Off the back of his double album release Max Essa has released his first single from the first of the 2 albums, Won Ton Sunrise has returned from its orbit around the earth for another appearance. Opening up the single we have the 12" mix of Won Ton Sunrise, still as majestic as the first time it graced your ears it now has some added subtleties and soft hearted progressive flicks remind you of what you experienced the first time you came across the album.

The release features a double hitter on the remixes from the duo of Kim & Buran, 'Sunseeker' and 'Moonseeker' edits provide you with a double perception into this up and coming duo. The 'Sunseeker' mix emits warming vibes from gentle pads and building on euphoric undertones for a wholesome beginning. The 'Moonseeker' mix goes into more cyber style realms, minimalist drums contrasted against massively extended pad sounds create the audible image of a journey into the darkness of space heading straight to the moon.

The final remix comes from the Russian Nu Disco group of Easy M, the group having been a great success over at Nang Records, we we're excited to have them put some work out for us. Their remix has created a stronger percussive blend with chunky rhythms overs progressive synth elements. A brilliant twist on the subtle ambience of Mr Essa.

Won Ton Sunrise (12” Version)

Won Ton Sunrise (Kim and Buran Sunseeker Remix)

Won Ton Sunrise (Kim and Buran Moonseeker Remix)

Won Ton Sunrise (Easy M Remix)

It is with great pleasure from us here at Bearfunk that we can return to you avid listeners the funk driven maestros that are The Bank. The trio return to us with the first single from 'Upper Class' - 'Lagos Tahoe'. If you are a fan of their last album (and we know there were a lot of you!) then you know of the gentle brilliance that Lagos Tahoe delivered and this single will not disappoint. Featuring remixes from Leftside Wobble, Al Kent, Frank Agrario and Mushrooms Project it has already shaped up into a corker of a release.

The original mix kicks off with melodic patterns carefully deciphered harmonies that stimulate the mind as much as the ears. The dub-like rolling bass riff is contrasted by those flicks of afro edged guitar and you're reminded all over again as to why you love The Bank.

The Leftside Wobble remix is a more full bodied, clubby affair. Exemplfying that catchy riff, you are carried by the organic flow as twinges of acid synth drop in from over head and deliver the twisted potential every good wobble should come with. Al Kent - A disco legend from the north has brought an up rated 'kick up the backside' remix, with its powerfull textures and encompassing vibe this remix has summer time party written all over it.

Frank Agrario (one third of The Bank) has gone for the 'strip it back and reconstruct' tactics with his remix, utilising some of the less prominent sounds and driving them forward with a new funky bass line, this remix is a great twist in the tale to this solid release. Mushrooms Project are old friends of Bearfunk and it is always exciting to have them up for remix duty, their remix goes deep and cosmic and creates yet another twist for the single, progressive synths crossed with the hints of afro grow and swirl together throughout the mix and really put you on the final run home for this brilliant single. 

Lagos Tahoe (Original)

Lagos Tahoe (Al Kent Remix)

Lagos Tahoe (Frank Agrario Remix)

Just because we love them (and why not?), we've decided to release a brace of Max Essa jams. Taken from his most recent Bearfunk album outing 'Won Ton Sunset', 'Coast To Coast (Heading East)' is a slick motor-highway boogie track, with slinky guitar licks, bounding drums and smooth pad tones. Disco Doubles flip the vibe with their Kosmiche rendition, Motorik drums bump under the gritty synths and sunburst guitar plucks to create more of a midnight drive than a sunlit cruise if you get the drift. 

Coast to Coast (Heading East)

Coast to Coast (Disco Doubles Remix)

The Beat Broker - Deep Breath (The Gemini Brothers Remix)

The Beat Broker - Deep Breath

Clips from The Beat Brokers most latest release here at Bearfunk Records.

