Rhythm & Booze An online music webzine created by music lovers for music lovers.

27 March, 2015

New Kingston-Kingston City

Filed under: Recorded Reviews,reggae — Tags: kingston city, new album, new kingston — willmunn @ 20:41

Back in 2013 New York based reggae brotherhood New Kingston made waves with the release of the acclaimed Kingston University album and following on that success the trio have recently inked a deal with reggae powerhouse label, Easy Star Records for the release of their follow up, Kingston City. On the new album, the band weld together a combination of roots reggae, rocksteady and dancehall vibes to create a varied and infectious take on the reggae genre as they look to continue their uprising.

The album opens with the Today, a glorious statement of intent, as the band craft a stunning statement of intent, blending hard hitting social commentary, infectious soulful vocal harmonies, driving beats and that all important elastic bass, showcasing the group’s unique talent for writing songs for both the feet and the mind.
Who Tell Them sees New Kingston add funky horns and choppy guitars over a groove-laden rhythm for a glorious sun-kissed ode to the joys of Marijuana, Honorable is a slow burning number uniting a delicious soul croon to New Kingston’s almost trippy groove, whilst You Are Mine opens with a delicate piano, before Hawaiian singer-songwriter Kimie Miner adds a beautiful counter vocal helping the band in creating a stunning heartfelt ballad uniting R&B and reggae to dazzling effect.
Further guests join New Kingston throughout the album’s duration, further peppering the band’s already potent sound, The Wailing Souls add their exquisite harmonies to Protect Me, whilst late, great reggae superstar Sugar Minott joins the fun on the highly addictive Certain Girls. The album’s penultimate track, I Believe In Me, is almost worth the price of admission alone, as New Kingston strip their sound down to a sole, finger picked acoustic guitar and their ever soulful harmonies, bringing to mind the likes of Natty (high praise from me) in it’s simplicity, whilst in direct contrast the album ends on a winning combination of throbbing bass and funk ridden horns in the shape of Conquer Dem.
Kingston City is a varied, yet infectious album from start to finish, taking in elements of roots reggae, dancehall and even soul, the band obviously have a real passion for what they do and that shines in the delivery of the twelve tracks on here, this is reggae at it’s absolute best, so turn up the volume, let the sunshine in and enjoy.
Rhythm & Booze Rating 10
www.newkingstonmusic.com

5 December, 2014

New Town Kings-Pull Up & Rewind

Filed under: Recorded Reviews,reggae,ska — Tags: New EP, New Town Kings, pull up & rewind — willmunn @ 16:48

New Town Kings are a nine-piece Essex based band that combine ska, reggae and rocksteady to create a potent, infectious sound unites both the traditional Jamaican sounds and a more modern UK twist.

This year New Town Kings have been hard at work, performing live and bringing their sunshine grooves to the likes of Boomtown Fair and the Rebellion Punk Festival winning over new fans with their contagious summer vibes.

Four track affair, Pull Up & Rewind is a stunning showcase of the band’s unique and genre straddling vision from the political and socially aware lead track Change to the laid-back groove-laden Grabbed My Hand, New Town Kings prove their equally adept at addressing the nation as they are winning over the ladies. Change is a rousing, fiery ska infused number fueled by a driving bassline, a flurry of horns and frontman’s Dabs Bonner’s chant like vocal urging us to change, the track could be lifted straight out of the Specials song book. whilst in direct contrast Grabbed My Hand is a wonderful soulful reggae love lament with Bonner’s vocals becoming a Dennis Brown like croon, whilst the band create a delicate background of bubbling bass, uplifting horns and choppy guitars.

Between the lovers lament and the political fire of Change, the band also offer up a glorious sub two and a half minute Luna Rosa, a frantic, vibrant, latin inspired, funky ska number complete with rapid fire verses and hook heavy chorus, whilst Cool The Pressure brings the EP to a close with a lovely mild and mellow slice of rocksteady enriched by a brief yet enthralling saxophone solo, and a suitably easy-going, placid lead vocal asking for calm in a high pressured world.

Pull Up & Rewind is a brilliant and addictive affair from start to finish, bringing some much needed sunshine into our lives over the cold winter months ahead, forget the outside world you can now have the sound of the summer inside your homes all year round!!!

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.facebook.com/newtownkings

31 July, 2014

Various Artists-Bob Dylan In The 80’s Volume One

Filed under: acoustic,alternative,americana,blues,compilation,country,folk,indie,R&B / Soul,Recorded Reviews,reggae,rock,rock n roll,roots,singer-songwriter — Tags: blitzen trapper, bob dylan in the 80's, Bonnie Prince Billy, Built To Spill, Carl Broemel, craig finn, Dawn Landes, Deer Tick, Elvis Perkins, Glan Hansard, Langhorne Slim, lucius, new album, Reggie Watts, various artists — willmunn @ 12:36

Here’s a somewhat strange concept, a covers album of Bob Dylan in what, most people would declare, the poets weakest era (Bob suffered both critically and commerically throughout the decade!!), in fact most music fans maybe fairly ignorant to the majority of Dylan’s 80’s output with the likes of Saved, Knocked Out Loaded and Infidels barely registering on all but the hardened Dylan fans radars.

