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www.STEELPULSE.COM United Kingdom
Pulsers everywhere - here is a great new reggae sound coming from the land of ABBA, Volvo and IKEA and with just as much potential to conquer the world -don't miss this!!
Great Respect and Congratulations to Adam and crew for this brilliant collection of exciting, inspirational, toe-tapping music and words. Right to the top of my exclusive play-list along side African Holocaust.
"Hey Mr W. whatcha doing today?Looking at the world are you running out of countries to invade?" - Track 4 Bump Dem - and you MUST read the dramatic story about Bob's Bar in Kamala Beach, Thailand - well it was there until Sally The Tsunami dropped in (unexpectedly and certainly uninvited) on Boxing Day - December 26 - 2004. ”Well what can I say except brilliant, truly great music and the lyrics really are very thoughtful and well crafted…just delightful.” - Ron Hammond for Steel Pulse (before I was their Manager!)
Hi Adam,
Just a few lines to let you know that I enjoy listening to your album. All the songs have a vibe to them and the sound/production quality is very good as well. It's also good to see that you've tried to create your own sound which is something we've always viewed as important. David also likes the album, as you've probably heard so your fan clubs' growing!! Keep up the good work and we'll keep listening and spreading the word.
Peace and Love Selwyn " D " Brown, STEEL PULSE
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www.REGGAE-VIBES.COM
Vocals 4/5, Backing 4/5, Production 4/5, Sound Quality 5/5, Sleeve 4/5
Released on June 14th, the debut album "Bob's Bar" from a new reggae group from Sweden called URBAN TRIBE. It's an 11-piece band, complete with a fantastic sounding horn-section. The sound of the band is phat and juicy, immediate comparisons to great traditional reggae bands like Steel Pulse, Inner Circle and Bob Marley & the Wailers will be made. The band is build around Adam Atterby who is a writer, producer, composer, musician and singer! Listen to his story how it all began ......
[Adam Atterby] : "It all started in February 2004, when I got the idea of writing a tribute song for my home away from home, Bob's Bar in Kamala Beach, Thailand. I went to our bungalow and wrote the song right there and recorded it upon returning to an icy Stockholm. Recording and producing the song left me with an itch I just had to scratch so I kept writing, and writing ...until, about two months later, I had 11 songs ready. The album was recorded in my studio in the Old Town in Stockholm during the summer, with post production and bits and pieces added during the fall and early winter. I had a rough version of the album with me when I returned to Kamala in November, so I got the chance to hear the song "Bob's Bar" where it really should be heard - at Bob's Bar.
Then, on Boxing day 2004, the tsunami struck. I was working on the final mix of the album when my wife woke me up saying a huge tidalwave had struck Southeast Asia. We sat dumbfounded and watched the terrible reports coming from the TV - I simply couldn't believe it. All the phone lines were down and we couldn't get in touch with Bob or any of our other Thai friends and it wasn't until the day after that, finally, Bob gave me a call to let us know he was allright, although there wasn't much left of the bar of, fot that matter, the rest of Kamala.
All was lost. As a good measure of what kind of man Bob is, he still asked how my wife Charlotte was and if our son had been born yet. Here we have a man who has just lost everything that he owns and he still wants to know if we had gotten our baby yet. I think that is remarkable. At the time I write this, it is still very unclear if there will ever be a Bob's Bar in Kamala again. The fact is that it is up to us - if we all come, he will be there."
URBAN TRIBE present themselves as seasoned musicians, capable of playing excellent roots reggae, delivered in a positive mood. The album definitely brings positive vibes, although some of the themes here are aggression, corruption, crisis and greed. Listening to the album we never would have guessed these are Swedish guys! The rich and mature sound makes one think the band has been playing worldwide for several years. The album has strong crossover potential as can be heard when listening to tunes like Fool With A Gun and Soul Rebel, the latter being a very danceable tune with some nice dancehall flavors.
This album is dedicated to all those who lost their lives and livelyhood in this tragedy and 20% of the price of the album goes directly to Bob to help him rebuild the bar. For more info check the website www.urbantribe.nu or email Adam Atterby at info@atterby.com
Excellent set....trust us...listen to the album and...enjoy!
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The BEAT - Chuck Foster - June 12, 05
Eleven songs from the heart delivered with tasty reggae touches from URBAN TRIBE make Bob’s Bar (Adam Atterby) a delightful set from beginning to end. From the socially observant “Fool With A Gun” to the closing notes of “Revolution” this one has a bouncy, informed feel with lots of poppy hooks and hot licks that make it worth hearing again.
Whether taking on the bullies of the world (“Bump Dem,” “Chant Them Down”) or ancient evil (“Silver and Gold”) the songs are thoughtful and thought-provoking and the singing and playing will make you want to dance and think at the same time.
“Soul Rebel” (not the Marley song) dips into dancehall without losing its bubbly groove. The title track, inspired by a favorite spot destroyed by the Southeast Asian tsunami, is a loving tribute to a place that no longer is and so heartfelt, it is the outstanding track of the set.
Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden, this is one for the world.
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Eric Jones, Pres. Ejaness Reggae Comprehensive, New York City NY
“As my company constantly receives promotional albums you can be assured that your album ranks among the best independently produced debut albums we have ever heard.
I am extremely impressed with all elements of the album, the production is very tight, exemplary lead vocals and smooth and well played backing tracks. Lyrics are on target! This does not sound like a debut album but the work of veteran seasoned artists. I believe this album has great potential.
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www.JAHWORKS.ORG USA Ted Boothroyd “The Beat”
Rating: B+
A reggae album named Bob's Bar. A cover tune with lyrics that say, "I'll meet you down at Bob's Bar on the island in the sun." Has to be a reference to Bob Marley and a metaphor for the atmosphere of Jamaica, right?
