforementioned sounds, but also presents a forward thinking musical palate that's very much grounded in Rumtum's sensibilities as a producer and time spent learning to program new & vintage outboard gear. The album moves away from the warm, dreamy sounds of last year's "Isles in Indigo" LP, and touches more into a mystical, pensive vibe with elements of darkness and light.

Potatohead People's classic tune "What It Feels Like'' featuring T3 (Slum Village), Kapok and Illa J gets a remix treatment from in demand bass player and rising star Carrtoons. Switching up the order of the verses, dubbing out the horns and adding in his signature basswork, Carrtoons gets the song into a whole other groove of its own while retaining the original vibe in a unique way. Look out for a 7" coming in Spring of 2022 with the remix and the OG on it!

Robohands, aka Andy Baxter, joins the Bastard Jazz family with a new EP titled "Giallo." Partly inspired by Italian Giallo (meaning "yellow") film soundtracks of the late 70s and 80s, as well as the experimental sounds of pioneering krautrock bands like Tangerine Dream and NEU! Armed with an old Juno 60 synthesizer, Andy wrote, recorded, and mixed all the parts himself, including the live drums, adding in multiple layers of effects.

Spread across 8 tracks, "Giallo" spans atmospheric meditations ("Giallo;" "Claws;" "Relax") to jazzy improvisational explorations ("Fear"), interwoven with brief solo instrumental tapestries ("Horror;" "Float By Like Clouds;" "For the Different"). There is an elegant cinematic quality to the EP, further refined by Robohands' production prowess and technical chops. "Giallo" builds on the Robohands sound, taking it in an exciting, more experimental direction.

*** FOR WW Distribution, EX. Americas & Japan ***
Bad Colours is back with his sophomore album, "Always With U," out on Bastard Jazz Recordings in November, 2022. The London-born, Maryland-raised, Brooklyn-based DJ, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist - aka Ibe Soliman - continues to build on the well-deserved acclaim from his 2021 debut LP, "PINK," as well as a slew of standalone singles and collaborations with the likes of Shabazz Palaces, Jarv Dee, and Stas Thee Boss.
"Always With U" sees Ibe further develop his talents as a songwriter and producer, while maintaining the signature balance of banging dance music and dense bars that he's quickly becoming known for. The album expands Ibe's role to a collaborator, band leader, and all-around star-of-the-show; it's certainly still a dance record, but there's also so much more. Live instrumentation accompanies every track, with the notable contributions of Nigerian bassist Akin-Alade Ogo heard across the album, as well as the NY-based saxophonist Carras Paton on the jazzy, upbeat house number, "Heartache + U."
The lead single, "Maybe I Should Move to LA," sees the proudly Brooklyn-based Bad Colours contemplate a move out West – an idea that came about following a trip to LA for the 20 Years of Bastard Jazz anniversary party (which he DJed) in November last year. Bright pads, a thumping four-on-the-floor beat, and a catchy vocal line make it the perfect accompaniment to a top-down joy-ride up PCH. The album's second single, "You Don't Know," features frequent collaborator and PNW darling Jarv Dee, as well as KAS and Jvde who have both been making waves in the Brooklyn scene (kas for his work with Grammy- nominated producer Harmony Samuels featured on BET, and Jvde as the lead-singer of alternative band Blind Benny). "You Don't Know" turns up the heat with Jarv and KAS trading dense, rapid-fire verses over a high-tempo beat and detuned vocal; the kick cuts out for the bridge, replaced by syncopated keyboard stabs and Jvde's stacked vocals. "You Don't Know" is high-energy hip house at its finest: Super catchy and irresistibly dancey.
The two singles are emblematic of the rest of the album, which largely alternates between vocal and hip house, sometimes jazzy, other times touching on R&B or dancefloor influenced pop. Dave Giles II and Cor.Ece (who recently both contributed to Beyoncé's chart-topping "Renaissance" LP and Honey Dijon's "Work" single) feature on "Flow," while Toribio (of the acclaimed Brooklyn band Conclaves) provides vocals for "Do Better;" both tracks are on the mellower side, reminiscent of late-90s New York mid-tempo garage. Rising artist N.O.V. features on the second track, "Ready," rapping over a bass-heavy beat; MarcusHarmon makes a return after appearing on "PINK," with smooth vocals on the romantic "Come Closer." Aforementioned Jvde can be heard throughout the album, contributing to "You Don't Know," "Flirtation Avenue," and "Easy Come, Easy Go."
While Ibe's career has spanned nearly two decades - as both a DJ (alongside the likes of James Murphy, Mark Ronson, and Q-Tip) and producer (for Kendrick Lamar, Faith Evans, Keyshia Cole, and Rick Ross, among others) - the Bad Colours name only came into being in early 2020, with the debut LP, "PINK," being released in February, 2021 on the Brooklyn tastemaker label Bastard Jazz. By tapping into his deep network of artist friends, Ibe compiled a treasure-trove of vocal samples, snippets, sketches, and fresh instrumental loops into a beautiful debut record that touches on hip-hop, house, and left-field electronic, while remaining danceable.
A slew of singles throughout 2020 and 2021 included "Feelin' Like," featuring the Seattle rapper Jarv Dee, has become an underground hit, popping up everywhere from Best Buy ads, Hulu's "Woke," celebrity Peloton instructor Emma Lovewell's playlist, and even as a soundtrack to the Mayor of Madrid's TikTok video. Most recently, "Feelin' Like" had a prominent placement in the #1 Netflix film "Spiderhead," directed by Joseph Kosinski ("Tron: Legacy;" "Top Gun: Maverick") and starring Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, and Jurnee Smollett. The breakout success of "Feelin' Like" further led to a collaborative EP with Jarv Dee, titled "BLAKHOUSE," which saw additional features from fellow PNW natives Shabazz Palaces ("Clouds," featured in Hulu's "Shoresy") and Stas Thee Boss ("Black Skin"). This year, Bad Colours dropped the early Summer banger "Hit The Breaks," and served as the musical director for the influential Made New York festival, a two-day fashion, music, and arts event presented by Public School NYC and Paypal, that saw performances by Nas, Heron Preston, and Bearcat among others.
"Always With U" is a testament to Bad Colours' versatility as a producer and artist, which has allowed him to bring together such a diverse group of friends and collaborators. Yes, the house and hip-hop roots remain, but "Always With U" shows an evolution of the Bad Colours sound into masterfully crafted dancefloor sounds. It's a truly stunning follow-up from an artist undoubtedly on the rise. The album is out on all platforms, via Bastard Jazz Recordings, November 11th, 2022.

