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: Shay Hazan - Wusul وصول (Batov Records)

When it comes to global, jazz, funk and spiritual sounds, Shay Hazan's album 'Wusul' is going to be hard to beat in 2024, if not impossible!

'Wusul' (Arabic for 'arrival' - Shay became a Dad 3 months ago) certainly marks a musical turn up for the books, like a 12 track mainline terminal station with hot sand falling from ya sandals; or more accurately Shay's synths, guimbri, guitar and percussion . 

This sounds another but a one man band, the killer track 'Sunflowers' featuring the keys of Nitai Hershkovits which fades just as they get into a Mulatu afro-jazz groove; WHY? Even so, it's definitely "uplifting and danceable masterpiece". But don't worry as there's more guest and diversions on tracks to follow.

The core band joining Shay, Tal Avraham (trumpet), Eyal Netzer (tenor sax) and Shahar Haziza (drums) must have had a great time recording all this original Hazan compositions (the quieter/reflective/traditional 'Yarabi' being the one exception).

The guimbri is a traditional instrument of Morroco (lots of Morroco around at the moment like DJ/producers Omary and DJ Medi - perhaps they'd be up for a housey remix?) but in the hand of Shay it's hard to tells as his productions sound as much mod-twangy guitar and wild 70s synth.

There's a listening party on bandcamp today at 7pm (28th February - so tune in) and you'll hear the album open with 'Dew' which is like a jazz morning but it really gets cooking with 'Oladipo' that's like a desert blues mixed with Sun Ra (when he was hanging out with Astatke) with Fela hanging around.  'A Bite Of Sand', with it's Tinariwen twang at the wadi is hypnotic as the guimbri sounds like a harp at times. 'A Walk In Dir El-Assad' and 'Yooltz' are more on the danceable side with slips into Afro-jazz-2step-Joe Meek whilst and 'Shimo Kitazawa' is like a Japanese inspired 'Wusul' dub.

If there's one track that encapsulates the album it's probably 'Vide Jadid' but I wish that all the tracks were as long as the 5 minute 'Street Souls'; which links in nicely with the closing track 'Riff Raff' which is dedicated to the guys that live in the street outside of his studio and represents the 'thin walls' that separate us (all for that matter).  

People will want to experience this album livee/on tour (are there plans? I'll keep you posted) but if you can't make it to a gig, this album and his 2021 debut 'Reclusive Rituals' (both on Batov) are highly recommended.

Artist: Shay Hazan 

Title: Wusul وصول 

Release date: 1st March, 2024

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR088

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Omary, Saint Evo Feat. Meryame - El Amal (Ostowana)

North African house from Moroccan DJ/Producer Omary meets Keyan DJ/Producer Saint Evo that features to vocals of Morrocan singer Meryame, finds up absorbed on the dancefloor with 'El Amal'.

You'll remember the last release on the label, SMALL F and Thabiso Vocalist's 'Remember Me' (see review HERE) or last year's collaboration between Omary and kawtar Sadik on 'Maktoub' with Amine'O on the remix which kind of links all the Mediterean/North African house with the (ethnic) flute gang.

There seems a renewed interest in Morrocan influences from DJ Bob Hill (Illicit Groves half-term break session) to Shay Hazan's 'Wusul) (see review HERE).

Artist: Omary, Saint Evo

Title: El Amal feat. Meryame

Release date: 12th February, 2024

Label : Ostowana

Catalog Number : OST047

Format: Digital