Review: Pink Butter - Can We Go Back (DeepMatter Records)

There's many reasons why groups have the most unusual names; some good, some not so good - when it comes to Pink Butter, they're something special as their EP, 'Can We Go Back' proves - and no, you can't go back!

A Swedish quartet of Oskar Bettinsoli (guitars), Björn Lehnert (keyboards), Malte Bergman (bass) and John Bjurström (drums) are able to blend jazz and hip-hop and have found a couple of like minded folks to collaborate with including T3 (RL Alttman III of Slum Village) and Jermaine Holmes (backing singer with D'Angelo).

Those with long memories will know the 'golden era' LSK who had Dwele and Slum Village on their debut (back in summer of 2000!) this is very much that sort of quality.  Indeed, 'Can We Go Back' featuring T3 feels retro for the now.  

In fact, the whole 6 track EP is very 'Futuristica Music' from back in the day, i.e. see the new release by Georgie Sweet 'I Swear To You' (see review HERE), as in 'Alright' featuring Joanné Nugas (and some great jazz guitar from Oskar) and 'Lost My Mind' featuring Elma.

On the mellow soul side Jermaine Holmes sings on 'Made For Me' which is perfect for the chill out zone whilst his contribution to 'U' with Venus Anon is close to spaced out soul as these guys get.  Being nearly six minutes long in a Part I & II style, it's my favourite of the set; equally, it's a shame it's not longer in more of a 12" mix (Ed. and work in 'Voice Memo'?)

We were impressed with Matt Wilde's beats vs. jazz vs. soul as fans of golden era Dwele/Roy Hargrove (see review HERE) and The Offline's Italian OST/Bob James cool a la Calibro 35/Malcolm Catto influenced 'In Session' (see review HERE) and this is a another hot release; keep it cool as we don't want it to melt as you can never go back.

Artist: Pink Butter 
Title:  Can We Go Back 

Release date: 1st August, 2025

Label : DeepMatter Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" Vinyl - Smoked Pink / Digital / Bandcamp  

Review: Searchlight ft [ K S R ] & Tolü Makay - Can We Go Back/Breath/We Could Be More Remixes ft. Atjazz / Wipe the Needle / Afroforce (Fallen Tree 1Hundred)

The weekend starts here under the seachlight with a host of dancefloor wizards.

If you're keeping up with Fallen Tree 1Hundred, they really champion post-d'n'b modern soul UKG and Searchlight (aka Zero T and Beta 2) have picked three top producers/remixes to re-work tracks from their debut album.

Must say, the agility of the Atjazz remix on 'Can We Go Back' with nu-jazz bruk shuffle is more than stunning and worthy of any DJ set.

Talking BRUK, Afroforce (aka Mark Force and Orin Afronaut - did you see what they did there), re-live BITA on a deep 'Breath'

The opener 'We Could Be More' featuring [ K S R ] (soul singer from Manchester not a YouTuber) get another BRUK student, Lee Gomez (aka Wipe The Needle) that sounds even more BITA than the Bugz themselves: especially on the instrumental which sounds so good.

This definitely could be more, say if they all team up with label mates Natalie Duncan (see review HERE) or Degrees Of Freedom (see review HERE) for what would be one hell of a Gilles Peterson 'Worldwide' re-union.

Artist: Searchlight ft Tolü Makay

Title:  Can We Go Back/Breath/We Could Be More Remixes ft. Atjazz / Wipe the Needle / Afroforce EP

Release date: 17th November, 2023

Label: Fallen Tree 1 Hundred

Cat. No: FT1H023

Format: Digital / Bandcamp