Can Reggae survive the 21st Century? Here are two recent releases that look back, and WAY back, in order to maybe move forward.
The GPGDS consists of James Searl/b-voc, Chris O’Grian/dr-voc, Dylan Savage/g-voc, Dan Keller/g-p-voc and Aaron Li pp/key and they make the reggae groove sound like it’s a hot sweaty club with either Desmond Dekkar or Toots and the Maytals at the helm . Some rich vocals are in front of chipper tunes like the B3-lead “Steady” and “Not the Fool,” while a bluesy and thick groove is palpable on”Mr. Cop.” Classic 60s riffs and backbeat sizzles on “Whatever Cost” and “Home” with sounds that sound both fresh and timeless. Not bad at all, mon!
As far as gutsy ideas, the thought of remaking Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon with a Jamaican feel is up there with Toots Hibbert’s revamping John Denver “Take Me Home, Country Road.” Mixings of synthetic percussion with reggae lilts are felt on “Speak to Me”, and “On the Run” could have been easily been produced by Brian Eno. Meanwhile, stoner classics such as “Time” and “Money” actually work quite well, taking the desultory mood out and replacing it with a bit of a party atmosphere, no small feat in itself. Can’t wait to hear their version of Adam Heart Mother!
Easy Star Records