King Tide - Roots, Pop,Reggae

Fri 19th Jun, 2009 in Music Reviews

The shortest day of the year is here and the rain is still fallin’ over this Sydney town. Inside this ramshackle home the sun is shining and people are smiling as we go about our domestic duties. Summer time always seems to come around when King Tide are in the house. Yes, just have a listen to Sun Machine, and your winter chills will disappear as you slip into some tropical shirts and shorts to improve your mood. At least in our house, we know the way.

King Tide get better with each installment and this record is certainly their best to date. It is smooth, fun reggae done with a dash of Australian beach sensibility. The vocals and toasting of Tony Hughes and Paul Snatch just work so well together, I find it hard to believe these fellows are not transfusing some Jamaican blood. Could just be that something else is pumping through their bloodstreams?

What makes this a soulful, shaking party are the backing vocals that take me back to old reggae tracks, and a horn section made up of Lindsay Page, Geoff Innes, Nathan Shepard and Dave Wray. But the core of the band is Ross Fotheringham and his locks on guitar, Peter Firth on bass, Robbie Woolf on keys and the two dynamic vocalists. Robbie does a fabulous, falsetto vocal on Anyone Could Tell, suggesting they may have to make some more room for him near the microphone. The rotating drums of Declan Kelly and Terepai Richmond keep the music moving along in a positive direction.

King Tide has created a beautiful record, but they really shine when they grab all their members and bless a stage with their presence. The Gaelic Club in Sydney will host this slice of summer this coming Friday 26 June. All the rude boys and girls will be skanking to Rockers Style and you will be hard pressed to find a frown amongst the gathering during their lengthy set.

Their third release, Roots, Pop, Reggae is now at a shop or a computer near you. The soulful/pop grooves are only a heartbeat or mouse-click away. C’mon, take a ride with the Tide.