BACAO RHYTHM & STEEL BAND
BRSB (Big Crown)
The sound of a steel band always invokes thoughts of sunshine and positive vibes: two things that have seemed to have gone AWOL over the past month or so, be that for weather- or news-related reasons. Here, then, is a well-needed tonic: Hamburg’s Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, returning with their fourth album, BRSB.
On BRSB, the group take steelpan into different genres including soul, rap and funk – with their own material as well as versions of tracks by such luminaries as Drake and 50 Cent. Dr Dre & Snoop Doggy Dogg’s Nuthin’ But A G Thang is also given the BRSB treatment, while BRSB originals In The Crosshairs and Grilled are both spacious, heavy funk-driven steelpan workouts. After all, Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band originated from the downright funky Mighty Mocambos. Topped off by a great version of Claudia Barry’s disco classic Love For The Sake Of Love, BRSB is nothing short of a ray of sonic sunshine.
words DAVID NOBAKHT
