Live: BACAO RHYTHM & STEEL BAND

In the organizer's words:

Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, the mysterious steel drum ensemble from Hamburg, has built up a loyal fan base worldwide. With a string of 7" singles and three critically acclaimed albums, they have set the bar high for themselves - a bar they aim to raise further with their new work. On their fourth album BRSB, Bacao return with more of the same - but more of the same always means something different for them. They cover songs that span genres and times, from mega-hits to underground tracks, and make them their own with their unique take on traditional Trinidad and Tobago steelpans.

Part of the fascination of a new Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band album is finding out which songs they cover; however, it's just as exciting to discover their own original pieces, some of which this record highlights. Album opener "In The Crosshairs" is a raucous, mid-tempo track that invites you to nod your head, while "Grilled" and "Treasure Quest" pick up the pace with strong African funk influences. With "Hazy Memories", Bacao dives deep into a bass-heavy slow burner that oscillates between hypnotic and intoxicating. These originals prove that the term "cover band" does not apply to Bacao. Nevertheless, they remain true to the tradition of steelpan music and continue to cover it diligently. This time with a strong West Coast hip hop influence, including songs such as "How We Do" by Game & 50 Cent, "Nuthin But A G Thang" by Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg and "Got My Mind Made Up" by Tupac, which are given a new energy by the BRSB steel pan treatment. Another dance floor filler is the cover version of Claudja Barry's disco classic "Love For The Sake Of Love", which they transform into a dub version and appropriately change the title to "Love For The Sake Of Dub". From the current hip-hop scene, they cover Drake's "Hotline Bling" and "Love$ick" by Mura Masa & A$AP Rocky. A surprise is their cover of the "Stranger Things Theme", in which they transform the synth-heavy original soundtrack of the series into an even more hypnotic version.

Bacao takes listeners on a journey through a variety of energies, tempos and moods, all under one musical umbrella. These songs are alive and well and will be taken out of the context of this album and incorporated into DJ sets around the world for many years to come. The Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band continues to build on their legacy and push the boundaries of steelpan music with another solid musical work.