Buy / Stream the album here : https://orcd.co/breakthewall

Effortlessly dismantling the barriers between R&B, soul, funk, disco and jazz sounds, MF Robots present long player ‘Break The Wall’, on BBE Music. 

Astonishing musicianship, pristine production and top-tier songwriting, ‘Break The Wall’ immediately calls to mind those iconic American rhythm sections of the 70s and 80s. The music is energising, uplifting and the potent result of a highly accomplished musical partnership maturing, growing and hitting their stride together in lock-step. 

Jan Kincaid and Dawn Joseph met as members of one of the UK’s most successful Acid Jazz bands, which influenced Mark Ronson, D’Angelo, Jamiroquai, Erykah Badu and The Roots to name a few. Founding the Brand New Heavies was an important chapter for Jan, but once he and vocalist and songwriting partner Dawn began working together, the chemistry was instant and irresistible. It was time to turn the page, and soon MF Robots was born. 

“When we made our first album, we didn’t have a band as such. We basically made a lot of the record at home and called on other musicians as and when we needed them. Our sound was developing organically, and when we finally released the record to great critical acclaim, it was time to get out on the road,” says Jan. “We put together a band of likeminded young musicians, playing intimate gigs and big festivals all over Europe and beyond, growing tight as a unit, so that when it came time to think about making this, our second album, we knew we had an extra level of musicianship full of personality that could realise our vision.” 

Inviting band members Alex Montaque (keys), Naz Adamson (bass), Mark Beaney (guitar), Jack Birchwood (trumpet), Ben Treacher (sax) to improvise and contribute their own ideas over song-sketches laid out by Jan and Dawn gives ‘Break The Wall’ a special sense of offthe-cuff brilliance. Even on the polished final product you can detect a collaborative, fluid and unhurried approach to production that’s all-too rare these days. 

There’s guest performances from bassist Gail Ann Dorsey (‘The Love It Takes’, ‘Make Me Happy’) and guitarist Cory Wong ('Shine', 'Make Me Happy'), the former a top-flight session player who’s collaborated with Lenny Kravitz and David Bowie among others, the latter a member of the incredible Vulfpeck collective and an accomplished solo artist in his own right. Mixed by Clinton McCreery and mastered at The Carvery in London, the album was completed in March 2020, just before the World went into COVID19 lockdown. 

As for concept behind the project, “the name of the band, MUSIC FOR ROBOTS, is an entirely tongue in cheek one. It’s a poke at the generic nature of a lot of present day pop music, of a certain “factory” songwriting style and lack of real individuality and personality in ‘manufactured’ music. We want to create strong Soulful music with a timeless classic feel, drawing from a lot of diverse influences that makes you feel good, so maybe you can lose yourself for a little while. We want to create something that touches a feeling in people, the way that we are touched by a lot of great music and want it to still sound good in years to come.”

 In this long player, the duo’s musical mission has been both accomplished, and surpassed. The title ‘Break The Wall’ could not be more apt.

Break the Wall

MF Robots - Gold

MF Robots - Make The Call

Effortlessly dismantling the barriers between R&B, soul, funk, disco and jazz sounds, MF Robots present long player ‘Break The Wall’, on BBE Music. 

Astonishing musicianship, pristine production and top-tier songwriting, ‘Break The Wall’ immediately calls to mind those iconic American rhythm sections of the 70s and 80s. The music is energising, uplifting and the potent result of a highly accomplished musical partnership maturing, growing and hitting their stride together in lock-step. 

Jan Kincaid and Dawn Joseph met as members of one of the UK’s most successful Acid Jazz bands, which influenced Mark Ronson, D’Angelo, Jamiroquai, Erykah Badu and The Roots to name a few. Founding the Brand New Heavies was an important chapter for Jan, but once he and vocalist and songwriting partner Dawn began working together, the chemistry was instant and irresistible. It was time to turn the page, and soon MF Robots was born. 

“When we made our first album, we didn’t have a band as such. We basically made a lot of the record at home and called on other musicians as and when we needed them. Our sound was developing organically, and when we finally released the record to great critical acclaim, it was time to get out on the road,” says Jan. “We put together a band of likeminded young musicians, playing intimate gigs and big festivals all over Europe and beyond, growing tight as a unit, so that when it came time to think about making this, our second album, we knew we had an extra level of musicianship full of personality that could realise our vision.” 

Inviting band members Alex Montaque (keys), Naz Adamson (bass), Mark Beaney (guitar), Jack Birchwood (trumpet), Ben Treacher (sax) to improvise and contribute their own ideas over song-sketches laid out by Jan and Dawn gives ‘Break The Wall’ a special sense of offthe-cuff brilliance. Even on the polished final product you can detect a collaborative, fluid and unhurried approach to production that’s all-too rare these days. 

There’s guest performances from bassist Gail Ann Dorsey (‘The Love It Takes’, ‘Make Me Happy’) and guitarist Cory Wong ('Shine', 'Make Me Happy'), the former a top-flight session player who’s collaborated with Lenny Kravitz and David Bowie among others, the latter a member of the incredible Vulfpeck collective and an accomplished solo artist in his own right. Mixed by Clinton McCreery and mastered at The Carvery in London, the album was completed in March 2020, just before the World went into COVID19 lockdown. 

As for concept behind the project, “the name of the band, MUSIC FOR ROBOTS, is an entirely tongue in cheek one. It’s a poke at the generic nature of a lot of present day pop music, of a certain “factory” songwriting style and lack of real individuality and personality in ‘manufactured’ music. We want to create strong Soulful music with a timeless classic feel, drawing from a lot of diverse influences that makes you feel good, so maybe you can lose yourself for a little while. We want to create something that touches a feeling in people, the way that we are touched by a lot of great music and want it to still sound good in years to come.”

