This album by Far North reggae band 1814 is the soundtrack to the best garage party and sing-a-long you're ever likely to be invited to. The majority of the album is made up of 1814's celebratory yet staunch reggae versions of soul, country and popular songs, although fittingly the standout is a reggae tune, with their version of Burning Spear's Marcus Garvey cranking into a righteous rhythm for six sweet minutes.
Elsewhere there's everything from Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash, which lopes along with a relaxing swagger, Sam Cooke's Cupid has a Maori showband feel to it with reggae trimmings, and Bill Wither's Ain't No Sunshine gets a soft rock guitar and saxophone workout, which makes it incredibly cheesy, but somehow catchy.
An album for the summer then.
Stars: 4/5
-TimeOut
