Batov Records News

Hill Collective strike out with Fire In Orbit, their first release for Batov Records and the Brighton ensemble’s most focused and expansive studio statement to date. Rooted in spiritual jazz but unafraid of the natural looseness, humour and raw edges that arise when imaginative musicians collaborate, Fire In Orbit captures a band working collectively, instinctively and with space to breathe.

Reverie is the first full-length collaboration between Ori Kaplan and Lihu Melamed - a cinematic, soul-soaked LP that drifts between modal jazz, cinematic scores and psychedelic rock, released on Batov Records.
Saxophonist and producer Ori Kaplan is best known as a founding member of Balkan Beat Box, for his work with Gogol Bordello and more recently, Shotnez, while Melamed brings a deep studio craft honed over years as an engineer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Together, they create a record that feels both ancient and immediate: music that evokes old biblical films, sun-bleached Western soundtracks and 70s jazz explorations, while remaining playful, spontaneous and deeply human.

There’s a strong cinematic undercurrent throughout Reverie. Think Charles Heston wandering through an Old Testament epic; Ennio Morricone soundtracking a desert horizon; Nino Rota scoring Fellini’s Rome; or Pasolini filming in Ethiopia. Minor-key strings, modal structures and unhurried grooves sit alongside echoes of Mingus and Yusef Lateef, with Ori’s baritone sax and flutes guiding the listener through shifting scenes and moods.

Kronstad 23 returns with Dodehavet, the Norwegian quartet"s third album and first release on Batov Records. Continuing their instinctive, analogue-led approach, the record sits between cinematic jazz and psychedelic rock, threaded with Scandinavian folk and wider global influences. Recorded live to tape with minimal preparation and no modern studio intervention, Dodehavet captures a band working on feel, interaction and momentum rather than polish or precision.

The Bolbec duo return with their sophomore album Foutu Félin, a richly cinematic collection of instrumental music that unfolds like an imaginary soundtrack, melodic, tactile and transportive. The record is inspired as much by the cut-and-paste production techniques of Portishead and the Beastie Boys as by the legendary composers of le cinéma français and il cinema italiano.

Psychedelic dub, Afro-Latin rhythms and cosmic grooves come together on La Chooma’s self-titled debut for Batov Records. Drawing on Moroccan Gnawa, Colombian cumbia, Afrobeat, Jamaica dub & roots, and cosmic jazz, the six-piece ensemble create deep, hypnotic music rooted in global traditions and shaped for contemporary dancefloors.

Having already captivated local audiences with their hypnotic, organic live performances, La Chooma – now a six-piece ensemble – have been steadily building an international following. Initial singles “Magic Plant” and “Huachuma” earned support from tastemakers including BBC Radio 6 Music’s Deb Grant and Tom Ravenscroft.

“Magic Plant” distills the band’s signature blend of hypnotic grooves, lush percussion and woozy synths, like Jimi Tenor lost in the Colombian Amazon. A dreamlike, dub-infused trip driven by organic rhythm and cosmic textures. “Huachuma” picks up the thread, fusing Afrobeat percussion, swirling basslines and psychedelic flourishes into a hallucinogenic jam made for a tropical dancefloor.

ZHERAV unleashes hypnotic Middle Eastern grooves on NAJA / BAZAAR 45 for Batov’s highly collectable 45 series.

New Zealand-based producer ZHERAV announces his debut release, NAJA / BAZAAR, a double single and 45 on Batov’s Middle Eastern Grooves series. The record fuses psychedelic rock, hypnotic rhythms, and electronic production influences, creating a sound that moves between swung grooves and cinematic, reverb-soaked textures.

ZHERAV draws from his background in house and techno, layering live guitar, bass, and synths over programmed drums. “I had a production template for house music on Ableton” he explains, “and I thought about how to switch to this Middle Eastern sound using the same format”. Most of ZHERAV’s tracks developed through improvisation - starting with programmed drums, then experimenting around scales on instruments until something works. ZHERAV has already received support from independent radio in Australia and New Zealand, and encouragement from international artists like Ko Shin Moon.

Both tracks explore Middle Eastern scales, bringing a distinct flavour to the grooves, while maintaining ZHERAV’s signature hypnotic layered sound. ZHERAV had something in mind related to snakes and their charmers when creating the A-side, NAJA (“Indian Cobra”). An ominous bassline loops repeatedly over snapping drums and percussion, whilst ZHERAV improvises guitar riffs and effects over the top.