Wrong. It's an actual bar in Thailand, at least it was before being destroyed by the tsunamis in December 2004.
This song and many of the others offer a definite step up from the usual concerns and lyrics of much contemporary reggae. Not all the words are special, mind you, but enough are that you have to take note and say, "Jah bless." For every derivative line like, "Wanna be a soul rebel/Gotta be a soul rebel," there are half a dozen memorable lines such as this:
"But the years kept passing/Nothing's everlasting/I'm still trying to find my way back home."
Both of those examples are from the same tune.
Try this: "The fool is loose and running free/A blind man shooting at the world." Those words come from the highly political lead-off song called "Fool with a Gun," which expertly balances the particular (we all know who the "fool" is) with the universal (it becomes a broad condemnation of violence).
Now consider this: "Silver and gold/Won't keep you warm when the wind blows cold/won't keep you young when you're growing old." Notice the directness and utter lack of pretention in these lines: "Looking in the mirror I see/A face looking back at me/Marked by the stress of the everyday grind."
On to the music. It's worthy of the lyrics. Rootsy, rhythmic, extremely tuneful and nicely seasoned with guitar solos, keyboard solos and occasional toasts from Bamma B. The strong lead vocals are balanced by sweet harmony background voices. The tempos and arrangements are well varied.
On to the packaging. This would be impressive even if it weren't an independent release: it has a thick, glossy, full cover booklet with all the lyrics, full credits, and even the story of Bob's Bar in Thailand.
That just about covers the territory: words, music and presentation combine to make a great reggae album. Oh yeah, one more thing: URBAN TRIBE is from Sweden.
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www.REGGAECONNECTION.BE.TF - Belgium
“URBAN TRIBE displays a real discographical achievement with the album Bob’s bar – 11 powerful songs that also bring hope to tsunami victims. The album both stands out and is right for it’s time – a reggae album that will stand the test of time without difficulty.”
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www.ACROOTS.COM Holland
The first time I played this album was in my car on my way to work and I was glad I did it because it’s got such good vibes, it made me feel really good – a good way to start a long day of officework.
This Swedish reggaeband can play reggae! In the CD-booklet (great graphics!) you can read about Bob’s Bar and the story of the album: Bob’s Bar was a reggaebar I Kamala Beach, Thailand where Adam Atterby (writer, producer, composer, singer) used to come.
The owner, Mr Surin “Bob” Sikapain lost the bar when the tsunami struck on Boxing Day 2004…and twenty percent of the proceeds of this album go to Thailand for the restoration of Bob’s Bar.
Like I said before, the album has got good positive vibes, Although the topics of the songs are not always cheerful it gives you a good feeling. The lyrics are good, I especially like the fact that they are about everyday life of everyday people, it “fits” people in the north, west, south and east. I love the musical arrangements, the horn-secftion is great. I never heard reggae from Sweden before and I hope this won’t be the last.
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www.NUFF-VIBES.COM Hamburg Germany
Stockholm Roots. The Swedish reggae band URBAN TRIBE presents powerful roots reggae with the album “Bob’s Bar”. The singer and producer Adam Atterby is supported by first-class backing vocals and Bamma B’s toasting adds richness and variety to the sound.
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www.CLAAT.COM Holland
To be honest, this album – though being a primer of this band – is very nice stuff that we highly recommend in any way. It is not only perfectly mastered, the lyrics are also very inspiring and the music just takes you away. You feel reminded of some well known band within each tune, but soon you’ll recognize that Urban Tribe don’t copy at all but developed their very own style.
It might sound funny for a band from Sweden but URBAN TRIBE already found some prominent fans in Steel Pulse and one thing is for sure – they’re right! Rating: 10 / 10
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www.SKAWARS.NU Sweden
URBAN TRIBE is a group of very competent musicians who play relatively easily accessible and melodic reggae; reggae that several of my non-converted friends would tap their toes to when summer is here.
The album “Bob’s Bar” is the first I hear of the band, and it consists of 11 songs of melodic reggae with warm backing vocals and classic reggae rhythms, clearly inspired by Bob Marley. The lyrics also, like Marley’s deal with classic reggae themes like injustice and politics; something that singer and frontman Adam Atterby does with conviction.
Atterby also should have credit for the fact that he’s not trying to sing in some plastic patois; the vocals feel honest and heartfelt. So as not to only be the flagbearers of the late Marley, the band experiments with toasting (featuring Bamma B) and with the dub of Internal Dread. “Bob’s Bar” is a groovy album that fans of Marley and other melodic reggae surely will appreciate.
RATING: 8 / 10
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www.REGGAE.FR France
URBAN TRIBE's first album "Bob's Bar" stands out because of its mature and serious sound. The project is dominated by a soul in the sense that all 11 songs were written by Adam Atterby on Bob's Bar in Kamala Beach, Thailand.
Unfortunately most of Kamala was destroyed by the tragic tsunami that struck Asia in 2004 and today only ruins remain of what once was Bob's Bar. This album is a sort of hommage to Mr. Surin "Bob" Sikapain, the owner of the bar who is continuing his struggle. Right now it's hard to say whether Bob's Bar will rise again or not. [It has been re-built.]
On to the album which is of excellent quality. Adam and crew prove they are seasoned musicians and we're dealing with a vibe of pure roots reggae here. The classic themes associated with roots are present in all the songs and songs like "Fool with a gun", "Soul Rebel" and "Silver & Gold" are especially inspired.
Everybody here at Reggae.fr are surprised we haven't heard of URBAN TRIBE until now, but it is obvious that once you've discovered them, all who love roots will be glad to welcome a new representative of this genre. Throw yourself over this feast and order the album through their website; www.urbantribe.nu. This really is something for everyone who loves roots or bands like Groundation!!
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