Bastard Jazz is happy to give a first look at mainstay Japanese producers Aru-2 & Kzyboost's full length album "Hot Pants" (August 13) with a special 7" showcasing a couple of favorites from the album. On the A side is "Shooby Dooby", a slice of future funk with a bubbling analog synth bassline and Aru-2's signature talkbox vocals, while on the B-Side "Boost Step" takes things a little more downtempo into instrumental hip-hop territory, still rife with funk vibes, and synth solos. Aru-2 and Kzyboost are both Tokyo-based producers, known for their work in the Japanese underground hip hop scene. Aru-2 got his start producing for prominent J-hip hop artists like Issugi, Senninsho, Tamaki Roy, and KID Fresino. His first EP, "Arµ-2," arrived in 2013, and was featured in OkayPlayer, while the collaborative album "TANHÂ," with Lee (asano+ryuhei) came out in 2014 and was critically acclaimed by Pitchfork. Kzyboost specialises in the talk-box and is one of the best known talk-box artists in Japan. He's released two studio albums, "Callin' U" (2019), and "Keep Smoovin'" (2020, fusing West Coast hip hop, and 90s R&B and soul. The two artists bonded over their shared love of music through sessions at Aru-2's home studio, resulting in the upcoming collaboration. "Shooby Dooby / Boost Step" is due out on Brooklyn's Bastard Jazz Recordings in July, ahead of the duo's debut LP "Hot Pants" in August.

