Review: Ori Kaplan & Lihu Melamed - Reverie (Batov Records)

This is not 'A Forest' but a deep delve into a jazz/OST 'Reverie' by new best friends Ori Kaplan an Lihu Melamed on Batov Records!

 

A neat follow up to Batov Records' last two released albums; Bolbec's' 'Foutu Félin' (see review HERE), Kronstad 23's 'Dødehavet' (see review HERE), here's another in the leftfield jazzy, cinematic, libarary, glboal, folky psych!

Not surprising really as Ori Kaplan (a founding member of Balkan Beat Box and collaborator of Gogol Bordello) joins forces with engineer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Lihu Melamed for the debut album, 'Reverie'.

The cinematic elements come from "unhurried grooves" and "modal strings" whilst the jazz is where the tracks are lead by  baritone sax and flutey winds that can get you into late-night clubs, folky weddings and more that's been said to range form "Morricone desert soundtracks and Nino Rota's Rome to Mingus, Yusef Lateef, Klezmer modes, Middle Eastern textures and the psychedelic sweep of King Crimson and The Doors".    

'Amber' (featuring Itamar Zieger)' and 'Obelisk' are perhaps typical as it taps on many of the above but it turns out this combo came out of sessions for Balkan Beat Box's sixth album and includes drummer Tamir Muskat and contributions from Kaplan's own children and partner.

I wonder if there's any plans for a project with Kronstad 23 for a full Scandiavian forest whcih might be too much; but check out the cover image - shades of Edward Woodward/Britt Ekland in the original version of 'The Wicker Man'?  

Don't be scared off by the cover, this is a beautiful 11 track experience for any lost souls looking to be found (the track 'Lost Soul' features Yaron Ouzana on trombone).

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Reverie | Ori Kaplan & Lihu Melamed

Artist: Ori Kaplan & Lihu Melamed

Title:  Reverie

Release date: 12th June, 2026

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR134

Format:  LP vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Kronstad 23 - Dødehavet (Batov Records)

Kronstad 23 are Norwegian  friends who sound like Jerry Garcia and Coco Chatru on the edge of a wood, fjord, beach, naturalist camp with a perfectly 8-track album of Scandi-cool, 'Dødehavet' !

 

Batov Records have already treated us to Bolbec's' 'Foutu Félin' (see review HERE) earlier this month and end it with this "richly cinematic collection of instrumental music that feels less like a record and more like an imaginary film" that's jazzy, libarary, psych rock with a smattering of Scandinavian folk, global influeneces and summer heat!

They recorded the tracks live to tape at keys player Øyvind Arnodd Vie Berg's Bergen home studio, most tracks were captured in one or two takes using a 50-year-old console and tape recorder, with no post-production intervention - perhaps that's why it's got a Grateful Dead 'live' vibe..

The group's first two albums drew praise from Record Collector, Prog Magazine and Sweden's Lira; Dødehavet marks a step further into collective propulsion and rhythm, with jazz, soul, folk, Afrobeat and raga merging into what the band describe as a single, unforced language.

Tracks range from gospel-tinged soul ('Menigheten') and Latin-inflected rock ('Stratosfæren') to heavy Afrobeat ('Høytrykk) and modal jazz ('Bolverk'), all unified by a loose, improvisational feel rooted in collective instinct over rehearsal.

It is a tour de force and super cool, let it all hang out and be free.... but not too free.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Dødehavet | Kronstad 23

Artist: Kronstad 23

Title:  Dødehavet 

Release date: 29th May, 2026

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR137

Format:  LP vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Bolbec - Foutu Félin (Batov Records)

Childhood friends and multi-instrumentalists both, Axel Concato and Barth Corbelet are back with another fantastic album crammed with your favourite influences with 'Foutu Félin' and there's more than a bit of musical fun in there too!

Bolbec's' album ;Victime De l'aube' was deep in the OST world of Piero Piccioni, Michel Legrand or Jonny Trunk's favourite, Basil Kirchin with a more than healthy dollop of library (see review HERE).

I can't say 'Foutu Félin' takes us further than 'Feuille D'orage' in that you can can still find a bossa theme next to a 60s gangster jazz noir (in a bathroom!) which in diggers terms is still "worth the price of the album" on its own.

In fact, we're told it's "richly cinematic collection of instrumental music that feels less like a record and more like an imaginary film — one where melody, harmony and rhythm take centre stage in deliberate contrast to the texture-obsessed trends of contemporary scoring."

Like a lost John Barry?   And there's some great flute-gang vibes going on, like 'En Voiture' as a hip-hop beats blues walk; could Dingwalls eventually have a Backroom? This would be where you'd find me totally chilled with 'Le Fou-Rire' along with 'Fanny au Phare''s trumpet!

