Worthy slice of culture

Press, 31 March 1989, Page 23

Worthy slice of culture

DREAp BEAT “All Our Lives” (Jayrein, TCJAY 332). Dread Beat, formerly Dread Beat and Blood, of Wellington, continue the trend set by Herbs in combining Jamaican reggae with Polynesian rhythms. Along with other Polynesian bands, such as Aotearoa and Sticks and Shanty, Dread Beat have already made their mark, although this has yet to be reflected in the charts.

The Wellington band emphasise the harmonies in their music, but it is not light-hearted. “To You,” the opening track, might be romantic, but it is followed by an admon-

ition in “Teach Your Children.”

The reggae sound is clear and rhythmic, especially on the last-men-tioned song, although “Simplicity” is quite complex in its musical structure, an indication that Dread Beat may have been trying to do too much.

This contrasts with the lilting opening of "Colonial Law,” with thin, reedy keyboards holding the introduction together. It is a statement about preserving culture in the face of social oppression. This colonial theme continues on “Rainbow Warrior,” although the

specific subject of the song does not make for great lyrics in this case. “Get On Up” lifts the spirits, the keyboards again prominent. Dread Beat are more lively and comfortable on the subject of Jah love. The pity is that Dread Beat, along with the other bands mentioned, don’t get more commercial airplay, particularly with the unofficial New Zealand music quotas now in place. I believe that radio programmers would be quite surprised at the reaction from a side of New Zealand’s culture that deserves to be heard.

—Nevin Topp.