After making a worldwide splash in late 2020 with their De La Soul collab "Baby Got Work" feat Kapok, Potatohead People are back with a brand new must cop release that crosses both sides of the Atlantic as the Magnificent DJ Jazzy Jeff and legendary UK producer and keyboard player Kaidi Tatham team up to remix the forementioned track. Bringing the energy up and out into a classic Hip-Hop vibe, Jeff & Kaidi infuse a head knockin' drum break complete with classic JJ scratches, synth bass, and Rhodes chords on top of Posdnuos's rhymes about getting your head down, putting your boots on and getting to work - helping to make the world better place for all of us. Vancouver collaborator Kapok sings aboout the shortness of our lives, and the potential in all of us to get the work done that we need to do. It's an allusion to the desperate times we're live in, with a hopeful call to action for all of us to roll up our sleeves and get down to the business of change. The original "Baby Got Work" is included on the B-Side of the remix due to popular demand!

Hong Kong based hypno-tropicalia duo Blood Wine or Honey are set to release their second album 'DTx2" on 30th June 2021. Made up of seasoned multi-instrumentalists James Banbury (synths, bass, percussion, cello) and Joseph von Hess (vocals, clarinet, sax, percussion), they create a heaving, heady brew of brazen sax themes, lo-fi/hi-tech electronics, densely layered cello inflections and motorik drums. These explorations start with the dance-floor then go above and beyond, taking notes from post-punk and tropical polyrhythms, always anchored by the bass weight of the sound system. Their distinctive sound is created in the industrial warehouses and hidden rural settlements of Hong Kong, surrounded by the low-end throb of heavy machinery, the lingering scent of hand sanitiser and the humidity of the South China Sea. Written and recorded during 2020-21, new album 'DTx2" looks ahead to an uncertain future, drawing deep on their experiences and influences.

The drive to record an album came about while isolating at home in Flatbush during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspired by some rough ideas and samples that friends sent him, Ibe focussed his attention on making music. From time well spent soaking up and storing sounds from clubs around the world, Ibe found, now with the time to dedicate towards it, the tracks flooding out. Taking cues from early Trax records and Larry Heard, the UKG musicality of MJ Cole, Todd Edwards' vocal sampling techniques, the brashness of Bmore, and an encyclopedia of disco, funk and soul knowledge; Ibe got to work and quickly compiled more than enough tracks for a full-length release. Known for his residencies at some of New York's top venues, Ibe has been rocking crowds as a DJ for over a decade, and has shared the decks with the likes of James Murphy, Mark Ronson, and Q-Tip. He's performed alongside Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, Pusha T, and Young Thug, to name a few. In high demand as a private party curator, he's helped set the tone for Jeff Koons, FKA Twigs, Justin Timberlake, Travis Scott, and Usher. When Ibe's not behind the decks, he's in the lab, where he's produced for Kendrick Lamar, Faith Evans, Keyshia Cole, and Rick Ross, among others.

The Pendletons return with a brand new track and a slew of in demand remixes all in one package. First up is "Don't Turn Your Back" featuring Kool Customer vocalist Rojai featuring a bubblin' bassline, analog synths galore and Roj's vocals taking the lead on the cut backed up by Trailer Limon & E Da Boss's unmistakeable vibe. Next up, Bastard Jazz mainstay artists Potatohead People hit the nail squarely on the head with their restrained and eternally funky remix of the last album's hit single "You Do You" featuring the legendary Howard Johnson (previously only available on an unreleased Bandcamp bonus 7") while NYC DJ producer and edit king Jacques Renault does what he does best with "Keep It Working" featuring UK soulstress Gizelle Smith - extending the groove out and letting the bassline ride while keeping the original feel of the song intact. Lastly, Pendleton's member E Da Boss extends out the "Keep It Working" OG for the hardworking DJs across the land giving the intro & outro some breathing room. Also included is the Jacques Renault Instrumental.