With four albums already behind them, Sababa 5 have earned global support, from Songlines magazine and BBC Radio 6 Music tastemakers including Gilles Peterson, Jamz Supernova and Iggy Pop to France’s FIP Radio and Radio Nova, for their unique blend of traditional Middle Eastern celebration music with psychedelic grooves, funk, jazz, rock, and international vocal collaborations spanning Japan to India. The Paris-based group have taken this sound to stages across Europe, including Reeperbahn Festival and Dresden’s Super Fest.

Ça Va Ça Va is the band’s hafla album – a return to the wedding and event celebration music that first shaped Sababa 5. Recorded in Paris, it draws directly from the sounds of hafla – the joyful, communal music heard at Middle Eastern weddings, parties and festive gatherings – with a sprinkling of influences from the wider Mediterranean. The group utilise their classic combination of electric guitar, bass, drums, organ, and synths to transform these ideas into vibrant melodies, dance-ready rhythms, and a spirit of abundance and
togetherness.
Opening track “Bienvenue” sets the tone with a mysterious, longing guitar solo before bursting into an irresistible rhythm and jubilant guitar motif. It flows seamlessly into “Allô”, straight into wedding-riot territory – a fast-rising instrumental that showers the dancefloor with energy as it builds around a hypnotic, arpeggio-driven riff. The album is almost entirely original material, with two key exceptions: “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. Another impressive step in the Sababa 5 story, Ça Va Ça Va captures both joy and longing – the unmistakable warmth of Eastern Mediterranean celebration and the band’s surf-rock edge – sounding more confident, spirited and deeply rooted than ever.

Kutiman joins Batov Records’ Middle Eastern Grooves Series with explosive double-sider

Batov Records is thrilled to announce the debut of pioneering producer, multi-instrumentalist, and multidisciplinary artist Kutiman on its highly collectable Middle Eastern Grooves 45s series. The release features two essential, souk-fuelled, psych-funk heaters: “Haraka” and “Khamsin”.

A prolific musical force, Kutiman delivers the goods on “Haraka” (“movement”), layering neck-snapping rock drums, irresistible psychedelic basslines, and haunting organ riffs, with microtonal-bending synths and tabla-inspired percussion.

On the B-side, “Khamsin” (“heatwave”) continues the trip with another heavy dose of Middle Eastern psych and funk, culminating in a blistering guitar solo in his signature Middle Eastern style by longtime collaborator Uri Brauner Kinrot (Ouzo Bazooka, Boom Pam), who also contributes beguilingly languid bass guitar riffs.

Both tracks showcase Kutiman’s distinctive ability to fuse regional traditions with modern grooves, marking a bold new addition to the label’s standout series.

Bassist, composer and producer Shay Hazan returns with his third solo album, "When It Rains It Pours", on Batov Records. Following the critical success of "Reclusive Ritual" and "Wusul" Hazan takes a bold step forward, shifting from the guimbri-led sound that established his reputation to a broader palette of bass, guitar, and synth-driven compositions.

Following three acclaimed albums, a string of sought-after 45s, and collaborations with vocalists including Yurika and Sophia Solompon, championed by esteemed tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, Cerys Matthews, and Jeremy Sole, "Nadir" finds Sababa 5 at their enigmatic and irresistible. Sababa 5"s latest album, "Nadir", delves into a darker, more sophisticated, and cinematic fusion of psychedelic soul and Middle Eastern rock. The title, Nadir, is an astronomical term referring to the point on the celestial sphere directly beneath an observer, diametrically opposite the zenith. Metaphorically, it signifies the lowest point or a moment of adversity. This duality resonates with the band"s exploration of contrasting musical themes-melding the cosmic and the terrestrial, the ethereal and the grounded. The name encapsulates the album"s essence, reflecting a journey through deep, introspective soundscapes that are both otherworldly and rooted in raw, earthly grooves.

Muito Kaballa return in style with a refined modern sound on "Tomorrow A Flower" for the London-based imprint Batov Records, blending indie pop, soul, hip hop, jazz, Brazilian rhythms, and West African grooves.

