New Band: Hobo Chang
Everyone in the world likes reggae right? If that's not strictly true, then every one in the world likes sixties and seventies roots and rocksteady... it's impossible NOT to like it. If you don't, then you don't have soul maaan. With that, it puzzles me why there aren't more new bands having a stab at making vintage (sounding) reggae. I mean... the basis of a roots track are a piece of piss aren't they? (probably not).
Anyway, one band taking the good bits of Studio One and mixing it with sixties soul and jazz is Hobo Chang. Don't! Come back! I know it sounds contrived and acid jazzy... but give 'em a chance! Hobo Chang's sound is a strange middle ground between loads of your fave records... okay, there's no garage or psych in there but jesus man, we need a change now and again.
Whilst people dig the sound of Nu-Soul (as it's probably called... I'm talking about Winehouse et al), then there's no reason to not enjoy Hobo Chang. There's a sniff of Bristol about 'em (Portishead, Massive Attack) while still retaining a certain sixtiesness. To be honest, I thought I was gonna hate 'em... but after hearing Eulogy, So Low Blues and finding out they put a John Cooper Clarke poem to music... man, what's not to like?
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