Brand new Bastard Jazz signing Buscrates comes out of the gate swinging with his first release for the label full of the bubbling, electronic funk he's become known for. "Lost & Found" features the vocal talents of Sally Green over a slappin' bassline, guitar licks and airy synths while "Cruise Control" goes on an instrumental ride with it's heavy drums, catchy g-funk lead and growling bass. Another funky affair from the Pittsburgh producer.
Tall Black Guy - I Will Never Know (14KT IAMABEENIE Remix) [feat. Moonchild]
14KT - The Power of Same (Tall Black Guy Remix) [feat. Muhsinah]
First Word Records continues its series of special collaborative releases for its 15th anniversary with an absolutely firing double-header from 14KT and Tall Black Guy.
On this limited 7" vinyl, the two renowned US beat-makers revisit two of their previous First Word singles, turning out flips of each other's tracks, also featuring a multitude of talent, in the form of Moonchild, Muhsinah, Stro Elliot and James Poyser of The Roots.
Following on from the first volume in 14KT's jazz project 'IAMABEENIE', here he flips TBG and Moonchild's collab, 'I Will Never Know', originally from Tall Black Guy's 2017 sophomore album 'Let's Take A Trip'. The original neo-soul bump is transformed into a deliciously epic latin affair, drenched with deep Brazilian vibes throughout - this is one to draw for at those steamy get-downs; a slinky slab of dancefloor fire.
Tall Black Guy returns to First Word for the first time in a minute, and takes on the Muhsinah-lead joint 'The Power Of Same', the lead single from 14KT's 2019 acclaimed album, 'For My Sanity'. As to be expected, TBG delivers his unmistakable blend of dope dubbed-out spacey soul and boom bap kicks & snares, complete with guitar licks from Stro Elliot, and keys from James Poyser.
Two of the dopest producers in the game, this one is completely 1000% essential.

The Pendletons take a bold step with their first full length album, 2 Steps Away, releasing this spring on the Bastard Jazz imprint.
Recorded in San Francisco with a rock-solid band consisting of some of the best musicians in the Bay Area, including guitarist Carl Locket (Shalamar, Rick James) and Star Creature recording artist Elive, the duo taps into a classic soul/boogie sound that rides a wave of '70s and early '80s funk with ease but somehow remains true to the excitement of those classic recordings without being overly nostalgic. The music shines, as does the songwriting, which is honest, undiluted and spiritually inspired. Disco horns, heavy percussion and slap bass punctuate dance floor burners, which give way to sweet soul steppers, making for a blissful balance on the 9 song album.
The Pendletons is a long-standing boogie-funk and modern soul project of E da Boss (one half of Myron & E) and Trailer Limon. The group emerged with their very first release in 2010, a 7" inch of "Coming Down/Waiting On You" on the Slept On record label, which set the tone for the group to emerge... It instantly became a cult classic receiving constant play at nights like Sweater Funk and Funkmosphere, and fetching for serious sums among collectors.
In 2013, they followed up with another 7" featuring K-Maxx, Jacqueline Mari and Songbird Remos and later a very limited flexi-disc release title "Winning Ova You". In 2016, they released the EP "Gotta Get Out". The title track caught the ear of renowned global tastemaker Gilles Peterson, who liked it enough to release it on his Brownswood Bubblers' compilation. In 2018 the group released the Funk Forever EP on the Bastard Jazz label to critical acclaim.
Now armed with a live band with a full horn section, a vast array of accomplished jazz and funk contributors, and a knack for quality song-writing, the Pendletons' sound has shaped into something fresh and unique. The duo release their debut full length album, 2 Steps Away, on Bastard Jazz this spring.

Potatohead People return with a brand new track "Single Life" featuring Vancouver based vocalist. Paying homage to the vibe and sound of mid-90s r&b ala Brandy, Next, Alliyah etc but pressing forward into the future beats scene with PP's usual musicality it represents a forward step in songwriting and sensibility for the band. Track will be accompanied by a limited edition 7" with printed cover, and a high quality music video dropping the same time as the song.

The Pendletons take a bold step with their first full forthcoming length album, 2 Steps Away, releasing this spring on the Bastard Jazz imprint. Recorded in San Francisco with a rock-solid band consisting of some of the best musicians in the Bay Area, including guitarist Carl Locket (Shalamar, Rick James) and Star Creature recording artist Elive, the duo taps into a classic soul/boogie sound that rides a wave of '70s and early '80s funk with ease but somehow remains true to the excitement of those classic recordings without being overly nostalgic
On this preview 7" the band showcases the uptempo disco/boogie slapper "You Do You" featuring legendary Soul singer Howard Johnson (Nightflyte / Kashif) while on the flip is the sweet soul of "Life To Me" over an irresistible groove.