However producers Jesse Lauter (Elvis Perkins, The Low Anthem) and Sean O’Brien (Dawes, Papa) have set about addressing the forgotten era of Dylan by collaborating with a number of artists and Dylan fans to showcase what you may have been missing.

The album not only is an awareness raising affair for Dylan of the 80’s but also set’s to help raise funds for a fantastic charity, Pencils Of Promise (an organization that builds schools and eductational opportunities in the developing world) by donating a portion of the proceeds of the sale of this album. a win-win situation where purchasers are introduced to some brilliant music and give to the needy.

The compilation itself features a number of big names from the aforementioned Elvis Perkins to Deer Tick, Slash, Craig Finn (Hold Steady) and Dawn Landes & Bonnie “Prince” Billy among others all delivering rousing performances and highlighting the pen of Bob Dylan in the forgotten decade.

The album open’s with a gloriously ramshackle, rustic rendition of Got My Mind Made Up (from Knocked Out Loaded) by Langhorne Slim & The Law who weld together boogie woogie piano, handclaps, strummed acoustics and a raw, rousing,  infectious vocal delivery that sets the mood brilliantly. From there on in we’re treated to a variety of styles and approaches as the various artists reintrupt to their own strengths.

Highlights come thick and fast, from the likes of the gorgeous blissed out soul/reggae version of Brownsville Girl (Knocked Out Loaded) by Reggie Watts, the aforementioned Craig Finn with a brilliant piano led (Springsteen-esque) Sweetheart Like You (Infidels), the twanging country of Ivan & Alyosha’s You Changed By Life (Shot Of Love Outtakes), the beautiful folk lament of Dawn Landes & Bonnie Prince Billy’s understated Dark Eyes (Empire Burlesque) and the glorious alternative indie and muted horn assisted Series Of Dreams (Oh Mercy Outtakes) by Yellowcard. Whilst there’s no way you can review this album without mentioning the wonderfully the ahem, more warped, percussion friendly version of Waiting To Get Beat (Empire Burlesque) by Tea Leaf Green and the insane take on Wiggle Wiggle (Under The Red Sky) by Aaron Freeman (Ween) & Slash, which quite frankly has to be heard to be believed.

The seventeen track affair (24 if you manage to track down the deluxe vinyl edition with the bonus download code) is intriguing, captivating and at times surreal journey through the lesser acclaimed works by the most important songwriter born of this world. And if, as the album’s title suggests this only the first volume, sign me up for the subsequent releases now!!

Rhythm & Booze Rating 10

 

5 October, 2012

Phoenix City All-Stars Present 2 Tone Ska

Filed under: Recorded Reviews,reggae,ska — Tags: 2 tone gone ska, new album, phoenix city all-stars — willmunn @ 15:19

Ok so we’ve not had much of a summer in this country and we can moan and groan as much as we like, but you know we all know what’s like, we know what to expect so it’s about time we all found our inner sun. Basically what I mean by that is what makes you feel all warm and summery inside? for me it’s music and in particularly ska, for some reason the sound of that glorious elastic bass groove has me dreaming of supping in the sun and guzzling down barbecue food, I think it’s just because I personally find ska (and reggae for that matter) gloriously uplifting and fun.

The Phoenix All-Stars (various personal taken from a variety of acts on Phoenix City Records) understand all this and they also understand that the legendary 2 Tone Records (home to all of the most important UK acts at one time or another) owes quite a debt to the blissed out reggae grooves of the paradise island (Jamaica) and with all this in mind the band decided to pay tribute to both 2 Tone and their forefathers by replanting one UK’s most iconic labels back into 60’s Jamaica and the sunshine (hope you’re all following me here). So basically this means that this all star band reinvent the likes of One Step Beyond, Tears Of A Clown and Ghost Town by giving them a rocksteady, reggae and dub makeover.

On the whole what you get here is a stunning blissful album full of rolling reggae grooves, clever instrumentation and heartfelt interpretations of 2 Tone’s biggest hits. Deep organ collides with guitar and melodica, whilst bursts of loving horns pepper the already potent mix, whilst the aforementioned infectious elastic bass and groovesome percussion create that ever contagious rhythm.

The majority of the tracks on here are twisted into infectious hazy day instrumentals that slowly seduce the listener like the slow descent of a magical sunset with the likes of One Step Beyond, The Prince and Too Much Too Dub particularly finding favour round these parts. But if that wasn’t already enough of an incentive to part with your hard earned cash, the band rope in legendary frontman Dave Barker (the voice of Dave & Ansell Collins) to provide lead vocals on a mesmeric rendition of Tears Of A Clown and I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down. Whilst I can’t leave without mentioning the sumptuous instrumental version of Ghost Town that has to be heard to be believed.

So there you have it Phoenix City All-Stars manage to raise the sun and the spirits (even on a dreary October day) on a beautiful collection of classic ska tracks done the Jamaican way, if you like ska, reggae, rocksteady, dub or just like a decent groove to move to you’ll love this sun-kissed beauty.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

www.phoenixcityrecords

29 May, 2012

The Black Seeds-Dust And Dirt

Filed under: disco,funk,Recorded Reviews,reggae,rock,soul — Tags: dust and dirt, the black seeds — willmunn @ 15:20

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

 

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