Kingston, Ontario’s Bedouin Soundclash made splashes back in 2004 with the pretty hot single, “When the Night Feels My Song“. For a band which went from playing local shows at Queen’s University, that one song propelled them into national spotlight.
Afterwards, there was some touring and an unfortunate car accident. The band was left out of the public eye, and their follow-up album, scheduled to be released back in early 2006, was placed on indefinite hiatus.
Yet, like all good Canadians, the Bedouin Soundclash kept their sights on their man, like Paul Gross in Due South and now, in the summer months of 2007, Street Gospels will finally be dropping into our laps.
And so, we are left with the usual question… Was it worth the wait? Can the band regain the momentum that may have fumbled away?
At an arguably scant 39 minutes, the album doesn’t take an extended portion of time to get through. As all of their albums, it is a fairly light listen - mixing reggae and dub influences with a noticeable ska/punk flair. Heavy echo effects lay on top of semi-political and personal lyrics. And, while his presence didn’t seem to change the band’s sound very much, it was produced by none other than Darryl Jenifer himself, who people should recognize as the classic Bad Brains’ bassist.
There doesn’t seem to be a single track as compelling and universal as “When the Night…” but the album is full of small classic moments, which makes it a cohesively enjoyable listen. From the, let’s face it, soft single (”12:59 Lullaby”) and the acapella “Hush”, to the awesomely-named echo-steeped lead track, “Until We Burn in the Sun (The Kids Just Want a Love Song)” - the album is as varied as their niche allows. And, for that, I am thankful.
If you dig one of their tracks, the likelihood will be you’ll dig most of them. Some people cannot get over the vocals or (and you have no idea how often this horribly reasoned complaint arises) they get caught up in the fact that “these guys aren’t, like, even from Jamaica… Why are they even bothering to try and play reggae?” Street Gospels might not be able to dissuade those who enter the album predispositioned towards hating on it, but for everyone else… grab a couple beers, sit out on yer balconies & enjoy it. It makes for perfect summer listening.
the speakeasy:
Bedouin - Until We Burn in the Sun (The Kids Just Want a Love Song)
Bedouin Soundclash - Gunships.
Bedouin Soundclash - Trinco Dog.
Street Gospels will be released August 21st via Stomp Records (a subdivision of the Union Label Group) in Canada and sideonedummy everywhere else. Canadians, represent.
the genre jumping made for a super cohesive mix tape sound. it was like i was listening to a number of artists who were all trying to sound alike. the mix tape feel made for chillaxin’ music for the working art of wall painting… stairwells in particular… it gave the album a sweet added echo effect…. not that some of the songs needed any extra echo-o-o-o-o… haha.