First taste of the upcoming Tempo Dreams Vol. 5 album, compiled by LA based beatmaker Free The Robots. Coming in with a seperate vibe all it's own, the 7" features the exclusive track "Nasi Goreng", a lo-fi psychdelic beat heavy romp through South East Asia, complete with Gamelan vibes. On the flip, "Marano" is a downtempo ultra bass heavy joint with sparse production, vocal chops and swirling synths.

The Pendletons return with their latest EP, Funk Forever, a Jazz flavored boogie affair with soul inspired song-writing that evokes old school vibes while still staying fresh and current. Horn lines, Yamaha dx7 keys and snapping hip hop inspired drum programming topped by sweet singing with heartfelt themes, the group carves out a bold new sound on these 5 solid tracks. Featuring Elive, Potatohead People and Ishtar.
The Pendletons are a long-standing boogie-funk and modern soul project of E da Boss (of Myron and E on Stone's Throw) and Trailer Limon. The group emerged with their very first release in 2010, a 7" inch of "Coming Down/Waiting On You" on the Slept On record label, which set the tone for the group to emerge... it instantly became a cult classic receiving constant play at nights like Sweater Funk and Funkmosphere, and fetching for serious sums among collectors. Most recently, in 2016, they released the EP "Gotta Get Out". The title track caught the ear of renowned DJ Gilles Peterson, who liked it enough to release it on his Brownswood Bubbler compilation.
In 2018 the group is hitting the ground running with a brand new EP out this spring, and a full-length album to follow later later in the year on the renowned Bastard Jazz label. Now armed with a horn section, a vast array of accomplished jazz and funk contributors, and a knack for quality song-writing, the Pendleton's sound has shaped into something fresh and unique, setting it apart from the legions of imitators.

Bastard Jazz presents tasty 7" coming from two talents from up North, Toronto's freewheeling producer/DJ Birthday Boy and Canadian songstress Trish (plus songwriter and backup vocalist Joe Law) who link up for a lesson in positive vibrations and soulful, R&B-infused future grooves. "Magic" toys with a mellow bassline and warm guitar loop from Tom Misch while "Chance To Go Far" is a Kaytra-esque hip-hop number with big drums and hook that will stay with you all day. Taken from their Joseph EP, also out Jan 19th on Bastard Jazz.

Birthday Boy is a music producer and DJ renowned for his eclectic and inventive musical sense, shown in both his productions and live sets. Drawing from jazz, house, hip-hop and funk, Birthday Boy has cultivated a dynamic sound that ebbs and flows across genres, never fitting squarely into a single category. First establishing himself with a string of up-tempo remixes and genre-bending originals, Birthday Boy has earned the praise of outlets such as Pitchfork, the FADER, Hypebeast, and many more outlets through collaborations with fellow Toronto artists Allie and Drew Howard.

As he continues to impress audiences on stages at WayHome and SXSW, Birthday Boy also has his hand in several upcoming projects from rising Canadian and International artists all while continuing to prep his debut album.

Bastard Jazz is proud to present The Love EP from Cork, Ireland based DJ and producer Colm K. Colm, a 2009 graduate of the Red Bull Music Academy, has been making waves for a few years now through after his debut Basics 12" for Bastard Jazz and a 7" and a 10" released on sublabel BSTRD Boots (the latter of which is sold out and regularly changes hands for upwards of $50 on eBay and Discogs), and recently shared billing with Mr. Scruff on a Hypnotic Brass Ensemble remix 12" on Choice Cuts.

