great track! too bad about the clipping on the drums...

BBE Music is thrilled to announce the release of Modern Love, a diverse compendium of specially commissioned cover versions of rarities and classics in tribute to David Bowie.

Featuring an array of artists such as Jeff Parker, We Are KING, Meshell Ndegeocello, Helado Negro, Khruangbin, Matthew Tavares, Nia and more, Modern Love seeks to champion Bowie’s lesser-known connection to soul, R&B, jazz, funk, and gospel. The prominent jazz influences throughout Bowie’s final album, Blackstar, were a key inspiration for curating this collection of reimagined Bowie songs with these artists. The resulting album is an eclectic tribute featuring a group of artists who not only fit together creatively, but who, like Bowie, straddle different worlds musically, with soul and jazz at their core.

Modern Love offers a fresh look at Bowie’s trailblazing career, aiming to highlight the often overlooked relationship between his back catalogue and musical genres traditionally pioneered by artists of color. The project was curated by music executive and DJ Drew McFadden, alongside BBE Music founder Peter Adarkwah. “I felt that the connection between Bowie and R&B, jazz, funk, gospel and all things soulful, had never really been explored before — at least not so much in covers, which tend to lean more towards rock and pop,” says McFadden. “Certainly, there’s been plenty of Bowie covers over the years, but none that have really tapped into what seems to have been a big part of his core musical
style and direction.”

Modern Love is an interactive sonic map. Here, seventeen artists make their way into the varied regions of his sundry catalog and circle back with seventeen unique re-imaginings of both his cornerstone and lesser-known tracks. Some, in atmosphere, feel like a sly alternate take from original sessions (Khruangbin’s ethereal, funk infused version of “Right” from Young Americans); others nod at the source, then wink before diving into the deep waters of another musical stratosphere (Sessa’s sexy Tropicalia-drenched “Panic in Detroit” from Aladdin Sane). Still others take tunes down to the studs and then re-arrange the moody interiors: Meshell Ndegeocello’s pensive “Fantastic Voyage” from Lodger and Tavares’ clever take on “Heroes” which is restructured into a kinetic hardbop-esque backdrop, fronted by ice-cool, held-back vocals. The bullseye these artists aim for is Bowie’s fearlessness. “Fame was an incredible bluff that worked,” he once reflected. “Very flattering. I’ll do anything until I fail. And when I succeed I quit too.”

Modern Love packs us off on a journey that balances on risk’s sharp blade. Track-to-track, it explores what happens when a musician throws out notions of should and safe and stretches beyond the known. These artists use Bowie both as a guide and a prism: A way of being and seeing. Their offerings, widely divergent, explore the inheritance from an artist who freed himself from labels, genres and, consequently, pigeonholes. While he was at it, he decimated fixed notions about territory (or terra) itself; boundaries hemmed-in his creative process, but his essence remained free to roam. He may have vanished in earthly form, yet, as he also promised in the lyrics of “Modern Love,” But I never wave bye-bye . . .” This compilation assures us that his spirit swirls around us. His force is alive to all of us and, here, it is summoned with an incantation that celebrates possibility.

Khruangbin - Right

The lovely languid Big Muff version of the Rogers & Hart standard is a worldwide chill-out classic featuring the seductive vocals of Aiya.

My Funny Valentine (Original Extended Mix) by Big Muff

Considered one of of the most polific jazz and pop artists in music, Grammy winner George Benson is quite simply the best! From the classic In Fight album, this remake of War's staple cut has always been one of my favorites. I love playing it in my dj sets, when I get the rare opportunity to play out! I just decided to make a more dj-friendly version with some solid drum work to fill it out. It's one of those songs that when you hear it, it takes you somewhere else. 
I hope your dancing and listening journey is good with this joint! 
Enjoy!

Now featured in Underdog Edits' Doggie Bag! https://underdogedits.bandcamp.com/album/underdog-edits-doggie-bag?from=com-nr

George Benson - The World Is A Ghetto (Underdog's Funky Drummer Re-Work)

The Harp - San Diego, Ocean Beach, CA 4/17/25

The Same Old Thing

Buy via iTunes / Google Play: http://geni.us/DeepTenorCityOba

With the release of “Oba”, BBE has uncovered a rare gem. Production duo Dan Stillit and Oli Savill (collectively, Deep Tenor City) bringing together a wide group of the most accomplished (some Grammy- nominated) artists from the worlds of Jazz, Latin. Fusion, Funk and Afro-beat. “Oba”, recorded in the winter months of 2003, is a complex and percussion-rich slice of glorious afro-cuban jazz fusion, is only now seeing the light of day, having this year been given serious underground airtime and club play.

The EP also features an infectious and distinctive and remix from the mighty Opolopo and a vocal-rich deep house remix from AriesAudio (Josh Emman). Again, both tracks have been had strong early reception in the underground scene.

