You may think that reggae has a very defined sound; from a distance, that is a fair conclusion. But, like any other genre, it constantly evolves and experiments, always moving forward and keeping up with the times. And if you want to know what that sounds like, you could do a lot worse than give “Sweet Sensei,” the new single from Philadelphia-based Rockers Galore, a few spins.
Of course, the great advantage that music makers have today is that the rules have changed, the old tribal and creative demarcations of the past have fallen, and the post-genre landscape is one of vibrant cross-pollination, something that this band uses to significant effect. (Although I get the feeling that in any age, Rockers Galore wouldn’t have had much truck with sonic rulebooks!)
And so, “Sweet Sensei,” the latest taster ahead of their album Vamos a la Playa due shortly, is rich with sonic diversity. Although it runs on a recognizable reggae sound, it also bristles with hip-hop moves, funky grooves, and echoes of rock and Latin rhythms.
But more than anything, Rockers Galore is the sound of America today. Forget the so-called “Americana sound,” which claims to be the essence of that country’s musical heritage; times change, and this mix and match and melding and molding of sounds garnered from across culture and creed, genre, and geography is the new sound of the New World.
Vamos a la Playa album order
Sweet Sensei ft. Talia Morris & Timi Dread
Bandcamp
Spotify
Blood In The Sand feat. Joe Jordan
