Album Review: Tidal Waves- 'Afrika' (Reggae)

Album Review: Tidal Waves - Afrika

Tidal Waves is Afrika! This band should raise the South African reggae flag worldwide. They will surely follow in the late South African Reggae father Lucky Dube’s footsteps with their uniquely African Reggae sound and they’ve already started giving Europe a taste of their export dish. They are back with their fourth album with some previously recorded and released tracks notably ‘Kia-Ora’, a previously released song and a favourite at Tidal Waves performances.

The album is ‘roots-rock-reggae’, as reggae head would label it. Their music has this Southern African reggae feel to it, reminding one of Lucky Dube himself, the many unknown and underground Reggae bands of Venda and Peter Tosh. They are earthed, rooted, traditional folk – Live – with that mouth organ, keyboards and sung in Xhosa, Tswana, English and even Maori. I expected at least an Afrikaans song but I guess I’ll just have to catch their next show. There has been a change in the band with the passing of their keyboardist but their sound still lives on. May his soul rest in peace; he will be greatly missed by Tidal Waves fans.

This album is also very lyrical and obviously topical, touching on political and social issues such as government corruption, promotion of hard work, abuse, love and the decriminalization of the ‘herb’.

The first song on the album ‘Bing-Bong’ is a war-cry that will surely hook you; a political protest against the plague called war. Tidal Waves are anti-war, true Rastafari style. ‘Money’, their famous track at concerts is also on the album as well as ‘Kia-Ora, with a chorus in the native New Zealand Maori.

Although the album is very lyrical, the vocals could have been more complex but if you prefer them raw, rooted, natural and simple then you got it. The instrumentals are on point, the synthesizers/pads soft and smoky and sunny (and No I’m not a stoner). The chorus on the track ‘Rapolotiki’, which means Mr. Politics, is a rock classic filled with a head banging feel and scratchy vocals with simple guitar riffs. This song is a satire and a word-play in Setswana; get a Tswana friend to translate…Tswana not Sotho.

The album is a rich African reggae classic and I expect to hear it on the airwaves hopefully. It is South African Reggae and it is Tidal Waves. GOD BLESS AFRIKA!