The Beat Broker - Hold Your Horses [CLIP]

The Beat Broker - Come Back To Me [CLIP]

OUT NOW : https://ffm.to/bfklp036

We're thrilled to announce the return of Tobor Experiment, the visionary musical project led by the enigmatic Giorgio Sancristoforo, to the Bearfunk fold. After a twelve-year hiatus, Tobor Experiment emerges from the shadows with their second LP, "Available Forms". Picture the ethereal ambiance of a dimly lit jazz club colliding with the futuristic vibrations of a 1970s sci-fi TV show, and you'll begin to grasp the sonic experience that awaits. Giorgio draws on a whole host of musical inspirations, from the name checked Tim Gane & Letitia Sadier to the moog pioneers Claude Denjean & Jean Jaques Perrey. With the moogsploration of contemporary jazz Tobor Experiment invites listeners on an extraordinary musical odyssey where jazz meets electronica meets nu-disco.

Prepare to be captivated from the very first note of the infectious opener, "Lowpass Risotto" as Tobor Experiment masterfully combines familiar elements with their unique artistic vision. Resonating with undertones reminiscent of the timeless classic "Take Five" the track immediately grabs your attention. While the familiar drum shuffle sets a comforting foundation, Tobor Experiment takes an unexpected twist by infusing the composition with squelchy Moog lines and captivating hollow body guitar solos. The result is a harmonious blend of nostalgia and innovation that transports you to an entirely new sonic realm.

Continuing the journey, the mesmerizing 6/8 rhythm of "Up!" pays homage to the iconic sounds of Stereolab while showcasing Tobor Experiment's innovative spirit. As enchanting synth pads weave through the air, you find yourself immersed in a dream-like state, carried away by the hypnotic shifting patterns of the bass and drums.

With "Astounding Stories" Tobor Experiment returns to the energetic vibes of the album opener, inviting you to surrender to a sonic tapestry rich with musical exchanges. In traditional jazz style we receive solo's from all parties. Each instrument adding its unique voice to the narrative, creating a dynamic and engaging musical conversation.

As the album progresses, "Moonscape Dust" emerges, drawing inspiration from the atmospheric brilliance of "Low." This track serves as a portal to an otherworldly sonic landscape where time and space lose their hold. Here, organic drums step aside, making way for a low-fi drum pattern that lays the foundation for ethereal synth pads. The composition invites you to explore the depths of your imagination, transcending earthly boundaries and allowing you to float in an immersive soundscape.

The album's closing track, "Monsters" has an air of "Air" about it... the ethereal synths beckon you to surrender to the weightlessness of space, just allow yourself to be carried away by the infectious rhythms, intricate melodies, and atmospheric textures that shape this extraordinary musical journey.

Each track on "Available Forms" showcases Tobor Experiment's exceptional ability to transcend musical boundaries, creating a genre-bending album that defies all expectations. From start to finish, the soundscape presented is a testament to Tobor's relentless pursuit of musical innovation. Each composition is a fusion of diverse elements, seamlessly blending organic instruments and electronic textures in a way that challenges traditional genre classifications.

The AI-generated artwork serves as a portal to an alternate dimension. Paying homage to the retro-futuristic aesthetic of 1970s science fiction TV shows, it captures the essence of the album's fusion between organic and electronic realms.

Tobor Experiment - Monsters [CLIP]

Tobor Experiment - Moonscape Dust [CLIP]

Tobor Experiment - That Synth Of Yours [CLIP]

Tobor Experiment - Signal From Planet Meta [CLIP]

Tobor Experiment - Astounding Stories [CLIP]

Tobor Experiment - Up [CLIP]

Tobor Experiment - Halgatron [CLIP]

Tobor Experiment - Venus Modularistic Riff [CLIP]

Tobor Experiment - Lowpass Risotto [CLIP]

Bottin's forthcoming EP on Bearfunk, out on the 24th of November on vinyl and digital! 

02 - Bottin & Rodion - Progresso

01 - Bottin - Parody

RELEASE DATE:  8th April 2016
FORMAT: 12" Vinyl


Here at Bearfunk we have been pretty busy as of late... it was a casual visit to Geneva just like any other.  We had just finished a buzzing set and soon after we found ourselves talking to a five bearded academic types.  It turns out they were a bunch of theoretical physicists out on a cosmologists night out.  They work them hard at CERN and that day the Large Hadron Collector had been a real beast... rebooting five times before lunch.  They were pissed off and needed a new challenge.  We offered them a job on the spot and they promptly moved to our London HQ working on a wage of tea, vinyl and Nandos. We set them a challenge... Build us a time machine! They started soaking up all those Bearfunk-groove-boson particles and… you know what? They did it!!   A Time machine of our own.