With effortless cool, Moriah Plaza blend Brazilian samba, cinematic Latin jazz and psychedelic 60s pop on new EP "Propolis". Moriah Plaza"s self-titled debut album, released on Batov Records in 2023, garnered critical acclaim and widespread airplay, positioning the group as one to watch in the worlds of global pop and contemporary jazz.

Green coloured repress of Sababa 5"s self-titled 2022 debut album of original instrumentals, built around the band"s distinct mix of Middle Eastern psych, funk and disco groove.

Eje Eje, the orbiting side project of Satellites founder and multi-instrumentalist Itamar Kluger, shares "Primordial Soup", his second album on Batov Records, stirring an even wider pot of influences from East to West that defies genre.

Sababa 5 returns with another essential 45 for Batov Records" Middle Eastern Groove series. This time, they team up with two very different artists on two distinct tracks built from the same hypnotic groove: soulful Turkish alt-pop sensation Canay Dogan and reed flute specialist Itzhak Ventura.

Mysterious disco outfit Jiri Jiri deliver an essential EP. Four tracks of sublime, summary European cool hand-picked by Batov Records boss DJ Kobayashi for the label"s brand new and carefully curated "Give Me Disco" 12" series, named after Raja Zahr"s disco classic. The "Give Me Disco - Vol. 1" EP marks the beginning of two exciting new ventures, the emergence of Jiri Jiri, and inspired by their need for a home, the launch of Batov Records" "Give Me Disco" 12" series.

"Electro Baghdad" expands on the ideas explored on the duo"s self-released 2023 debut EP "Electro Hafla, and builds upon SHIRAN"s solo work, which earned her a Songlines "Top of the World" award and widespread praise for her expressive voice and dynamic reinterpretation of traditional Yemeni music - an influence drawn from her maternal heritage. Both born to half-Yemeni, half-Iraqi parents in Israel, SHIRAN and Bakal"s music reflect their diverse heritage. Singing previously in Yemenite Arabic, she bridged generations by blending traditional melodies with contemporary sounds. Now with "Electro Baghdad", SHIRAN and Bakal pay tribute to their Iraqi roots, recontextualising traditional songs passed down through generations, using analog synths, heavy basslines, and pulsing electronic grooves.

Sababa 5 collaborate with India born singer Sophia Solomon on their most exciting double A-side to date, merging Bollywood-style songs with their signature blend of Middle Eastern grooves.

Renowned for their instrumental releases that fuse traditional and contemporary Middle Eastern music with psychedelic rock, funk, and disco, Sababa 5 have also pushed boundaries in collaborations with vocalists such as Shiran Tzfira, Yurika Hanashima, and Inbal Nur Dekel. These efforts have won them support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Cerys Matthews, and Jeremy Sole, on BBC Radio 6 Music and KCRW. Now, the band joins forces with Sophia Solomon for their latest musical exploration.

Born in Bengaluru, South India, and trained in Hindustani classical music in Mumbai, Sophia Solomon is a versatile, multilingual singer, recording artist, and live performer, drawing inspiration from Bollywood legend Asha Bhosle. A standout moment early in her career - a global tribute to Mahatma Gandhi - ignited her passion for bridging musical traditions across cultures.

“Shehzadi” (“Princess”) is an Indo-disco delight. Solomon’s Hindi vocals soar effortlessly across Sababa 5’s finely balanced arrangement of hypnotic drums, pulsing electric bass, fanning electric guitar, and sparkling synths in a beguiling minor key. There’s a strong hint of 80s nostalgia with a contemporary shine, evoking a Stranger Things meets Bollywood charm.

“Ranjha” (“Lover”) takes on a more Middle Eastern feel, with synth notes that undulate with longing and emotion, reminiscent of traditional instruments like the saz or baglama. The upbeat groove pairs seamlessly with Solomon’s dynamic, hope-filled vocals. Well-timed pauses add dramatic flair, while Sophia’s performance allows space for an exuberant synth solo.

This exciting collaboration marks another bold turn for Sababa 5, infused with new life through Sophia Solomon's artistry. “Shehzadi” and “Ranjha” represent a fruitful exchange of cross-cultural musical exploration, destined to be played on repeat far and wide.

Lost somewhere between the mysterious alleys of 70s Istanbul and the scorching sun and crystal blue sea of Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Satellites self-titled debut on Splattered Vinyl.