Bato Bato

Vinyl + Digital Shop ︎ ︎

Between a secluded cabin sanctuary, tucked away in the vast stillness of Topanga Canyon, California, and a remote 18th century finca on the Balearic island of Mallorca, Spain, Bato Bato’s debut album was patiently guided into being. Three years writing and recording between these two locations brought the group’s collaborators - Julian Smith and Henrik Jakobsson, with Balearic legend Nestor Casas Oché on trumpet to their most natural sound conclusion.

The music of Bato Bato does not just reflect its organic sound habitats; it absorbs them - the duo set up studio and outdoor field sessions capturing various local environments including percussive field recordings and ambient cave sounds. The album is an exploration in sound somewhere between the influence of exotica, psych, and dub metered with latin / afro rhythms merged with experimental studio process and mixing.

A pilgrimage to West Africa in the late ‘90s saw Henrik learning traditional rhythms under the tutelage of master Malinke percussionist Petit Boka Camara in Matam, Conakry. More recently Henrik has played on tour and is making new productions for Tony Allen. Henrik’s expertise in pattern and form is woven between Julian’s extensive explorations on the broken edges of disco, techno and acid, which have seen his production gracing revered imprints like WNCL Recordings, Phonica White, UNO! NYC, and garnering support from the likes of Jamie XX, Skream and Massive Attack to Tim Sweeny, Laurent Garnier and Craig Richards.

Support Family
FaltyDL, Quinton Scott (STRUT), Gilles Peterson, Cut Chemist, Xxxy, Faze Action, dOP, Simbad, Craig Smith, James Rudie, Tim 'Love' Lee, Ian Blevins, Jose Padilla, Crazy P, Jacques Renault, Harri, WNCL, Cottam, Severino, Hot Toddy, Phat Phil Cooper, Ata, Olin, Eric Duncan, Object Blue, Øyvind Morken, Homeboy, 2000 and One, Dixon, Kyodai, Jamie Blanco, Justin Van Der Volgen, Black Loops, Raresh, Auntie Flo, Banofee Pies, Franck Roger, Martyn Bootyspoon, DJ Gilla (First Word) + more.

Discography
Bato Bato LP (OYE! Records) RE (2019) [Vinyl 12” & Digital]
Bato Bato LP (Bato Records) (2018) [Vinyl 12” & Digital]

Music Video (Coming Soon)
Live @ Garbicz Festival Clip
Austen Sweeten Wind Slab Teaser
Redlight Radio Special Teaser