The Rockin’ Preachers

Well, summer is finally here and I don’t know about you but for me that means lots of Beach Boys, Ramones and classic 60s Reggae/Ska/Rocksteady on the stereo. Now, like I stated in my review of Unitone HiFi/Jefferson Belt‘s split 7″ (read it here) I am fully aware that it’s a bit snobbish attitude but my main problem with modern reggae is the production. It’s just too clean-sounding and lack the grit and sheer oomph of let’s say Lloyd Charmers‘ outings. French group The Rockin’ Preachers might still sound a bit too polished but they thankfully avoid the modern dancehall sounds and sure have the vibe and songwriting down!

Four songs of upbeat, midtempo summer-esque reggae/ska vibes are served up on their debut (?) EP (the last one an instrumental version) – my favorite being Give Me Some Light. Great, great musicianship and some really good vocal delivery from the lead singer and his back-ups (sorry, no names as their site is low on info and no linked website) proving me once again wrong. Enjoy yourself (it’s later than you think)!

Sample track: 

Bandcamp: http://therockinpreachers.bandcamp.com/
Website: N/A

Unitone HiFi/Jefferson Belt split 7″

Dancehall isn’t really my cup of tea to be honest. Being more into the ’60s style of reggae, ska and rocksteady it always sounded wrong to my ears on account of not being performed on analog instruments. Might be a snobbish attitude, but production to me is an important issue and the modern sounds of Jamaica seem to have way more in common with rave partys on Crete than burnt out island studios where geniuses like King Tubby or Lee Perry could be found behind the controls. Anyway, I’m glad I discovered New Zealand outfit Unitone HiFi and their 2008 split 7″ with Jefferson Belt ’cause they proved me wrong.

On their Up to Eleven the band offers up a tasty blend of heavy classic reggae dub sounds mixed with modern electronica, managing to give us retro freaks our fill while still having enough dancefloor feel for those more “modern inclined”. Nice samples, thick bassline – perfect to groove on. Tons more material on their Bandcamp, so check ’em out!

Sample track:

Bandcamp: http://unitonehifinz.bandcamp.com/
Website: http://www.myspace.com/unitonehifi

Wild Belle

A great blend of roots reggae and modern electronica is served up by married (?) couple Natalie and Elliot Bergman on their debut 12″ EP/digital release Keep You. Making music under the Wild Belle moniker, they offer up some nice dub reggae sounds with some slight surf-ish guitars and a fitting vocal delivery occasionally bringing to mind Duffy.

There’s certainly lots of commercial appeal to this outfit and the track has “airplay” written all over it. Apparently not available as a download, so buy the vinyl version and/or keep your fingers crossed they’ll release more material soon.

Sample track:

Bandcamp: http://wildbelle.bandcamp.com/
Website: http://www.facebook.com/wildbelle

Rocksteady Breakfast

Minneapolis outfit Rocksteady Breakfast offers up a nice blend of punk/SoCal hardcore and UK-flavored rocksteady on their self-titled debut released earlier this year. Nice snotty vocals alternating between English and Spanish covering pretty classic themes, nice horn section with some neat organ noodlings, and even though they’re not breaking new ground musically it’s still catchy with nice hooks, the occasional sing-along chorus and a healthy dose of Punk Rock sloppiness.

Fans of Rancid, The Specials or Operation Ivy should definitely check this out, and it’s a free download, so what ya got to lose?

Sample track:

Bandcamp: http://rocksteadybreakfast.bandcamp.com/
Website: N/A