Ouzo Bazooka - Kapaim [Batov]

Format: Limited Edition LP. Gold and black splatter vinyl – Only 500 copies!

For fans of: Glass Beams, Derya Yıldırım, LA LOM, and hip-hop producer Oh No

Ouzo Bazooka enchants with Kapaim, guiding the listener through a labyrinth of hypnotic and cutting grooves, cosmic, winding strings, and enveloping guitar explorations. As pioneers of the new Middle Eastern psychedelia movement, the band fuses traditional folk sounds with raw soul, funk, and rock. Their latest release is a testament to a spirit that constantly pushes boundaries, offering a soundscape as ethereal as it is deeply rooted.

Across five albums and a decade, Ouzo Bazooka has earned recognition for its innovative blend of Middle Eastern sounds, psychedelia, and surf rock. They have achieved international fame with their music and live performances, from the UK to Japan, at festivals such as The Great Escape, Fuji Rock, and Sziget. At their peak, they played more than 150 concerts a year, solidifying their reputation as a powerful live band. Their critically acclaimed EP, Songs From 1001 Nights, was praised as “an adventure into reverberating exoticism and synthetic lysergic hooks that spin and float.”

Central member and multi-instrumentalist, Uri Brauner Kinrot — musician, composer, and producer — has been active in the international music scene for over two decades. He has played in diverse groups such as Balkan Beat Box, Firewater, Shotnez, and Boom Pam, the latter also known for collaborating with Anatolian rock legend Selda Bağcan, in addition to frequently recording with Kutiman. Kinrot’s ear for production and arrangements has led him to work with international artists, including Israeli-Persian singer Liraz.

Initially launched as a solo project, Ouzo Bazooka soon transformed into a full-time band. However, Kapaim (a Hebrew word meaning “claps”) marks a return for Kinrot to the roots of Ouzo Bazooka’s sound, in what is once again, largely, a solo work. With more room to experiment, this mostly instrumental album is beautifully arranged and allows every element to breathe. The bass lines, twisted synth motifs, head-nodding percussion, and soaring guitar solos create a hypnotic and uplifting experience.

The album opens with Asia, which kicks off with a thoughtful bass line that establishes a languid groove. As the drums, guitars, and synthesizers join in, the melody feels reflective and nostalgic, yet also hopeful. The steady bass line conveys a sense of groundedness and continuity as the piece evolves.

The album’s title track, Kapaim, invites the listener to clap along to a groove as solid as steel, fusing the legendary New Orleans instrumental funk of The Meters with hypnotic synthesizers and cosmic-tinged Anatolian guitar licks.

An otherworldly intro gives way to a tight bass and funk groove reminiscent of Bob James’ much-sampled Nautilus in Seed, before Kinrot makes a rare vocal appearance, imagining himself as a seed at the center of the universe.

Having played a key role in the global instrumental movement, Kinrot stands among figures like JJ Whitefield, Shawn Lee, and Kutiman. The album evokes the cinematic depth of David Axelrod, but with a distinctive Mediterranean/Oriental flair. Fans of Glass Beams, Derya Yıldırım, LA LOM, and Oh No’s sampled journey through Turkish, Lebanese, and Greek psychedelia in Dr. No’s Oxperiment will find much to love here.

Kapaim is a testament to Kinrot's incredible talent — in particular, his precision in arrangements, production skills, and ear for soul, funk, and psychedelic rock — as well as his ability to fuse musical traditions from different cultures and eras. It is Ouzo Bazooka's most personal and addictive album to date, brimming with joy, creativity, and a spirit of boundless freedom.