STYLE: Reggae RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 177695-29071 LABEL: Independent FORMAT: Digital Only EP
Reviewed by Lins Honeyman
ReLoVe are a Los Angeles-based collective who, as the title of their debut EP suggests, are on something of a mission - to offer up reggae-flavoured summer pop to the masses and to admirably give back to the poorest communities in which they perform whilst trying to make a difference to their target audience's lives in the process. Proceedings get off to an upbeat start with the bubblegum pop of "Fly Away" - a track which centres around singer/drummer's Glenn Jost's decision to stay in bed one day daydreaming and could easily slot right into a kids' programme like Sesame Street - whilst "Shining Through" pays tribute to the sun with similar innocence. "Stand On Love" is a slower number about long distance love with unashamed lines like "when you need the body touch/we never ever get too much of a real good thing" channelling something of '70s band Dr Hook's cheesier side. Although the lyrics found in ReLoVe's material tends to be a tad on the clunky side, the sheer enthusiasm with which Jost and Sonia Harley deliver their vocals papers over any cracks. "Who Calls" is an expertly-executed slice of authentic reggae - hats off to drummer Jost and bassist Hussain Jiffry for laying down such a solid Jamaican riddim - and is the closest the group get to touching on matters of faith (indirectly referring to God as "you know who") but it shows a more serious side to this fun, unconventional and socially-minded band.
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