The Black Seeds are a New Zealand based reggae seven-piece who combine elements of funk, rock, disco and dub to create a unique and infectious take on the reggae genre.
To date the band have sold over 125,000 records world wide as well as performing at some of Europes leading music festivals (Roskilde, Lowlands, Big Chill, Lovebox, etc) on the back of the band’s previous acclaimed albums, The Dojo (2007) and Solid Ground (2008).
Dust And Dirt is the group’s first album to be released on their own record label, Proville Records as well being self-produced in the band’s own studio (situated in a condemned building in their native Wellington). The Black Seeds consider Dust And Dirt to be the best representation of true sound, having spent longer in the studio honing the songs and trial new techniques.
From the opening track, Out Of Light the band lay down a tight psychedelic tinged groove complimenting the swirling keys, pulsating bass and trippy vocals, showcasing a far more widescreen sound than the genre classification of reggae may suggest. It’s a mellow yet addictive opening salvo that eases you into the album nicely before they add delicate twinkling piano, funky rubber rhythms, harmonised vocals and sun-kissed horns on the stunning title track, Dust And Dirt, bringing to mind the likes of the Easy Star All Stars among others whilst retaining a sound all of their own.
The band offered up Pippy Pip as the album’s first single and it’s easy to see why, patted percussion collides with an effortless melody and soulful combination of the heartfelt lead vocals and the aforementioned funk ridden horns to create an easy on the ear, memorable bouncy reggae number that’s just perfect for those hazy, languid summer day festivals.
Elsewhere the band weave a shimmering disco dub groove into proceedings on Wide Open, whilst The Bend showcases the band at their loosest as they lay down a delightfully infectious horn assisted funk drenched number. The band really cut loose, showcasing that aforementioned rock influence on the sprawling, riff friendly instrumental, Loose Cartilage, that comes complete with molten guitar licks, delicious Hammond organ and the obligatory horns, whilst Frostbite reminds me of baggy era indie with it’s drawled out vocals and rolling groove.
Clash Magazine once called The Black Seeds “one of the best reggae acts on the planet” on the evidence of Dust And Dirt, I’d say they got it half right, I think you can remove the word “reggae” from that statement, the band have a great deal more going on than a simple genre classification. Dust And Dirt could well be the first essential summer album of the year, it’s hot, it’s contagious and it’s so goddamn funky.
Rhythm & Booze Rating 10
www.theblackseeds.com