 

And perhaps it's because these 10 track have a strong sense of française from ya overflowing 'Café Frappé' to 'Terrassée' it still sounds so familiar yet it's new!  And it's no surprise that it's this good as he duo are again supported by Ben Lamdin and Nostalgia 77 (still love 'The Lonliest Flower In The Village; see review HERE).

Batov Records 'traditional' Middle Eastern Grooves (see review HERE) and if you have had enough of dusty Bruton / KPM / Chappell and the like, swing onto this is the must summer album.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Foutu Félin | Bolbec

Artist: Bolbec

Title:  Foutu Félin 

Release date: 8th May, 2026

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR136

Format:  LP vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Sababa 5 - Ça Va Ça Va (Batov Records)

Sababa 5 are back with a new album 'Çeva Va Ça Va' and it's exactly what you want to hear from them; Middle Eastern global funk! 

The nine tracks on the album are mostly celebrations you'd hear and a wedding for total get up and dance events all but two written by the band: the two key exceptions being 'Ypárcho' (I Exist), "a beautiful instrumental journey inspired by a classic Greek song traditionally performed by Stelios Kazantzidis" and 'Asunsan' "an instrumental flip of the much-loved Sababa 5 collaboration 'Nasnusa' with Yurika Hanashima" (that we first heard on 'Kokoro' - see review HERE). 

Fans of twangy surf guitars and mod organs will be super excited to have the band back to the bands' "a melting pot of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean sounds, layered with psych-soaked guitars, cosmic synths and heavy, driving grooves. A pure dose of party energy and nostalgia". 

There's a Bandcamp listening party tomorrow night, 18th February, 8.00 GMT or the full release on Friday.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER:Ça va Ça va | Sababa 5

Artist: Sababa 5 

Title: Ça Va Ça Va

Release date: 20th February, 2026

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: TBC

Format: LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Guitar - Ilan Smilan
Bass - Amir Sadot
Keys - Eitan Drabkin
Drums - Itamar Weinstein

Review: Shay Hazan - When It Rains It Pours (Batov Records)

Bassist, composer and producer Shay Hazan returns with his third solo album, ‘When It Rains It Pours’ on Batov Records where we find a shift away from previous global, jazz, funk and spiritual sounds to different global, jazz, funk and spiritual sounds!

If you can image Shay Hazan's last album 'Wusul' (Arabic for 'arrival' - see review HERE) being remixed and re-produced by Carlos Niño, Flying Lotus, Tinariwen all at the same time as this multi-instrumentalist works his magical synths and percussion into 11 new tracks. 

With the key players of the last album Eyal Netzer (tenor sax) on three tracks and Shahar Haziza (drums) on 'Embrace', Ziv Taubenfeld (bass clarinet) on another three tracks plus Roy Zuzovsky (trumpet) and Abate Berihum (vocals) both on the opener 'Kolot' the sound is similar whilst There seems to have been a move away from the Mulatu afro-jazz groove and less show-off twangy guitar ('Move On') but there's more than one stand-out track here as '4-8' lights up the jazz-dance and the global-hip-hop-rock of 'It Pours' and 'Haziza Has Got The Juice'.

It'll be a harsh critic to say the move from double bass to electric bass and no guimbri due Shay's developing joint issues has been a happy accident and you'll remember that the last album drew comparisions with Rejoicer and Nitai Hershkovits' 'Cinema Royal' (see review HERE) and you know what they say, "When It Rains It Pours" and in terms of this album, it sounds like its all for the good rather than bad.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: (very limited vinyl release of 500): When It Rains It Pours | Shay Hazan.

Artist: Shay Hazan 

Title: When It Rains It Pours

Release date: 5th December, 2025

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR130

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

 

Review: Eje Eje - Primordial Soup (Batov Records)

Talking about going back to your roots, Batov Records find the 'Primordial Soup' with their latest release, the latest album by Eje Eje (aka Itamar Kluger).

The album follows 'Five Seasons' from a couple of years ago (see review HERE) and it's more high quality Middle Eastern psych funk folky global grooves

Crossing some Door goth into their psych rock funk with some Turkish trad folk, this is incredible as Kluger plays most to the instruments himself.

We're told the album was "Inspired by the scientific theory of life's origins, the album is a 'primal fusion' of contrasting elements -traditional instrumentation meets beat-driven textures in an imaginative and emotionally charged soundscape" and I don't doubt it.

WOMAD is back next year, let's keep the campaign for a whole Batov Records Stage; wouldn't that be great!

