Katchafire - Legacy

First studio album from these roots rockers from Aotearoa in eight years, and it proves quite a remarkably enjoyable work, with the standout tracks ''100'', ''Ain't Gonna Give Up'' and ''Addicted''. ''Addicted'' is really lovely, with their trademark choir backing vocals, some of the lyrics are somewhat politically charged. They have a really big emphasis on vocals and basing a song around a groove. The overall sound is quite reminiscent of Herbs in their peak, with multiple singers, soaring bass lines, rhythmic guitar, horn sections, organ parts and some fine lead guitar work. Katchafire are actually touring Australia later this year, so be sure to venture along to one of their gigs if you find yourself in the vicinity.

Chronixx - Chronology

A decent album from a new school young upstart, particularly the tracks ''Spanish Town Rockin’”, “Selassie Children'', ''Legend'', ''Skankin' Sweet'', “Smile Jamaica” and ''I Can''. He is part of the ''reggae revival'' movement. His music sounds like it would be very engaging in a live setting either club or festival. It has a more organic sound to the modern dancehall, which is dominated by synthesizers. Chronixx performs with a live band, and this album may be cast aside as pretentious work paying homage to a bygone era from a youngster, but it has resulted from a newer interest in reggae thanks to the likes of Skip Marley and Hollie Cook. This album proves there is still some good quality reggae coming out of Jamaica.

Various Artists - Once Were Warriors Soundtrack

This is great soundtrack, and great snapshot into the New Zealand history and its cultural influences. Check out the track ''Rua Kenana'' which is based on the real story of Rua Kenana Hepetipa, who was a Maori prophet whose people resisted First World War conscription in New Zealand on his command, and then after an ensuing violent altercation with police, was arrested. The lyrics go along the lines ''He told his people not to go to war, let the white man fight the white man's war''. It's an intriguing story that lives long in the imaginations of the listeners. The style of the music is a more contemporary sound, probably the modern ragga style, the track ''What's The Time Mr. Wolf'' is also worth a listen. One can see that reggae and the influence of reggae has a profound impact on the styles of music that emerged from New Zealand/Aotearoa, intertwined with traditional Maori culture.

Herbs - 13 Years Of Herbs ''The Best Of''

This is a fantastic album, the heights of reggae in Oceania, which have not yet been surpassed from anyone in the region since Herbs radicalized the music scene after a Bob Marley tour that captivated the nation. I really life the track ''Dragons & Demons'' and ''Sensitive To A Smile'' both those tracks are perfect and they could not have been delivered better. They have a really distinct sound that is 70's reggae with a Pacific influence especially in the vocals. They must be 'cashing in' considerably from the royalties from ''Slice Of Heaven'', alas from all those plays on Max. Regardless of this novelty, this album is filled with glee from the pioneering reggae legends from New Zealand/Aotearoa.

Katchafire - Say What You're Thinking

As I mentioned earlier in a previous post, reggae is huge in New Zealand, with many people knowing the words of a lot of songs of the Jamaican legends like Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff. Say What You're Thinking from New Zealand outfit Katchafire has some really good gems of songs that are graced with some incredible backing vocals that sound like the purest of choirs. Check out songs like ''This World'' and ''Hold On''. The lyrics in both of those tracks are very poignant in the case of the latter, and also political in the former. The backing vocals are reminiscent of the choirs in the Dave Dobbyn track ''Slice of Heaven'', which is funnily enough backed by Herbs, the New Zealand reggae pioneers. Both Herbs' and Marley's influence is profoundly heard in Katchafire's music. The legend of reggae lives on in Aotearoa.

Various Artists - Studio One Supreme: Maximum 70s & 80s Early Dancehall Sounds: Soul Jazz Records

This is an interesting compilation with some very good sounds going on, and the highlight being the Horace Andy track ''Show And Tell'', and Horace Andy actually performed at the Albert Hall in Launceston with backing from Melbourne based musicians Mista Savona in 2008. I was actually present as an 18 year old; barely old enough to get my head around Horace Andy's legacy but it was an amazing gig. He played ''Skylarking'' with much applause and the band was tight, and what sticks out from this gig was in fact it was a free event of part of Ten Days on the Island. The gig will go down in annals of Tasmanian music gigs history and is part of folklore. Basically it was the only notable reggae musician to play a concert, let alone a free concert in Launceston. As a young punk rocker this was the highlight of the year, as growing up in Launceston was boring most of the time with not much to do for creative young people. Music was an escape.

Various Artists - Dancehall Reggae Anthems

This is a fun enjoyable compilation I stumbled upon, and showcases dancehall and its origins. To describe the dancehall sound, in its modern form is basically a fusion of electro-instrumentation, including synthesizer etc. It is a fusion of electro and deejaying, which is toasting, which is similar to rapping. So if one was interested in rap, they may or may not appreciate dancehall. I think the best standout tracks are ''Who Am I'' by Beenie Man. Beenie Man is immensely talented and I also like the Sanchez track, he is joyous, and his track ''I Can't Wait''. All in all like many classical reggae fans who disapprove of dancehall and think it's basically rubbish, there are some very talented established artists who carried on reggae's premise and ideology into the future, and it is only natural that music evolves, changes and re-invents itself through time.