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Anyone who has read my recent review of Red Hot Chili
Peppers "Stadium Arcadium" will have noted that I bemoaned
the fact that they had left their punk/funk roots far
behind. Thankfully as one door closes another one opens and
through this particular portal please welcome Cardiff's
Adequate Seven.
Kicking things off with 2005's single "Splitting Up" this
record bounces along on a really positive vibe (this track
has, for example, got to be the most uplifting break-up song
ever!). The elastic basslines (current double A-side single
track "Gotta Stay Focused" is a prime example of this, WD's
bass really drives the song along) and judicious use of
horns throughout give every track a feel good factor, even
when the band are tackling issues like racial harmony ("Now
Its Time") and political mistrust ("Liar"). The band aren't
afraid to give us a harder edge either though, "King
Leopolds Mines" or "Black Smoke In Desert Skies" for example
having a punk sound reminiscent of late 80's NYHC.
AD7 display some very definite British roots despite the
overly American nature of their obvious influences, there's
(slight) traces of Madness in a couple of places and Jamie's
rapping over a sparser funk backing on "Forward Motion"
evokes prime time Stereo MC's circa "Ground Level" that's
not to detract from an overall package that is purely their
own, one I'm looking forward to catching live.
Fans of the first four Chilis albums, the same era Less Than
Jake or The Atom Seed (anyone else remember them??) have got
worthy torchbearers to the punk/funk standard in AD7,
contrary to Extremes 1990 advice lets get the funk in!!
Let Us Know Your Views On 'Here On Earth' |
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Track List
Splitting Up
Head Up High
Now It's Time
Across The Bridge
Set Your Sights
King Leopold's Ghost
Seven Mics For Seven Brothers
Liar
Gotta Stay Focused
Black Smoke In Desert Skies
Like It Or Not
Forward Motion
Pimpin' The Funk (Draining The Blood)
Line Up
Jamie Searle - Vocals
Pete Barnes - Guitars
Kassim D. Basma - Guitars
Gavin Fitzjohn - Trumpet
Tom Pinder - Trombone
WD Davies - Bass
Ben Reynolds - Drums
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