New Album 'Curiosities' Available November 12
<a href="https://bastardjazz.bandcamp.com/album/curiosities">BUY ALBUM</a> (CD, Vinyl, Digital)
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/curiosities/id732812842">BUY ON iTUNES</a>

Bastard Jazz Recordings is proud to present the sophomore album Curiosities by New Zealand multi- instrumentalist and producer Lord Echo (aka Mike Fabs). An enticing sonic excursion that effortlessly transcends genre and geography, the release finds Echo flexing his dual-mastery of 60's production techniques and modern dancefloor aesthetics, while also highlighting the vocal prowess of his soulful compatriots through a flowing blend of boogie-laced Funk, disco-primed Dub, futuristic Soul, and timeless African rhythms.

Fabs, known worldwide for his production work with NZ’s biggest Reggae export The Black Seeds, drew a groundswell of excitement around his debut solo album Melodies in late 2010. The independent release became a cult classic strictly through word-of-mouth, championed by tastemakers like Gilles Peterson (who played it repeatedly on his BBC Radio 1 show), Oliver Wang (Soulsides) and Richard Dorfmeister. Re-issues of the album soon followed in Japan and Europe, with vinyl copies quickly becoming a hot commodity among discerning collectors around the globe. Echo was introduced to Bastard Jazz’s DJ DRM in 2011 (via Detroit producer Recloose), and a limited 7” vinyl release on the Brooklyn-based imprint soon followed in 2012, precipitating this full length release with the label.

Curiosities picks up right where Melodies left off, with the sun-drenched psychedelic dub sounds of tracks like “Bohemian Idol” (featuring vocals by Toby Laing of Fat Freddy's Drop), and the jerky funk vibes of cuts like “Digital Haircut” and “Street Knowledge”. The album provides a wealth of DJ fodder, with forward thinking 70s-inspired disco tunes such as “Molten Lava” (featuring the soaring vocals of Leila Adu), as well as analog Afro-infused burners like “What Is That Feeling” and “Put It In My Head” (complemented by the golden-voiced Mara TK of Electric Wire Hustle fame). Down-home spiritual jazz/electronic meanderings ("Ghost Hands", “Arabesque”) provide a counterpoint to Echo's driving cover-version of the Pharoah Sanders & Leon Thomas classic “The Creator Has a Master Plan”. His inspiring take on the track is uplifted by the soulful singing of Lisa Tomlins (who's notable vocals on Echo’s rendition of Sister Sledge’s “Thinking Of You” made it a standout hit from his Melodies album).

The finely-tuned collaborations throughout Curiosities underscore Lord Echo's pivotal position in the thriving New Zealand music scene. "I generally only work with people I know quite well personally", says Echo humbly. That personal and organic approach to creating his music is revealed as the album unfolds, layer by delectable layer. "I made this record primarily with DJs in mind," he continues. "They are generally people who really love music and are often obsessed with various aspects of it. I'm not making music for people for whom it's just some background noise in their lives, I'm making music for people for whom it IS their lives. And for better or worse, I guess I am one of those people."

A diverse, yet grounded LP chock full of head-turning sounds, Curiosities further pushes Lord Echo’s repertoire into the realm of the inimitable, and is sure to pique the interest of discerning music lovers from down-under to the big apple.

Buy on iTunes

Lord Echo feat. Lisa Tomlins - The Creator Has A Master Plan

Hawaiian funk rare groove from the Home Grown II LP, released on KKUA Records in Hawaii, 1977.

Nohelani Cypriano -Lihue-

Vinyl rip from "Non-Sequitur Segues" bonus picture disc included with the deluxe vinyl of Dedicated to Bobby Jameson, plus two tracks from the Another Weekend 7" and the digital version of the album

Ariel Pink - Non-Sequitur Segues +1 More

GODTET- ENUMERATING Sunmix.m4a

Dance, Dance, what am I doing?

LP/CD/Tape/Digital https://hailumergia.bandcamp.com/album/wede-harer-guzo

Hailu Mergia & Dahlak Band — Anchin Kfu Ayinkash

Dorothy Ashby - Little Sunflower (Flamingosis's Flip)

Stefano Torossi - Running Fast

Live from the Brownswood Basement.

- Brownswood Recordings : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-dbAMT_ZkZlByJge49qlfA

Kokoroko - Uman (Brownswood Basement Session)

Today's premiere comes from Brownswood KOKOROKO and their rhythmic track 'Adwa'. 

The band’s name is an Orobo – a Nigerian tribe and language – word meaning ‘be strong’. Sonically living up to their name, Kokoroko are an all star band featuring leading lights from the London jazz community. Powered by seismic horn section (Maurice Grey, saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi, trombonist Richie Seivewright), guitar (Oscar Jerome), keys (Yohan Kebede), drums (Ayo Salawu) and percussion (Onome Ighmare); Kokoroko are on a mission to fashion new languages using the medium of afrobeat.

Adwa opens deep-ridge grooves. Drawing from the syncopated funk of Ethio-jazz, it takes its name from the Ethiopian city of the same name. Composed by keyboardist Yohan Kebede, the victorious spirit of the track is a meditation not only on the infamous Battle of Adwa, but of the way societies evolve in the aftermath of conflict.

To buy the full EP check out their Bandcamp here: 
https://kokoroko.bandcamp.com/

Premiere: KOKOROKO 'Adwa'

It's grail time! Kalita are honoured to officially release for Record Store Day 2020 (29th August!) for the first time since 1983 Marcy Luarks & Classic Touch's mythical American-Nigerian Afro boogie masterpiece 'Electric Murder', accompanied by extensive liner notes based on interviews with Marcy's family and producer Daniel Irabor.

The product of the then husband and wife team of Marcy and Dan, 'Electric Murder' brought together both the former's American and the latter's Nigerian roots; recorded in London with UK-based session musicians, this mix of heritage and styles resulted in an Afro disco album unlike any other.

With original copies turning up for sale roughly once every few years, and with an eye-watering four-figure price tag to match, Kalita for this year's Record Store Day saves you the never-ending search for this true holy grail.

Released on black vinyl, with printed insert detailing Marcy's life and musical career.

Electric Murder

Buy here!

A3. Marcy Luarks & Classic Touch - Electric Murder

Stop and look around, you might just miss it .

GODTET- ENUMERATING Sunmix.m4a

cokecan

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