Wara – Leave To Remain (Movimientos
Records)
CD/DL
Out Now
Just when you were looking for a new
Latin/Salsa/Hip Hop/Jazz/Soul/Reggae/Jazz album, along comes Wara with a fine
debut. No, I kid you not. Wara manage to fuse together all those styles
into a very likeable collection of songs that will either make you want to get
up and dance (yes, even me), smile or frown at the lyrical content, or, just
sit tapping your feet away until they can tap no more.
A nine piece band from eight
countries is bound to throw up differing styles, but it’s not just the music
that is infectious. The lyrics bite,
whether it is on subjects of (im)migration or social identity on Somewhereland
and the title track, or, Run For Cover with its London riots commentary. What is clever is the switch from English to
South American Portuguese without effort and fitting in perfectly with the rest
of the track.
Their energy cannot be denied, and
the tight rhythms, effervescent percussion and overall multi-faceted
arrangements are something that has helped them fill dancefloors since the
release of the acclaimed Flesh And Bone EP two years ago. The title track is an explosive affair which
also manages to cram in a marvellous rap courtesy of MC Murmur.
It’s not all party, party, party
either. The acoustic version of Flesh
And Bone is nothing short of wonderful with its jazz overtones and its equality
undertones. The lead vocal is lovely and
the backing vocals are divine. Grab your
partner for Pide A Yemaya and rumba until you can’t rumba anymore. Some stunning saxophone too, and, a quite
hilarious album closer in Caprichoso – you have to listen to it to believe it.
Run For Cover is a great reggae
number with a lyric of true relevance which they manage to combine with great
tunes, great feeling and great lyrics.
It breaks into an infectious Ska bridge with another rap from a
fictitious policeman. It’s quite a
talent, and one that they do well.
The only disappointment is that the
album is only seven tracks long so my advice would be to catch them live as I
bet it’s quite a spectacle.
8/10
Links
Published on Louder Than War 8/06/13 - here
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