Our first task, jump back in time to 1985 and retrieve us something really cool.  Set controls to the Manhattan office to Celluloid Records.  Fresh from their hit with Herbie Hancocks "Rockit", spearheading rap with Fab Five Freddys "Change The Beat" and Afrika Bambata stompers the legendary label is preparing to release the debut album from NYC-Paris émigré Lord Funk.  

The album is prepped and ready to go with a release date.   It's a cornucopia of mid 80s sounds.  Disco,  Hip Hop, Rare Groove,  Deep Boogie and foot-tapping funk. We manage to hijack a shipment of the records on the way from the plant to the record distributors and bring them back to 2016.   We are ecstatic but Celluloid Records are furious.   Celluloid never gets to release the record and its existence slips into music legend.   We however find ourselves in the 2016 future sitting on a stack of LPs which represent one cool sound from 1985.  Surely just what time machines were invented for.

Alas this story doesn't have a happy ending.  As we were beaming the last batch of master tapes... the ones containing the  Larry Levan remix of Bad Day and the Jean-Michel Basquiat artwork for the album sleeve... things went terribly wrong. A stray chicken bone fell into the spacetime-continuum-field-generator and our beloved time machine imploded, never to be seen again.  The remaining mixes and artwork were lost too.  However it’s not all bad as we at least had the batch of vinyl of the Global Warming LPs.   Which we proudly present you, new sleeve and all, for sale in 2016.

Lord Funk - Global Warming Teazzza [BFKLP032]

Soiree are back with another slice synergy that only these devoted individuals could make. The Soiree sound is a gumbo of flavours bonded together with a “let’s have fun” production ethos. Max Essa and Stevie Kotey created the Soiree project to write quirky yet funky songs which show their love of experimentation.

The work of Kotey has been injected into Bearfunk from its early conception in 2002 and in Max you will find a man at the top of his game with remixes and productions for a plethora of artists and labels. Their first LP Zim Zim Zah Zah had a more instrumental approach but there was one track called “Day to day life” which utilised Max’s singer songwriter prowess so Stevie pushed max to sing a little more for this new work.

We open with “We Gotta Move It On” is an audacious attempt at recreating the summery vibes of Ibiza circa 1983. “Know The Love” is a full speed ahead disco song where Max let’s his love know that he would do anything to be with her! “I’m Superman” shows the versatility that Soiree possess by infusing drum machines and guitar’s that Rick Parfitt would be proud of too create an intense new wave number! 

“Let’s Play Tennis” The lead song is simply about playing one of Soiree’s favourite past times, Max & Stevie actually met playing tennis Max helped Stevie with his serve and Stevie helped Max with his backhand, listen to the song and you know how it important this is. 

“Eggs” is all about the deepness! Dark, mysterious violins courtesy of two players called Andrei & Bogdan from downtown Bucharest. Stevie gets his drum machine out again to add the spice.   “Ramallah Calling” is the belly dancing disco that will knock you down with one punch! Stevie & Max recall a trip to the ancient city Ramallah where they took part in tennis festival in 1991.   

“Walking On The Moon” yes Soiree has made a cover of the famous Police song. Listen to this masterpiece and feel the emotion, feel the love!  They guys leave us with another version of “let’s Play Tennis” which at this point should have to feeling all warm and satisfied. This LP is a must.