Seattle's own Manatee Commune (aka Grant Eadie) makes his long-awaited return to Bastard Jazz with his fourth album, 'Simultaneity'. Lush and vibrant production is familiar to his previous works, though Eadie has significantly matured in the activation of space and character. A step away from standard songwriting, and a total disassociation from lyrics at all, has made this record closer to the ambient genre than anything Manatee Commune has released, all the while keeping one solid foot in the realm of dance music.
'Simultaneity', as a whole, is an exploration of the collision between texture and time. Captured recordings reminiscent of wind in wheatgrass, soft rain showers in the open plains, and cascading beach sand wash over the mix, splashing into warm drones and ascending melodies that cleanly syncopate against a steady rhythm. Though decidedly electronic at times, a raw human element is ever-present in the form of a vocal motif: just tiny moments of a loving voice lost in a sea of reverberation.
The album is a noticeably positive evolution from previous works. All nine tracks depict a calmness and subtlety in musicianship, relying primarily on tenuous snippets of live instrumentation and synthesis that hypnotically coil and coalesce with one another. 'Love Tone', the opening track, features Eadie's partner, a small voice memo clipped and expanded into an ethereal vocal melody. A crisp felt piano delivers a complex arpeggiation in 'Mosaic', a warm sonic bath scape reminiscent of Olafur Arnalds or Kiasmos. Simple, undemanding bass lines drive tracks 'Path' and 'Faulted', though their simplicity is contrasted with a variety of patterns that combine to create unique auditory shapes, both building and landing in satisfying climactic movement. The album culminates in the final track, 'Touch Theme', where a block of sound in the form of a broad, open synthetic chord warms the ears, eventually twisting and shifting to rhythmic chunks that shove against a familiar house rhythm.

The only track with vocals on Steel City electro-funk wizard Buscrates' second full-length album is "On My Way," where Soraya Watti's smooth and soulful tones prove to be the perfect addition to the Buscrates machine. This is exactly the kind of cut that used to cause rewind buttons on boomboxes to get their wear back in the day. It's a great indicator of the mostly-instrumental delights which await you on Crates' much-anticipated album release.

After a huge year of travelling in 2022, playing DJ sets in more than 30 cities across 10 countries, Captain Planet dove back into the studio to create his 5th and most ambitious album to date- Sounds Like Home. Taking a turn toward the more organic, retro sounds of artists who originally inspired him as a young musician, Charlie Wilder (aka Captain Planet) flexed his composer and bandleader muscles- incorporating horn sections, strings and acoustic drums more than the big club focussed electronic sounds he has often come to be known for. "The basic concept was to make a record like the ones I constantly pull off my shelves at home and play on the weekends. The records that turn into living room dance parties with my family, the soundtracks while I'm cooking, the music that fills the backyard for lazy hang outs." An avid vinyl record collector and musicologist since his teens, the Captain has a near encyclopedic knowledge of music from around the world, particularly artists from the 60's and 70's, which is the era that inspired much of the sonic texture on this new album.
In classic Captain Planet style, a kaleidoscopic array of genres from around the world find their way into the mix- Brazilian disco, Latin funk, Jamaican dub, Middle Eastern psychedelia, and American soul music. While this diversity may sound more like a mixtape, the Captain's trademark uplifting vibe and impeccable knack for building a great groove, provide the special ingredients that pull it all together and makes the sauce work. The Fader wrote "the Captain is a walking 'recommended vinyl' section from the best record store you've ever been to", because all his deep love and appreciation for classic music comes right through him in his original songs. Throughout this album you'll hear echoes of timeless artists like Cymande, Gilberto Gil, Ray Barretto, Curtis Mayfield, Mulatu Astatke, and Gabor Szabo, all funneled through the Captain's modern musical sensibility, shaped by nearly 2 decades of being a professional world-traveling DJ.
The past year also brought some major challenges for Charlie Wilder, most central of which was losing a close friend and collaborator, the fellow LA-based DJ/producer Sumohair (1⁄2 of the band Reyna Tropical). The album starts off with a brief tropical tribute to his friend, followed by the strong message "Music Is Medicine" sung by another regular collaborator, the Zimbabwean-American (Grammy winning) singer Shungudzo. With the true value of friendship front and center on his mind, Captain Planet made a strong conscious effort to include many of his oldest friends and musical partners throughout the album, including Grammy winning pianist Sam Barsh, Chico Mann, Zuzuka Poderosa (who bartended at one of the Captain's earliest DJ residencies in Brooklyn), David Walters (whose new album "Soul Tropical" was co-written & co-produced by the Captain), Todd Simon, Leo Mintek (who has played guitar with Wilder since their teens), and Wilder's youngest brother Taj Bethel who co-wrote 2 of the songs on the album. The warm light of friendship and family shines throughout the album, and while the influences reach far across the globe, the music clearly shows that Captain Planet has found his musical home.