Review Summary: Reggae as fresh and accomplished as it gets; soundtrack to summer, if only it was longer.
The new wave of British reggae, an as-of-yet small and unmistakeably underground movement, is gradually building steam as an increasing number of bands decide it’s time to do away with pre-ordained ska-punk stylings in favour of a sound which relates much more to 70’s roots reggae. Although only recently formed, 9-piece outfit The Drop have managed to craft a sound along these lines that revitalises the grooves and melodic themes from an era long past by imbuing them with a fresh, wide variety of sounds (from a brass section to Melodica interludes) and greater dynamic progression. Combined with an acute collective ear for powerful, catchy melodies and exceedingly talented individual performances (particularly the lead guitar and vocals), the result is nothing short of irresistible.
Perhaps the most potent ingredient of The Drop’s sun-drenched recipe for success, however, is their extraordinary use of space within the music. Track tempo ranges from leisurely to so-laid-back-the-band-must-be-horizontal; every note and beat is poised in a way that maximises its impact, every instrument makes a tangible addition to the intensely blissful mood of the overall arrangement. Don’t let the fact that there are 9 members fool you – their sounds is the antithesis of cluttered, with each instrument frequently dropping out to make room for others or only emphasising certain phrases before joining in for a crescendo. The precision of each arrangement is borderline orchestral; for a debut EP, The Drop show an uncanny ability to restrain and release their musical repertoire at the ideal moments, mastering these dynamic changes so infectiously that when the chorus kicks in you’re practically forced to stop what you’re doing in favour of gyrating in the sun.
Such strong structural foundations allow individual melodies and phrases to shine. The Drop make use of reggae-centric melodic and rhythmic tropes innovatively as well as authentically.
Cherokee Warrior starts softly before bursting into a pitch perfect guitar solo, which is as tactful as it is seductive.
Looking To The Sky sees the full band striking up for an anthemic summertime jam, complete with strong dub influences in the rhythm section. However perhaps the highlight of the EP comes at the start of closing track
Vanity; starting out as just a meandering guitar riff with beautifully syncopated vocals, the song quickly builds through multiple shifts in rhythm as vocalist Dandelion splices together reggae and soul influences to create an opening verse that intensifies through three stages before dropping into the massive swaggering groove of the chorus. By this point you’ll have no option other than dancing.
For a first EP, this is simply fantastic – immediately gripping melodically, brimming with depth, but above all puts a swagger in your step and a smile on your face.
