Coming on like the Slackers with but brighter vocals and melodies, Bostonians Westbound Train are an effective troupe of rootsy reggae players, playing smoky melodies mixed with bright rhythms across sixteen tracks on
Transitions, their third album, but first for Hellcat Records.
Soulful and gently swaying,
Transitions is powered by both a knowledge of US ska rock and its forebears in Jamaica aswell as acts in the UK, even reaching as far back as bebop to craft a swirling, gently funky mix of sounds. The creme of the crop has to be
Soul Revival, meshing Fishbone like vocals around a honking organ, tight drum work and breezy brass notes, creating a song that is simply great fun to listen to.
Elsewhere on
Please Forgive Me these a bluesy want oozing out of the grooves, a gentle melancholy that is never too bed wetting, just emotional.
Motown can be found meshing with Bob Marley on the wonderfully relaxed
Travel On whilst
When I Die is straight up Slackers style ska rock and an energetic highlight of the record, which includes a truly gorgeous sax solo.
Transitions is note for note a solid record, a faultless, seemingly effortless excercise in not just creating music but blendinh a variety of styles and instruments into a wonderous whole.
Blazing stuff.
Out now on Hellcat Records.
www.westboundsound.com
