Album Review: Love & Fire

What a privilege it is to review a legendary band that is The Black Seeds. The band has been entertaining and soothing the ears of many a listener now since 1998. Their newest release Love & Fire is here and does this album live up to the adulations that I have just bestowed upon them? Have a read and find out.

It is quite apropos that the first song is Let the Sunshine Through as I sit here in the midst of winter as the weather is average at best, which is an understatement. I do not think there is any time when the beats of reggae are bad. This song has such a pleasant beat and relaxed harmonies that is a great scene setter for not only your day but this album in general. This could quite possibly be my waking up song every morning from this time going forwards.

Raised with Love comes with a busy bass line and much anticipated brass beats. I am already sold once the trumpets begin there serenading within any song. Much like the sassy saxophone, any brass instrument is worth its weight in gold and The Black Seeds know how to make the most of them. It is like a penalty kick in football, I am always going to score, I just now it.

It’s So Real brings an element of funk to the proceedings just in case you felt like adding a small hip thrust into your already excited body that the previous songs brought. I like the fact that this changes up the feel of the album, and still managing to bring the beauty of the brass instruments gets a big thumbs up from me.

Game Over has a very melancholy undertone, as the name would suggest, with an important message about life and surviving the onslaught of issues that may come your way. I like its sultry ska/reggae beat that enables you to feel the optimism underlying the whole song. Which, in a stroke of irony, or maybe not, takes us to the final song Raised with Love Dub which is all uplifting. Who does not want to be raised with a bit of love dub? Hands down those who just raised theirs.

It goes without saying that this album brings a lot of good vibes, great production and a lot to ponder from songs such as Non Justice, Greatest Expectations and Game Over to name just three. A band for all occasions, you could let this album play on loop at the next family get together and I will give the Chris Chick guarantee that there will be no raised tensions. This is a very easy listen with only 10 tracks that are all as good as each other but I would hate to waste anymore of anyone’s time and just state that this well worth a listen and supporting a treasure New Zealand iconic music institution.

This definitely gets a strong 7/10 for me, and I would definitely buy a copy for my grandma, which is a major endorsement considering her lack of liking anything.