Deep Tenor City - Oba

Two gold standard musical compositions I won’t insult by labelling with a genre. 'Truth is the key' is one of my favourite tracks period, the Arp solo just does it for me in every way. The vocal will be familiar as Irene Datcher also sang on the James Mason LP (who also features on these tracks) . 'Dreamflower' should need no introduction, famously Sampled by Erykah Badu’s ‘Didn't Cha Know ‘ and many others. This is a sublime landscape is notable for Ryo Kawasaki’s dreamy guitar work, Stone cold classic.  Both sides surprisingly have never graced the 7” format until now , absolutely essential 45. 

Ath026B Tarika Blue -  Dreamflower

Neno Exporta Som - Deixa A Tristeza

Mother Braintree Let Me Stay Beside You unissued 1973 soul kinsman

From the forthcoming album 'Funkadelic - Reworked by Detroiters'. 

A diverse selection of remixers from today’s generation of Detroit producers and musicians, looking back at the immense legacy of Funkadelic and re-imagining it for now, With the re-interpreters chosen to prismatically represent the vastness of Funkadelic’s genre-bending music.

Funkadelic - Reworked by Detroiters

Pre order from Ace

Cosmic Slop (Moodymann Mix) Funkadelic

Buy / Stream the single: https://bbemusic.lnk.to/SeizeTheDay
Announcing forthcoming album ‘Bring Out The Sound’, their first in five years, legendary live hip hop outfit The Herbaliser present single ’Seize The Day’ featuring London vocalist Just Jack.

Haunting orchestral and cinematic atmospheres underpin Just Jack’s distinctive Camden twang, which makes way for uplifting trumpets and strings (arranged by Ninja Tune legend Chris Bowden) worthy of a Bond theme as the track builds and builds.

Best known for his 2007 anti-pop anthem ‘Starz In Their Eyes’ which reached number 2 in the UK charts, London vocalist Just Jack has issued 3 well received studio albums, last year releasing ‘Life Lessons’, his first new material in over seven years.

Issued on independent label BBE, home to many a musical trailblazer, perhaps most notably J Dilla, ’Bring Out The Sound’ is scheduled for release in February 2018. Jam-packed with that trademark, horn-laden Herbaliser goodness, the album is further bolstered by standout vocals from Rodney P, Stac & Mark Keds.

Seize The Day

The Herbaliser - Seize The Day feat. Just Jack

Taken from the album ' Charles Mingus - Jazz in Detroit / Strata Concert Gallery / 46 Selden' available on x5LP vinyl set, x5CD and digital formats: https://bbemusic.lnk.to/CharlesMingus

EXCLUSIVE: THE LOST TAPES!!
MINGUS MEETS STRATA: LIVE FROM THE GALLERY

“I’m trying to play the truth of what I am. The reason it’s difficult is because I’m changing all the time.” Charles Mingus

The radical discovery by Amir Abdullah of 5 two-track master tapes in the care of Hermine Brooks ­– widow of innovative Detroit drummer Roy Brooks – of the Charles Mingus Quintet recorded live in Detroit at Strata Concert Gallery is cause for some serious celebration.

Charles Mingus - Pithecanthropus Erectus

Join the BBE Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/yfBFX

Founded in 1996 by Peter Adarkwah, Barely Breaking Even (BBE Music) started life as a London club night, taking its name from the eponymous Disco record by the Universal Robot Band.

The label grew from the vibrant early 90's club scene with its first release, Stop & Listen compiled by Dr Bob Jones in 1996, opening the door to iconic series' such as All Back To Mine & Late Nite Tales.

A tonne of releases followed, ranging from Disco to Funk, Jazz to House. In the year 2000, the label celebrated Masters at Work's 10th Anniversary with a mighty box set that featured near 80 tracks.

A year later BBE Music spawned the Beat Generation Series of artist albums, notably introducing J Dilla (Welcome 2 Detroit) & a young Will.I.Am's first solo outing, alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff, Madlib & DJ Spinna, all of whom contributed to this seminal set of long players.

A quarter of a century and well over 500 titles later, having worked with Mark Ronson, Roy Ayers, Questlove, Hugh Masekela, DJ Premier, Dimitri from Paris, Joey Negro, Kon, RZA, Laurent Garnier, Black Coffee, DJ Shadow, David Rodigan and John Morales among many others, BBE Music looks to the future, celebrating its rich heritage while continuing to release a bounty of fresh titles.

The label’s most recent projects include an expansive reissue series from pioneering Nigerian label Tabansi, new imprint ‘Batakari’ in association with Boddhi Satva and the critically acclaimed ‘J Jazz’ Japanese Jazz multi-album project, not to mention the recent landmark 500th label release: a brand new version of 'Barely Breaking Even', featuring Leroy Burgess, Patrick Adams and Louie Vega.

In 2021 BBE Music is celebrating its 25th anniversary. To mark this milestone, the label is offering up some special projects, from the 20th Anniversary edition of J Dilla’s ‘Welcome 2 Detroit’, through David Bowie tribute album ‘Modern Love’, to a special new ‘Worldwide’ compilation from old friend Gilles Peterson. BBE Music will also be looking to the future with more exciting original artist projects, plus merch collaborations events and more...

Charles Mingus - Pithecanthropus Erectus

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