Batov Records

08/07/2025

Psychedelic dub, Afro-Latin rhythms and cosmic grooves come together on 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 and .

Like the lost child of Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids and The Comet Is Coming, “Lonely” hits like a sledgehammer of cosmic synth funk and intense Afro-rock drums, riding an acoustic bassline that breaks into a frenetic solo after a minute. The drums constantly threaten to overwhelm, but open up for the spiraling synths to peak half way through the track.

La Chooma draw dotted lines across time and space, finding hidden connections and shared frequencies, pulling threads together into a sound that hypnotises the mind and moves the body.

Find “Lonely” wherever you get your music and pre-order ‘Local Spirits’ via our online shop (link in bio)

Music Composed, Arranged, and Produced by

- Upright bass & Kawala Flute
- Karkab & Percussion
- Congas
- Drums dolevhash - Synths and Effects

04/07/2025

Following three acclaimed albums, a string of sought-after 45s, and collaborations with vocalists including and , championed by esteemed tastemakers such as , , and , ‘Nadir’ finds Sababa 5 at their enigmatic and irresistible.

latest album 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.​

The title track itself conjures the sultry ambiance of a Mediterranean night, plunging listeners into a realm of intrigue and intensity. A brooding bassline sets a suspenseful tone before a synth-led melody, laced with Italian motifs and Middle Eastern tonalities, unfolds—recalling the cinematic flair of soundtrack legends like Piero Umiliani and Stelvio Cipriani. Subtle wah-wah guitar accents add a psychedelic touch, echoing the acid rock elements of classic Poliziotteschi scores.

Nadir stands as Sababa 5’s most compelling and listenable offering yet - a transcontinental journey where hypnotic grooves, cinematic arrangements, and evocative Middle Eastern scales create vivid imagery, compel movement, and touch the soul.
***A must-listen album for fans of , , , and .

Find ‘Nadir’ wherever you get your music and order it via our online shop on (link in bio)

Guitar -
Bass -
Keys -
Drums -

Produced by
Cover by
Mix by
Master By

Distributed by .music

30/06/2025

We’re giving away 5 copies of the new ‘Nadir’ by !!

Sababa 5 fans and people of London! In celebration of the bands upcoming album we’re putting together a listening party! Come experience the album on a high end sound system while sipping on cocktails 🍸 Our own will be on decks from 7 to 11 bringing you Sababa 5’s new album + a full set of released and unreleased 🤫 Batov Records music!
To add to the celebration we’re giving away 5 vinyl copies of ‘Nadir’! (collection from )
Like and Tag a fellow fan in the comments to enter the raffle to win ‘Nadir’ on vinyl!

Sababa 5 ‘Nadir’ Album Listening Party
When: 🕘 Wednesday 2nd July, 7pm - 11pm (listening session starts 9pm)
Where: 📍Spiritland Kings Cross 9 - 10 Stable St, London N1C 4AB

See you there!

24/06/2025

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

Kluger first achieved international success with six–piece Turkish psychedelic rock evangelists, the Şatellites, whose enviable catalogue has won them support around the world, from KEXP in Seattle to BBC Radio 6 Music, and FIP in France.

Kluger began work on Primordial Soup in October 2023, though many ideas had been gestating long before. The process was shaped by both creative compulsion and emotional necessity: “It was a very hard time. Making this album felt like something I had to do to stay sane. I hope it came out banging like my heart did at that time”.

The first single, “Horrorizon”, is heavy in almost every sense — dark, cinematic, and immersive. Relentless, languid drums, a hypnotic bassline, and harsh bouzouki textures create a foreboding atmosphere, evoking a deep sense of an ominous future. Think early DJ Shadow with a pile of Turkish psych wax. Kluger imagines it as a kind of “riding song” for “an old carriage wobbling its way down a muddy road into the unknown night”, recalling “the alertness in your guts that something isn’t right about where humanity is heading”.

Find “Horrorizon” wherever you get your music (link in comments) 🐐🌵

Compositions, Instruments, Production & Primordial mix - Itamar Kluger

24/06/2025

"Romano delivers a typically Middle Eastern fusion firework and stylistic culture clash of infectious open-mindedness"
- Glitterhouse Mailorder/Joe Whirlypop

Glitterhouse

20/06/2025

For fans of , , and .

and fuse traditional Iraqi songs and instrumentation with modern electronic music on deeply personal collaborative album, ‘Electro Baghdad’, for Batov Records.

‘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.

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.

“It’s a personal album for us, connecting past and present, tradition and future – but also something that can move people physically and emotionally,” say SHIRAN and Bakal. With Electro Baghdad, they breathe new life into Iraqi musical heritage, retaining the emotional core of the original melodies, sung in Iraqi Arabic, while surrounding them with a modern, energetic, and dynamic sound designed for live performance.

Find “Electro Baghdad” wherever you get your music, and order it via our online shop (link in bio)

Produced and arranged by SHIRAN & BAKAL
Mixing & Mastering by
Kanun by
Ney by
Graphic Design by
Distributed by .music

17/06/2025

Mysterious disco outfit deliver an essential EP — four tracks of sublime, summery European cool hand-picked by Batov Records boss for the label’s brand new and carefully curated ‘Give Me Disco’ 12” series, named after Raja Zahr’s disco classic.

Springing from the ranks of global grooves ensemble and psychedelic travellers , Jiri Jiri have honed their musical chops and crafted four Neapolitan funk and pan-European disco jams as hot as the Adriatic coastline.

The songs on ‘Give Me Disco - Vol. 1’ were born in Naples. Collaborators and Niklas Mündemann enlisted the production expertise of .zodyaco — founder of , former producer, and a key architect of the Neapolitan funk renaissance, to further refine their sound.

1st single “Senza Benza” is an uptempo, largely instrumental track that fuses Afro disco rhythms with Azymuth-esque synths. The relentless groove hardly lets up, save for a brief, wordless vocal break.

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.

Find “Senza Benza” wherever you get your music and pre-order ‘Give Me Disco - Vol. 1’ via our online shop on (link in comments)

Composed by Niklas Mündemann
Arranged by and Niklas Mündemann
Vocals: and Niklas Mündemann
Keys:
Drums: Niklas Mündemann
Bass:
Guitar:
Recorded at

Distributed by .music
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11/06/2025

SHIRAN and BAKAL fuse traditional Iraqi songs and instrumentation with modern electronic music on deeply personal collaborative album, ‘Electro Baghdad’, for Batov Records.

3rd single OUT TODAY, “Eshrab Kasak Wethanna” (Drink Your Glass and Be Happy), embraces joy despite the pain it took to reach it. The lyrics toast to resilience: “Drink, my love. My family turned against me because of you, and people told me to leave, but I stayed”. The song celebrates choosing happiness even when others don’t understand your love, blending heartache and warmth in a way that feels deeply real. Bakal’s electronic production builds an immersive world, where lovers can dance the night away, untouched by the judgement of others.

“It’s a personal album for us, connecting past and present, tradition and future – but also something that can move people physically and emotionally,” say SHIRAN and Bakal. With Electro Baghdad, they breathe new life into Iraqi musical heritage, retaining the emotional core of the original melodies, sung in Iraqi Arabic, while surrounding them with a modern, energetic, and dynamic sound designed for live performance.

Find “Eshrab Kasak Wethanna” wherever you get your music, pre-save it on Spotify and other DSP’s, and pre-order “Electro Baghdad” via our online shop (link in comments)

All songs were produced and arranged by SHIRAN & BAKAL
Graphic Design – Emily Theodore
Distributed by K7