 In this long player, the duo’s musical mission has been both accomplished, and surpassed. The title ‘Break The Wall’ could not be more apt.

MF Robots - Brand New Day

Closing out a year’s worth of stellar singles and remixes on BBE Music, MF Robots unveil ‘Gold’, the effervescent final single before the release of their long-awaited new album ‘Break The Wall‘ this autumn.

With an effortless rolling groove punctuated by ultra-tight horn stabs, fans of MF Robots founder Jan Kincaid’s work as one of the Acid Jazz movement’s pioneers will love the timeless arrangement of ‘Gold’. Co-founder Dawn Joseph’s vocal performance simply soars, working beautifully against Jan’s first-verse cameo in a gorgeous and hope-filled head nodding soulful R&B duet.

“This is a song to believe in. The message is simple: don’t give up on yourself and what you can achieve, invest in the eternal truth that Love is the only constant force to heal all our troubles.” – MF Robots.

Keeping it well and truly in the family, band members Alex Montaque (keys) and Naz Adamson (bass) return in their Montaque Adamson guise, sending ‘Gold’ spinning into the soul-jazz stratosphere with their ebulliant remix.

Enjoying support on Radio 2 from Trevor Nelson and getting the remix treatment from Kenny Dope, Kaidi Tatham and Daz-I-Kue for previous singles, MF Robots have a raft of venue and festival bookings across the globe in late 2021 and into 2022, ready to mark the
release of album ‘Break The Wall’.

Gold

Energy

RIP Dr. Lonnie Smith. We're back with just a few mostly longer selections for your ears. Digging adventures continue, and more in store in the coming weeks! Thanks again for tuning in.

Tracklist: Dr. Lonnie Smith, Nucleus, Whole Darn Family, Three Pieces, Gerry Neiwood

October 6 2021

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Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 177

With the jazz-leaning electronic producer Hemai, Swiss trumpeter Bodo Meier finds the perfect remixer to give his Afro Latin inspired jazz a subtle electronic edge.

Hailing from Switzerland, Bodo started playing the trumpet at 8 and very quickly turned to jazz and improvisation. For the last 12 year, he's been touring intensely with a variety of artists across the globe.

In 2012, a tour through Brazil with the rock band Underschool Element in 2009 and in Senegal with percussionist Mory Samb started a deep connection with the Afro-American music heritage . Today, Bodo is involved in many projects and bands with Latin American music.

Bodo moved to London in 2015 and became very active in London's music scene. He started collaborating with guitarist Tjoe Man Cheung. Together they recorded two albums and toured twice in Hong Kong and China in 2016 and 2018. Now back in his native Switzerland, he writes and arranges music for his own band as well as others and released his debut album 'Approaching Change' on Berlin label QFTF. 

Bodo's debut EP, 'Eclipse', follows the release of singles 'Lamento Olvidado' and 'Roadrunner'. Both supported by the likes of Kev Beadle, Soho Radio, Twisted Soul and Jazz FM. It sees Bodo collaborate with electronic sensation, Tru Thoughts signed producer Hemai, for a dancefloor remix of 'Roadrunner' and swiss collective Alma Negra for their own take on 'Lamento Olvidado'.

Producer and multi-instrumentalist Louie Hemus AKA Hemai sonically melds soul and jazz with an electronic tinge. “Production-wise I’m experimenting with the concept of space; bringing together my favourite sounds from around the world and the universe and merging them with UK roots”, he explains. 

Born and bred in the UK’s second capital Birmingham, Hemai grew up around jazz culture, music and live musicians, taking influence from the likes of Herbie Hancock, The Gilberto’s and D’Angelo to modern day acts like Zero7 and Corinne Bailey Rae.

His 2019 debut EP “Eyes, Closed” received upfront support from Gilles Peterson, Erica McKoy and Papaoul (Worldwide FM) and from his home station BBC Radio West Midlands. The release was closely followed by Hemai’s official remix of Oscar Jerome’s “Gravitate” and being titled one to watch by BBC Introducing’s Jaguar on her Hot List 2020, cementing the now London-based artist’s place in the thriving UK jazz and electronic scene.

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Exclusive Premiere: Bodo Maier "Eclipse" (Hemai Remix)

Sweater Funk 11-23-14 Guest Set - Seth from KUSP's Sweet Power

🎛️ “Feel the vibe? Spread it! ‘Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination.”


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THE SUN IS OURS

Grafenberg’s debut full-length No Saints, No Proof is a hallucinatory collision of Anatolian psychedelia, dark electronic ritual, and surf-noir energy.
Ten tracks unravel like a midnight drive through shifting mirages: fuzz-saturated strings, trembling synths, hypnotic motorik drums, and a deep female voice bending between whispers and fire.

It is an album about memory and resistance — how glitches, ghosts, and fractured signals can become sacred. Ritual mantras (“Order Eats the Sun”, “Loom of Wires”) sit alongside spectral ballads (“Tape Ghost Mirage”, “VHS Desert Prayer”) and driving nocturnal anthems (“Motor Moon Communion”).

The sound is tactile, imperfect, and alive: warm compression, tape-delay halos, lo-fi grain.
For listeners of Gaye Su Akyol, Altın Gün, Tame Impala, and anyone seeking a darker, cinematic edge to psychedelic electronic music.

VHS Desert Prayer

Origins, Now & My Future

I'm Walking Away

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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...

MF Robots - Gold

BBE Music

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