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Natty Nation
Earth Citizen
(self release)
Coming at you like a lopsided camel hooked on Hendrix, Natty Nation's new disc, Earth Citizen, lumbers across the hot desert sand to deliver a rickety groove that rocks with out with its jack boots on, taking giant strides and delivering the goods with authority. It's reggae, but somehow Sly Stone and Prince show up in the modern boogie that decorate the hard, almost dub trance tracks. Island breezes blown over Jeff Beck, even Jerry Garcia; the vibe is infectious and has an edge. Busy as beavers, the Nation scurries in and about producing a groove that's jagged yet serene, heavy, but cool. Hustling up a strong vibration in, "Come Home" and "Open the Door," the bass and drums are serious earthquakes. Lighter, the lanky, laidback, "Save I," is a bright walk in the sunshine. Excellent licks from lead guitarist Steve Cadle rest on strong tunes from Demetrius Wainwright and Jeffrey Maxwell. The buzzsaw solos cut to the social politics of "Save the Children." The brittle, skittery guitar brings an urgency to the hopefulness of, "Rainbow." Solid and well served by their passions, Earth Citizen spins around a sun soaked jungle of tight
rhythms and melody.
John Noyd |
