Teeko & B. Bravo Present: Tempo Dreams Vol. 2
Following the critically-acclaimed 2012 release of their beat-centric compilation Tempo Dreams (assembled by Detroit/UK producer-at-large Tall Black Guy), Brooklyn wax purveyors Bastard Jazz Recordings have returned with Volume 2 of the enlightening, genre-bending series. This time around, the label has enlisted Bay Area mainstay DJ/producers Teeko & B. Bravo, driving forces behind the transformative “modern funk” sound emerging out of the West Coast. Sticking with the series’ theme of showcasing new styles and emerging artists, curated by their own musical peers, Teeko and Bravo have conjured up an LP of mind-blowing tracks that push the limits of soulful electronic funk, outernational boogie, and cosmic hip-hop.
Tempo Dreams Volume 2 picks up where the first edition left off, bridging the gaps between various geographic locations and local scenes, while also reaching for new heights with soaring vocal features and dance-floor primed beats. The compilers’ home town is heavily represented through hits like the 80’s R&B-styled bomb “Hard Pressed” by Rojai and E.Live, the deep & sexy nighttime-synth vibes of K-Maxx (“Dreamin’ Of You”), and an unreleased sun-drenched remix of the Bayonics track “Wheels”. Left coast collective Mugpush bring more heat on “Came Too Far”, channeling a deft balance of smooth P-Funk with killer rhymes from the ever-versatile Black Spade. Teeko and Bravo’s own Starship Connection keeps things bumping with “We Can Go All Night”, complete with sexy boogie thump, understated vocals and twinkling synths. Europe and the UK also supply their take on this sound, with the nasty vocodor funk of “Dans” by Belgium’s Pomrad, the bass-heavy Atjazz creeper “One” (featuring wunderkind Amalia’s woozy vocals), and the swirling UK electro-hop of the Insomniax (“A Vibe For Chrissy”), with it’s lovelorn hip-hop vocals.
Individually, both Teeko and B.Bravo have hefty resumes: Bravo is a 2010 graduate of Red Bull Music Academy with releases on Brownswood, Frite Nite and Ernest Endeavors. His tune “Computer Love” was named one of 2009’s best tracks by Benji B (BBC Radio 1). He’s shared the stage with artists like Chromeo, Dam-Funk, Flying Lotus and serenaded crowds across the world with his bass heavy outerspace boogie and dirty grinding synth grooves at festivals like SXSW, Detroit Electronic Music Festival, and Sonar in Barcelona. Teeko, creator of SF’s infamous 4ONEFUNK crew, has been a key player in the next generation of the Bay Area’s Turntablist scene and has been called “the most insane & creative turntablist I have ever worked with” by Mark Ronson, who featured him on his Record Collection album. Recent years have had Teeko looking towards production with his debut album Turn Off The Dark and his collaboration with B.Bravo as The Starship Connection, churning out cosmic, sludgy electronic funk music on Salva’s Fritenite label. The duo’s deft ear and unparalleled musical credentials inspired Bastard Jazz to enlist them for this next expedition into Tempo Dreams. “We wanted to represent soulful music being made by our piers from all over the world,” says B. Bravo “Artists from California to New York, Canada, London, Germany all with different modern styles but sharing a common thread of being influenced by funk and soul.”
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