Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: Ska

  • Happy Machine

    Happy Machine

    Touring Australia this month, December, is the band born from the post war trauma of Bosnia Herzegovina, Dubioza Kolektiv, a band that has pulled together a raft of musical influences to create something that is powerful, subjective, influential and mostly a powerhouse of sound and talent.

    In 2004 the band released their first album ‘Dubioza Kolektiv’ to great acclaim within Bosnia, something that had not been seen for many, many years. An ep followed with the addition of musicians Benjamin Zephaniah and Mush Khan, adding to the line-up of talent, to create ‘Open Wild’. ‘Dubanamite’ followed and by this time their popularity was spreading past the Bosnian boarders and gathering a following across the Balkan region.

    Over the years their following has increased with the group gaining world-wide acclaim with their fifth album ‘Wild Wild East’ being picked up by Koolarrow Records and their music going global. This encouraged the group to produce their next album ‘Apsurdistan’ in 2013 which attracted more than 300,000 downloads, which is not bad for a band that says straight up they are confrontational, their subject matter can be ‘bold and uncompromising’ and always challenging.

    This latest album Happy Machine shows a band that has come of age, presenting a raft of beats and sounds from techno ‘thrash’ to SKA, Latino and somewhere in there reggae, amongst other influences and even a dash of Punjabi vocals from BEE2. Happy Machine has been inspired by the troubled times we live in, the Syrian refugee crisis, and the Gezi park protests in Istanbul.

    But the reality is that it really does not matter what the driver is behind the creation of the music, but it sure does matter that the beat is appealing; it does matter that whoever you are when you are listening to this group of talented musicians and friends that you enjoy the music, and it does matter that no matter what mood you are in when you first come face to face, or rather beat to beat, with this remarkably sophisticated ‘urban beat’ created by  Dubioza Kolektiv that you really will enjoy it for exactly what it is, a great sound, a great beat and a pulsating statement about life and living.

    Touring Australia in December Dubioza Kolektiv is a group that you should make time to catch at an venue near you, as it is one show you will long remember with the unapologetic beat remaining with you long, long after the concert is over.

    Check out their video clip on you-tube to get a taste of what is to come when this remarkable group hit your town this December. Best of all download their tracks for free – it is their gift to you.

  • Sierra Kilo Alpha

    Sierra Kilo Alpha

    Right from the first note the big, rich full bodied sound simply hits you full on with no excuses, no excuse- me’s, just, plain fun, funk and enjoyment, with the underlying driving force being fun, reggae and more fun, much more fun!

    Don’t simply believe me, just listen to the lyrics hidden within the beat and then you decide just what the bottom line is for these talent muso’s out to enjoy what they do best, make music.

    Lead by Nicky Bomba, the band formed up more than ten years ago to celebrate the wonderful Jamaican sound known as Ska, just one time only, which lead to yearly appearances, until they realised they were onto something and formed a more cohesive approach to their, what was fast becoming, signature sound, Ska with attitude.

    This latest release, the second album for the group, has been formed around a collaborative effort of the many band members who all had something to contribute, so much so that the entire concept changed and then the fun really began; the end product is something that makes you ‘move with the groove’, smile and simply enjoy the beat.

    Each of the tracks has a very different set of lyrics, some reminiscent of Mad Magazine, a beloved of the ‘50’ and ‘60’s era, where anything went and somehow it all made sense. When you consider Ska was born about this time, the late 1950’s to early 1960’s, perhaps the comparison is not so far out.

    Created in Jamaica in celebration of their Independence, Ska was representative of a new era, one of hope, and new beginnings. Powerful, rich, enjoyable and with the certain panache only achieved by the Jamaicans and their music, Ska was a fresh new addition to the world of music.

    Melbourne Ska Orchestra (MSO) have taken it one step further adding the sound of big band, a little swing, definitely funk, and somewhere in their there is sure to be a little jazz as well; there is a little something of everything packaged into an energetic, pulse pounding  energy.

    Released in time for their Australian tour, the words and music are alive with power and passion from the somewhere between 17 to 35 members of MSO, as they do what they love to do best; create a fantastic new sound, based in the tremendously up-beat rhythms know as Ska, introducing a new generation to an all pervasive sound which is totally hard to forget.

    If the sound is this full on the recording – full honours to the recording studios for capturing the essence as well as the sound – the live shows will simply blow you over with their energy, passion and fun!

    If you are anywhere around a venue where they are performing live, either in Australia or overseas, where they have a huge following, make sure you go have a listen; it will change your day!

    P.S. you also get a pair of 3D glasses and a funky little magazine with the album! Bit special!