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Image via Unsplash.
Sounds like:
Vampire Weekend,
White Magic
Why do we like this?
Being a new convert to the joys of embracing one's inner hippie through folk music, inspired by a chance hearing of Tallest Man on Earth (yeah, music has the habit of taking its sweet time to get to us on the tip of Africa in Cape Town), I was quite intrigued to tackle this review of the psych-afro-pop project of White Magic's Sleepy Doug Shaw.
The name "Highlife" comes from a West African music genre of the same name. The African influence doesn't end there -- the song "Tuareg Dancehall" derives its name from a population of Saharan nomads.
Best Bless starts off quite curiously with a pretty lil' African percussion and lilting guitar ditty. I say curious as it fades out after only 45 seconds, as if they were warming the listener up for what's to come. The track "F Kenya Rip" sounds like a band of previously clean-cut 60s musos that recently discovered Sandy Denny and psychedelic drugs; the song features interweaving, celtic guitar lines that seem to build as the song progresses.
"Burying Stones" is the highlight of the EP. An infectious, bouncy bass line underpins a very happy-go-lucky song that Vampire Weekend would be proud to have in their repertoire. Finally, the album closer "Wet Palm Trees" directs the mood into the introspective through a more stripped down use of just African flute/panpipe, acoustic guitar,and harmonised vocals.
With its layers of busy guitars and soaring vocal harmony refrains, Best Bless is a refreshing treat to listen to, especially with the overflowing amount of folk music that seems to be around.
The name "Highlife" comes from a West African music genre of the same name. The African influence doesn't end there -- the song "Tuareg Dancehall" derives its name from a population of Saharan nomads.
Best Bless starts off quite curiously with a pretty lil' African percussion and lilting guitar ditty. I say curious as it fades out after only 45 seconds, as if they were warming the listener up for what's to come. The track "F Kenya Rip" sounds like a band of previously clean-cut 60s musos that recently discovered Sandy Denny and psychedelic drugs; the song features interweaving, celtic guitar lines that seem to build as the song progresses.
"Burying Stones" is the highlight of the EP. An infectious, bouncy bass line underpins a very happy-go-lucky song that Vampire Weekend would be proud to have in their repertoire. Finally, the album closer "Wet Palm Trees" directs the mood into the introspective through a more stripped down use of just African flute/panpipe, acoustic guitar,and harmonised vocals.
With its layers of busy guitars and soaring vocal harmony refrains, Best Bless is a refreshing treat to listen to, especially with the overflowing amount of folk music that seems to be around.
Streaming source:
http://soundcloud.com/feisty-fury/highlife-f-kenya-rip
TOUR DATES
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