Artist: Eje Eje

Title: Primordial Soup

Release date: 3rd October, 2025

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR127

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: La Chooma - Local Spirits (Batov Records)

Psychedelic dub meets Afro-Latin grooves on La Chooma’s hypnotic debut for Batov Records - blending Moroccan Gnawa, Colombian cumbia, Afrobeat, Jamaican dub, and cosmic jazz into deep, dancefloor-rooted compositions.

The six-piece ensemble has grown from a local trio into a dynamic live force, known for energetic and authentic performances. Their sound fuses Afrobeat, dub, and global influences from North and West Africa to Colombia and Cuba, creating a rich, borderless vibe

With a spiritual core and expansive sound, La Chooma recalls the exploratory spirit of Count Ossie, Idris Ackamoor, and The Comet Is Coming, connecting global traditions through rhythm, soul, and psychedelia

Highlights include the Ethio-dub noir of 'High Grow', the cosmic synth-funk of 'Lonely', and 'Cozumel', where Afro-Latin rhythms and Egyptian flute melodies meet on a cinematic ascent.

All we need is a Mad Professor dub and it's totally out-there!

Artist: La Chooma 

Title:  Local Spirits

Release date: 5th September, 2025

Label : Batov Records

Catalog Number : BTR125

Format: LP Vinyl /  Digital / Bandcamp   

Alon Carmelly - Upright bass & Kawala Flute
Ella Greenbaum - Karkab & Percussion
Shimon Greenstein - Congas
Noam Cherchie - Drums
Yoav Dolev Hashiloni - Synths and Effects
Asaf Smilan - additional Drums on Huachuma and Percussion on Praise

Review - Jiri Jiri - Give Me Disco - Vol. 1 (Curated by DJ Kobayashi) (Batov Records)

What is this summer of heatwaves missing?  Of course, the first in a new series of 12" releases of "pan-European disco and Neapolitan funk" curate by Batov Records head honcho and king of the B-sides (in Soho), DJ Kobayashi.

Jiri Jiri, formed by members of Muito Kaballa and YĪN YĪN, have a Afro-disco synch boogie for 70s Italo Balearics on a sun drenched euro-Studio 54.   The vocals are a bit Euro Hall & Oats etc which is always on point but the instrumental Lumo Luvva is modern warp (in a hot way) of Southern Freez / Shakatak jazz-funk.

Condensing Euro Nettuno & Bruno Belissimo's 'Bruno Boogie' (see review HERE) and Gabriele Poso's 'Ritmo Italiano' 'Unspoken Sounds of Italian Tamburo' compilation (see review HERE), this is going to be a series you'll want to collect and play out.

Artist: Jiri Jiri

Title:  Give Me Disco - Vol. 1

Release date: 18th July, 2025

Label : Batov Records

Catalog Number : BTR124

Format: 12" Vinyl /  Digital / Bandcamp   

Review: Sababa 5 - Nadir (Batov Records)

Nadir's big chance as Sababa 5 new album is released that is more of a album perhaps than previous releases as we learn that, "The title, Nadir, is an astronomical term referring to the point on the celestial sphere directly beneath an observer, diametrically opposite the zenith" so it's more than just a name of a Peter Hammill album! 

Unlike some of the recent collaborations with singers from arounnd the middle-eastern psych-funk diaspora, (including Sophia Solomon and the album with Yurika, 'Kokoro', see review HERE), these 11 tracks have more of a summer heatwave of a chilled OST; especially, 'Zenith', '2025' and 'Tell' with an undercurrent of The Heliocentrics, JJ Whitefield and the likes.  

There's a Bandcamp listening party tonight, 3rd July, 7.00 GMT+1 or the full release tomorrow.

Artist: Sababa 5 

Title: Nadir

Release date: 4th July, 2025

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: TBC

Format: LP Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Guitar - Ilan Smilan
Bass - Amir Sadot
Keys - Eitan Drabkin
Drums - Itamar Weinstein

Review: Shiran & Bakal - Electro Baghdad - اليكترو بغداد (Batov Records)

Shiran & Bakal's blend of traditional Iraqi songs with analog synths, heavy basslines, and electronic grooves is the magic combination that you didn't know existed, buy your ticket to 'Electro Baghdad'.

Hot on the heels of Ouzo Bazooka's 'Kapaim' a "Middle Eastern surf rock psychedelia, Turkish-funk space-rock" (see review HERE), lets slip down the coast to Baghdad and in a bit (Ed. not exactly 'Google Maps' directions?) and plug-in for some 'Electro Baghdad'!

