Review: Moriah Plaza - Moriah Plaza (Batov Records)

 When you hear the first track by Moriah Plaza, you'll think that this is nuts, fantasticly warped bossa nova, but nuts. A one off!  But no! There's a whole album of the Moriah Plaza sound on Batov Records!

Batov Records are not known for the Brazilian affliations but Tel Avivians(?) Tamir Chen and Moosh Lahav are currently based in Berlin and where they've already been involved with some leftfield dance pop jazz. 

Now teamed up with poet/singer Cecilia Erismann and multi talented Flavia Annechini (both from Brasil).
So bring in soume elevator muzak/lounge ('Lagoon de Merim' is so kitsch that it's post kitsch in the ultra lounge.

Annechini founded the Tropical Disco Club and I hope they Moriah Plaza are the house band as this project is equally inspired for the Tamir's mother who was the hotel piano bar resident at the Sheraton Moriah (see cover photo) a building/location that looks as lifeless as water in the Dead Sea that it overlooks.

'Samba Mooch' has got a touch of 'One Note Samba' (Samba de Uma Nota So) about it and you can almost hear the Rat Pack trying to join in for another appearance in thier best tuxedos.

Big with the BBC 6 Music big boys already an it's bound to get picked up by all the Latin-jazz dance guys so don't hang around and get this ordered today.

Artist: Moriah Plaza

Title: Moriah Plaza

Release date: 7th July, 2023

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR071

Format: Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Various Artists - Batov Artists 3 (Batov Records)

So another stunning release from Batov Records and better than that, it's a nine track compilation of some of their biggest stars... but there's some even better news!

We've love a the sounds from Batov this year; from Eje Eje's 'Five Seasons' (see review HERE) who are represent on this album with 'Black Sea Majic (Autumn)' to some lounge samba for ya Jonny Trunk types with Moriah Plaza's 'Samba Moosh' (see review HERE).

The great news is that the Sandman Project (the Emanative / Jessica Lauren project) is here in the form of  Hamsa Remixes EP (see review HERE) and more proof that there's more to just 'middle eastern' grooves, Muito Kaballa's 'Luna' is 60s jazz proggy and middle eastern. 

Of course, the hous band/flag wavers of the label, Sababa 5 are represented with the new track, 'Aeolus' from the album Aspan' (see review HERE) but the album is all gems like this.

Oh! And the "even better news", this compilation by label co-founder DJ Kobayashi is on Bandcamp as a digital release as a "Thank you" for a mere £1.00 if you get in quick; indeed "Thank you" Batov Records and all the artists and fans alike.

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Batov Artists 3

Release date: 15th December, 2023

Label: Batov Records 

Cat. No: BTR090

Format: Digital / Bandcamp