Refreshed and refueled for a new reggae reckoning, the New Zealand platinum album-selling band Katchafire released their 12-track album this week titled LEGACY with support from top Jamaican names. The album taps the brakes and turns on the cruise control, unafraid to check the rearview mirror for trusty old tricks which, thankfully, means no unfamiliar turns and shortcuts. This isn’t to say that there isn’t anything notable happening throughout the album.
Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Logan Bell’s vocal performance elevates the tracks to amazing heights
Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Logan Bell’s vocal performance elevates the tracks to amazing heights. The band invites notable and respected Jamaican producers, musicians and engineers to lend a helping hand in the album, including Clive Hunt, Bulby York, Notis ‘Heavyweight’ Rockaz, Chevaughn Clayton, Dean Fraser, Stephen Maxwell, Kirk Bennett, Lamont Savory, five-time GRAMMY-winning engineer, James ‘Bonzai’ Caruso (Damian & Stephen Marley, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Ice-T), along with Hawaii’s notable talent, Anuhea who adds a rich, soulful layer to the head-rushing track “Ain’t Gonna Give Up”.
The opening track kicks off in a very Katchafire-like fashion, introducing early on the horns that will play an essential role throughout the album. “Ain’t Gonna Give Up”, featuring the beautiful songstress Anuhea, further explores a bit of R&B infused with reggae within the main structures: something that is also apparent in the track “100”, which makes excellent use of the keys to elevate the track further.
Similarly, the album features a more enhanced influence of old-school roots reggae. There are moments where roots and rocksteady come forth, as is the case with “Wasted”, creating a mesmerizing sonic oasis.
In LEGACY, Katchafire manages to combine a wealth of influences into something unexpectedly singular, making the album a wonderful discovery, while challenging expectations within the songs themselves, which will impress longtime fans or first-time listeners.
The band is currently gearing up for a world tour in support of their album starting June 13th, 2018. Keep an eye out for a city near you!
Download LEGACY on
Track Listing
- Fyah in the Trenches
- Love Today
- I Can Feel it a Lot
- 100
- Walk With Me
- Aint Gona Give Up
- Wasted
- One More Day
- Luv Plan
- Living As 1
- Addicted
- Way Beyond
Katchafire “Way Beyond” music video
Release Date: June 1, 2018
Label: Katchafire/Zojak World Wide
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Disclaimer: All views presented in this album review are those of the reviewer and not necessarily those of Top Shelf Music.
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