A project that fits the bill for fans of Acid Arab and Omar Souleyman (the 'part-time wedding singer, the Syrian 'William Onyeabor') and it's trad folk songs that fit a Lawrence Of Arabia soundtrack in the dance tent at Glasto wiht big synths and Shiran's vocals on top.

Singing in Yemenite Arabic, the ablum starts off with a slower love some, 'Sghayiroun' (Little One) but it t doesn't take long to get fully modern production party mode with tradition 'Ah Ya Layla Yumma' (Oh my night mother) becomes the tune 'Electro Hafla' (Arabic party) and 'Eshrab Kasak Wethanna' (Drink Your Glass and Be Happy).

In fact, you could say this is like being invited to the soundtrack of a wedding celebration that you didn't know existed - Songlines, World, WOMAD fans are going to love this; particularly like the space synths, Flute Gang elements and the echo/Pirate Radio/Calling to prayer, disco touches: perhaps their should be full dub album version?

PS. You'll have to be very quick to get your hands on the vinyl.

`    

Artist: Shiran & Bakal 

Title: Electro Baghdad - اليكترو بغداد

Release date: 20th June, 2025

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR

Format: Limited LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Ouzo Bazooka - Kapaim (Batov Records)

Bazook your ouzo shots, this is Ouzo Barooka!

Only having just recovered from the synth wizardry of Romano's debut LP ‘Güle Güle’ (see review HERE), it's time to go even more Batove (Ed. is that possible?)

From the opening of 'Asia', this mostly instrumental album is drenched in Middle Eastern surf rock psychedelia, Turkish-funk space-rock with Egyptian nods to Mulatu Astatke/Sun Ra, The Venures, Stones Throw  and dare I say, Steve Hillage; with funk?

This is a project led by Uri Brauner Kinrot, a multi-instrumentalist who has a long track record of promoting groups and collectives in this area of the Mediterrean; the title track and 'Layla' even makes you think that the fuzzed out guitar could be hip.

'Seeds', that features Kinrot on vocals, encapsulates all that's here and it's catchy even with a brief slip into some "na, na, na nah" vocals at the end and who's been checking out Hawkwinds' 'Space Ritual'? - synth wobble on 'Sufa' plus 'Maagalim' has a great bass solo.

Batov's recent release, Şatellites' 'Aylar' (see review HERE) has been getting much attention on 'the socials' as the kids would tell you but this could easily match it with a funk to disco to beats in the Balkans (Ed. remember Balkan Beat Box? Uri!) and the Middle East.

We're told that this is Ouzo Bazooka's fifth album and it's for "fans of Glass Beams, Derya Yildirim, LA LOM and Oh No (younger brother of Madlib)" but we think there appeal with stretch a long way further with this new album, 'Kapaim'.

PS. You'll have to be very quick to get your hands on the vinyl.

`    

Artist: Ouzo Bazooka 

Title: Kapaim

Release date: 6th June, 2025

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR

Format: Limited LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Romano - Güle Güle (Batov Records)

Romano's album 'Güle Güle' is the madest mix of Mulatu, Herbie Hancock and Joe Meek that you'll ever likely to hear on the Mediterrean camp site disco bar - in other word(s), brilliant!

The synth wizardry of Romano's debut LP ‘Güle Güle’ is more than unique as Lior Romano grew up in a Turkish-Egyptian heritage household, surrounded by music. Turkish and Egyptian, naturally, but also Greek, and the unique fusion of Greek and Arabic sounds common to the culturally diverse neighbourhood he grew up in.

All the tracks are synth funky and happy on any dancefloor along with other Batov favourites (many of which are featured on this site) or next to The Ventures to Sun Ra! 

This album is definitely a sideways look at the Batov's last album release, Şatellites' 'Aylar' (see review HERE) as the album showcases Romano’s rich musical heritage and cutting-edge creativity, building a unique sound worldwide from influences as vast as funk, disco, reggae, to Latin America, the Balkans and particularly the Middle East.

Artist: Romano

Title: Güle Güle 

Release date: 25th Apri, 2025

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR

Format: Limited LP / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Şatellites - Aylar (Batov Records)

At first I thought, a tribute to Albert Ayler?  But no, this is 'Aylar', Turkish for "moons" or "months" (sometimes words have more than one meaning) but even Albert would get excited of these 10 tracks in global Turkish psych-funk.

We first came across Şatellites a couple of years ago on the compilation 'Middle Eastern Grooves'  on Batov Records (see review HERE) but they are now a fully fledged band that tours (Ed. In them flares?) with a space-mod-out there vibe; like I say Albert would love to jam along to this.

