The Black Seeds – Fabric
(Proville Records / Rhythmethod)
Reviewed by Bridget Herlihy.
Just in time for the warmer months New Zealand’s darlings of roots and reggae The Black Seeds are back with their sixth studio album Fabric, a tapestry of twelve rich tracks that capture the very essence of one of our most adored groups.
It doesn’t seem that long ago that the Seeds burst onto the airwaves with their debut release Keep on Pushing, yet it has been sixteen years since Barnaby Weir and co. grabbed the attention of ears far and wide with their own sweet, distinctive brand of roots-inspired reggae with a dash of dub and funk for good measure. And over those sixteen years the sounds of The Black Seeds have undeniably become synonymous with the quintessential Kiwi summer, providing a mellow soundtrack for countless balmy days spent at the beach, in the backyard, and during the obligatory summer road-trip.
Fabric once again provides a rich, full sound. The album’s first single Better Days firmly cements overall vibe of the album, with frontman Barnaby Weir’s distinctive vocals continue to shine brightly, providing the perfect accompaniment to a skillfully interwoven array of melodic beats, lush guitars and heavy basslines. Title track Fabric is more stripped back, creating a hypnotic synth-driven soundscape. The Seeds never stray far from their signature sound, and this may very well be the secret to their longevity; they do what they do best, and indeed they do it very well.
