Previously on the Ninja Tune record label and recently moved to !K7 the Herbaliser have been making their unique blend of hip-hop, funk and jazz since the mid nineties. Made up from two core members they collaborate with many different vocalists, rappers and musicians and recently are leaning more towards the live format to produce a big band experience.
The new album is called “Same As It Never Was”. I was a high fan of their previous two albums, in fact those albums topped my favorite album lists at the time. The latest album does not appeal to me as strongly as their previous two, though it is a good album and I have played some of the track from it a lot this summer.
The new soul/R&B vocal direction they have taken with vocalists like Jessica Darling, who is featured on five of the twelve tracks of the albums is just not my scene. This is a shame as I actually like the music until the vocals kick in. I must admit that I’m not a fan of Amy Winehouse et all but if you are then you will find these tracks more appealing than I do. One of my favorite features the cool rap of Jean Grea over a funky seventies cinematic soundtrack, which is more connected with their earlier material.
In any case this is not the time of place for an album review, there are plenty of great album reviews out there already and this new release has been well received by the critics. These guys are coming to town and I would expect to hear the best of everything they that have produced in the last decade and it would be great if some of the guest vocalists from their previous releases were to also appear at the show (Roots Manuva, MF Doom et all), though from seeing the seven euro ticket price I guess that will probably not be happening. It is also not clear if this will be a full band gig and as its not listed as such on their web site I would have to assume that this will be a DJ appearance.
The gig is a late night affair as part of the Blue Note Trip, that despite the appealing posters I see all over the city, I have not yet made the time to check out. If this will be a full band gig then maybe this be the one for me.
This is a single from 2002.
And this is their new single featuring Jessica Darling.
If you are in Europe you can get the album here.
If you are in the US you can get the album here.
Amsterdam concert details here.
