Review: Bad Colours - Promise (Bastard Jazz Recordings)

Much like the label itself, indeed the label's name, Bad Colours' 4th album is a further refining genre warping into 15 new tracks that fits the dancefloor and headphones; I promise!

Fans of Bad Colours won't be surprised to hear that his own fans are supporting this album as we've got Cor.Ece ('The Stranger'), Marcus Harmon ('Now Or Never' and 'Take My Lovin'), Julieanna Marie ('Kiss'), Ninjasonik ('Freaks'), Jarv Dee ('Nightcap'), Life On Planets ('We Never Choose'), KAS ('Speed') and Brandon Markell Holmes ('Moment Of Silence').

The appearance of Brandon Markell Holmes (as seen on Disko Cowboy - see review HERE) makes any record stand-out in our books and he does it again on 'Moment Of Silence'.  Which thankfully isn't silent at all and stands up to previous single, 'Speed' (but not a pacey), the flute-gang friendly as 'Now Or Never' or the ironically entitled, 'Static'.   

Just to emphasise, for the avoidance of doubt, 'Moment Of Silence' is special and is very Brandon Markell Holmes!  

And that's the first thing you notice on this album, the hip-hop/rap tracks, or tracks with rapping on, are not exactly hip-hop so much that they don't fit in with the rest of the album, so that 'Nightcap' includes some non-radio type lyrics and 'Freaks' with a strong adult theme; whilst 'Kiss' (with a very sharp edit) and 'Take My Lovin' falling between the two extremes .

Such that in very sharp contrast, the title track that features UK harpist Rachel Kitchlew (which echoes Alina Bzhezhinska's 'Fire' - see review HERE) and it's a shame it's not a longer track and her brief appearance at the end of the closing track, 'Take My Lovin' is a bit of tease.  But speed is a big element of these 15 tracks with only 2 tracks clocking in a just under 122bpm; 'We Never Choose' peaking at 127!  And you'd never think a Jill Scott 'tribute' like 'Home' would race along the railtracks like this one or the F1, 'Static'.

A 'deluxe edition' of the album would be cool with some instrumentals and a non-vocoder 'Safe & Sound' and 'Underwater' mix but if fast'n'chugging dance rap Brooklyn style is your thing, get under orders, the race is on!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://ffm.to/promiselp.HGW US + separate UK/EU/ROW distribution

Artist: Bad Colours

Title:Promise

Release date: 7th November, 2025

Label : Bastard Jazz Recordings

Catalog Number :  TBC

Format: Vinyl (pre-order) / Digital / Bandcamp