At times they can sound prog-rock like Jethro Tull, 'Bak, Gör' or quite poppy, 'Tisladi Mehmet Emmi' or traditional folk-psych-grunge 'Yok Yok'.  You can see why DJ's as far apart as BBC 6 Music's Gilles Peterson and Seattle's KEXP had them in session after their first album tfrom 2022.

And now they're even better!  'Gizli Ajan' is amazingly like a Incredible Bongo Band vs. The Tornados and with vocals Rotem Bahar on 'Midnight Sweat'.  Whilst instrumentals like 'Hot Jazz' are typical and easier to say than the Rotem tracks, at time she can hold some Plant-like phrasing whilst the band touch on 'Kashmir' showing that there's more to this band than the next Altin Gün or Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek hype.

It so happens Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek have their own album out next week, 'Yarin Yoksa', but don't overlook 'Aylar' as these guys are at the cutting edge; not only in trouser length - or you could even say, "over the moon!"

Artist: Şatellites

Title: Aylar

Release date: 7th March, 2023

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR

Format: Limited LP / Digital / Bandcamp

 

Review: Sababa 5 featuring Sophia Solomon - Shehzadi - शहज़ादी / Ranjha - रांझा (Batov Records)

Sababa 5 like to collaborate but this is a little leftfield even for them with India born singer Sophia Solomon as Sababa 5 featuring Sophia Solomon - Shenzadi / Ranjha (Batov Records)  they go Indo-Middle Eastern grooves with this new 7" single, 'Shenzadi' / 'Ranjha'.

With this meeting of psych-funk with Bollywood disco fans of Batov will get excited for authentic classic sounds of 'the new' Asha Bhosle that has a touch of Asha Puthli (Ed.she was brilliant at We Out Here festival last year).

After the album with Yurika, 'Kokoro' (see review HERE) where else in the world are they going to go?

Artist: Sababa 5 & Sophia Solomon

Title: Shehzadi - शहज़ादी / Ranjha - रांझा

Release date: 21st February, 2024

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR108

Format: 7" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Mulatu Astatke and Hoodna Orchestra - Tension (Batov Records)

The only tension in the air here is the wait it's been since this brilliant collaboration between Mulatu Astatke and Hoodna Orchestra have this album come out, 'Tension' is released today!

This is easily one of the top ten album's of the year and if you don't know the work of Mulatu, just be aware that he is the founder of Ethio-jazz being the mix of Latin jazz and traditonal Ethiopian music, that has crossed the genre boundaries of jazz, psych, funk, hip-hop, spiritual jazz and more.

Strut, Soundway, Mochilla have all released Mulatu's music as he became more recognised for the originator/founder he is since 1972's 'Mulatu Of Ethiopia' album (sponsored by Ethiopian Airlines if I remember right and ironically recorded in New York) which gained popularity on the back of the soundtrack to Jim Jarmush's 'Broken Flowers' film and latterly, the 'Ethiopiques' compilation series.

So what's six tracks on 'Tension' like?  Well, Batov's got their finest in psych/soul/funk in the Hoodna Orchestra with the additional bonus of Neal Sugarman (Dap-King) who also produced the album.

'Tension' is a huge misnomer as all the trademark vibes by Mulatu are of effortless cool: even on a thrusting funk of the title track - could be a OST track itself.

'Dung Gate' and 'Major' have been previous singles that have been favoured by obvious publications (Songlines, Uncut, The Guardian, etc) and BBC 6 Music's great and good, Cerys Matthews, Huey Morgan, Gilles Peterson and GP old producer, Benji B on BBC Radio 1.

'Major' is so good, like a 60s Cowboy film  with a North African feel of Morricone on a Farfisa organ and 'Hulata' which follows is like slo-mo funk version (featuring Mulatu on piano - this guy is in his 80s!) with a sound of a Sun Ra Arkestra; shame the climax doesn't break down into a Sun Ra and His Astro-Intergalactic-Infinity Arkestra meets Salah Ragab plus The Cario Jazz Band in Egypt free jazz explosion (perhaps being saved for a 12", we live in hope) 

'Yashan' returns to the cloppity clop of a jazz night club where James Bond would hold court and 'Deliah' (not the "Why, Why" Tom Jones tune) the one for the Flute Gang and some nice twangy guitar.  

And in mentioning, Bond and Jones, the whole album is drenched in 60s Mod-jazz cool of New York - Addis - London, but produced today - it's nearly perfect (the only downside, is it me but does the artwork look like the guy that impersonates Albert Einstein of the energy advert?) 

Artist: Mulatu Astatke and Hoodna Or8chestra

Title:  Tension

Release date: 8th November, 2024

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR103

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp