Butch returns to Rekids with this May with a all our funky club-ready number entitled ‘Official Bump Call’ and gets Riva Starr in on remix duties.
There are producers who become tied to a particular sound, and then there are artists like Butch who have spent years moving fluidly between styles without ever losing identity. Whether leaning into deeper house grooves, psychedelic textures or tougher club-focused material, his productions always carry a certain looseness and instinct that separates them from more functional dance records.
Born in Mainz and now splitting life between Ibiza and Dubai, Butch has built one of the most respected discographies in modern electronic music. From collaborations with Ricardo Villalobos, Frank Wiedemann and Keinemusik through to releases on labels like Innervisions, Diynamic, Crosstown Rebels and Cocoon, his influence stretches well beyond the usual list of scene credentials. More importantly, he remains one of those producers DJs genuinely admire.
That connection with Rekids continues here with the Official Bump Call EP, a three-track release that feels rooted firmly in groove and movement rather than overcomplication.
The title track, Official Bump Call, is a rhythmic and percussive house groover driven by rolling drums, low-slung basslines and rich soulful vocal power. Swirling synth chords and sharp drum fills give the track plenty of energy without losing its fluidity. It feels warm, loose and built for packed dancefloors rather than quick streaming attention.
Riva Starr steps in on remix duties and, unsurprisingly, pushes things further towards peak-time territory. His Warehouse Remix toughens the framework with pounding kicks, echo-drenched vocal touches and heavier breakdowns designed with larger rooms in mind. It retains the soul of the original whilst adding a more direct club edge.
Closing the EP, Foxtrot Uniform heads into slightly rougher territory. Distorted guitar basslines, edgy vocal snippets and live-sounding drums combine into an off-kilter groove that feels raw in all the right places. There is a slightly twisted character running through the track that stops the EP becoming too polished.
What continues to make Butch stand out is his understanding of movement and flow. Even at their heaviest, his records rarely feel rigid. There is always enough looseness in the groove to keep things human.
Another strong release from one of modern House music’s most consistently inventive producers. Out May 22nd on Rekids. Pre order here.
