Rating: 4 out of 5
After winning Best Roots Album at last year’s 2012 New Zealand Music Awards, Wellington band The Black Seeds have now re-released a Deluxe Edition of their chart topping fifth album Dust and Dirt. Their latest highly anticipated offering has been hailed by a number of critics as their best CD since their debut album. Oh, and did we mention Rolling Stone magazine called them the ‘best reggae band in the world right now’?!
The sound:
A staple of the New Zealand music scene, The Black Seeds effortlessly blend dub, jazz fusion, roots, reggae and funk (throwing in a little disco and rock for good measure) to create an album across a number of music genres.
The tracks:
As far as the original album tracks go Pippy Pip‘s stomp-clap catchy rhythm, horns and laid back vocals will have you wanting more, as will Don’t Turn Around – their 70’s disco funk offering. Gabriel’s Strut Dub has an addictive bass line (the kind that resounds in your chest when turned up) and a strutting beat that slows the pace. A gutsy guitar and drums start to Loose Cartilage sounds a little more Lenny Kravitz than quintessential Black Seeds, but its break into instrumental bluesy jazz fusion make this one of the more noteworthy tracks on the album and truly showcases the musical ability of this band.
The seven new bonus tracks feature instrumental song Toon-A-Loon, and six alternative remixes/versions of tracks (mostly a little more instrumental, a little more dub, and a little more laid back) from the original Dust and Dirt album.
The verdict:
Laid back, funky, new and improved Black Seeds. Grab a couple of cold beers or ciders, fire up the barbecue and pop this CD on; definitely one of the top albums of the summer. Can’t wait to hear the tracks live at Homegrown in Wellington later this summer!
For more information, visit www.theblackseeds.com or check them out on Facebook www.facebook.com/theblackseeds.
Photo / Supplied