Jeremy Castillo’s cool San Francisco hang out, Bar Part Time, has just launched its own record label, with Canadian Cal-C contributing a quartet of cuts to their inaugural 12. The 4 tracks are initially all set up simply, each of them incorporating a very “Balearic” panpipe synth sound. Tempos vary, sorta like a showreel, demonstrating what Cal-C can do, and every piece, once it’s established its groove, evolves to introduce keyboard virtuoso complexity. 

The lead, title number Bath Bomb is Good Block-esque gear, riding rumbling bass and a rattling, slo & lo 808 rhythm. Surrounding sexy murmurs and giggles with 3 or more layers of contrasting keys. Tumbling, chiming and sending out axe-like arcs. Conga-ed, tropical, and uptempo, Morning Dew bounces, brightly taking on gently trippy, trance-y frequencies. Their counterpoint recalling Henning Severud aka Telephones’ early Sueno Latino / E2 E4 inspired missives, such as his work on Jose Padilla’s Day One. 

Blurry Moon is funkier, set to some very `80s pop dance drums. Its stuttered vocals competing with bionic brass, electric piano and fusion-like flights. Its melodic elements displaying a few Wally Badarou-isms. Wine 69 then closes the set with some buoyant, bubbling, Ace Of Bass-esque Euro skanking. Kinda zouk-y it chops up chants and shouts, and the reference point here might be Ruf Dug’s much-loved Sorta Rican. 

Cal-C’s Bath Bomb can be ordered directly from Bar Part Time Recordings.