Graham Reid | | <1 min read
Mache becife
This French outfit – who do exactly what their band name claims – appeared in New Zealand at the 2014 Womad and were rightly acclaimed . . . although selling reggae to a Kiwi audience isn't exactly a stretch.
What sets the ensemble apart from many other practitioners in the good-vibe groove is how they co-opt gruff-voiced ragga, sometimes aggressive percussion, allusions to more exotic cultures outside of the Jamaica/France axis (North Africa) and old school roots into the same mix as the more familiar genre styles.
This mix of French and English language lyrics – with guest vocalists Naaman and Mellow Mood, both famous en France – also lift this past the landslide of international reggae releases.
Because they aren't on our radar for a tour, this 14-song collection may well go past most reggae aficionados . . . but anyone who caught them at Womad will doubtless seek this out with enthusiasm.
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