We Gotta Move It On

Let's Play Tennis (Full Backhand)

RELEASED : July 19th 2019

Rikky Disco was born during the summer of 2018 when Chris Tall &  Fanacy met through their mutual manager Rikky. They both liked him so much that they named their band after him.   Chris Tall from Stockholm is a disco fanatic who selected his  artist name based on his notable height. Chris is a time traveller and delights in manoeuvres throughout time and  space to dig out cherished dance music memories, blending them with  today's rhythm, making honest, bouncy and darn right funky music.  The other half of Rikky Disco is Fanacy who  coined her artist name based on an expression that she made up which refers to the drives in her creative universe: "FANACY: A feeling of unbridled thirst for passion, flow and fantasy. A state in which the being seems to be engulfed in a whirlpool of lust".    Fanacy is also Swedish, but spends a lot of her time writing in France, a place she loves.  She also loves French disco vibes which via osmosis have been deeply embedded into her sound.

'Getting High' is the debut single from Rikky Disco.  A long-awaited and uplifting Nu-Disco track which is positively awash with waves of groove and euphoria. This track is led with swing and rhythm boasts a flow that is almost impossible not to tap your toe to.    Big rolling pianos, snappy drums and catchy hook lines are the order of the day.      Lining up on the remix tip is a global cadre of fine operators.  First up from Russia is Kim and Buran who contribute two versions.   First up is their angular and synthy 'Electrohigh' version.  Secondly they also deploy their slow and groovy 'Discohigh' remix, which slows the pace down a tad, brings in some elastic bass guitar groove and laid-back, disco sensibility. 

Next up is Slovenian based Ichisan who breaks out the analog synths with his dance-floor, electronic stomper.   One Era breaks down into the funk with his re-work.  Snaking keyboard lines and bass guitar driven  treat.   Stay tuned for more Rikky coming soon to discotheque near you.

Rikky Disco - Getting High (Kim & Buran Electrohigh Remix) [CLIP]

OUT NOW: www.bearfunk.com/bfk069.html

Rikky Disco was born during the summer of 2018 when Chris Tall &  Fanacy met through their mutual manager Rikky. They both liked him so much that they named their band after him.   Chris Tall from Stockholm is a disco fanatic who selected his  artist name based on his notable height. Chris is a time traveller and delights in manoeuvres throughout time and  space to dig out cherished dance music memories, blending them with  today's rhythm, making honest, bouncy and darn right funky music.  The other half of Rikky Disco is Fanacy who  coined her artist name based on an expression that she made up which refers to the drives in her creative universe: "FANACY: A feeling of unbridled thirst for passion, flow and fantasy. A state in which the being seems to be engulfed in a whirlpool of lust".    Fanacy is also Swedish, but spends a lot of her time writing in France, a place she loves.  She also loves French disco vibes which via osmosis have been deeply embedded into her sound.

'Getting High' is the debut single from Rikky Disco.  A long-awaited and uplifting Nu-Disco track which is positively awash with waves of groove and euphoria. This track is led with swing and rhythm boasts a flow that is almost impossible not to tap your toe to.    Big rolling pianos, snappy drums and catchy hook lines are the order of the day.      Lining up on the remix tip is a global cadre of fine operators.  First up from Russia is Kim and Buran who contribute two versions.   First up is their angular and synthy 'Electrohigh' version.  Secondly they also deploy their slow and groovy 'Discohigh' remix, which slows the pace down a tad, brings in some elastic bass guitar groove and laid-back, disco sensibility. 

Next up is Slovenian based Ichisan who breaks out the analog synths with his dance-floor, electronic stomper.   One Era breaks down into the funk with his re-work.  Snaking keyboard lines and bass guitar driven  treat.   Stay tuned for more Rikky coming soon to discotheque near you.

Rikky Disco - Getting High (Kim & Buran Discohigh Remix) [CLIP]

Rikky Disco - Getting High (One Era Remix) [CLIP]

Rikky Disco - Getting High (Ichisan Boogie Mix) [CLIP]

Rikky Disco - Getting High [CLIP]

Proprietors of eccentric disco and the finest edits, circa 2002.  

Currently featuring:

Altz
Arturo Capone
Bottin
Chicken Lips
The Diaphanoids
Fabrizio Mammarella
Foolish And Sly
Hans-Peter Lindstrom
Idjut Boys
DJ Kent
Max Essa
Stevie Kotey
Todd Terje
Visti and Meyland

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