THE OLDIANS - WE ARE REGGAE

We are Reggae. Yes, it's true. And we're not going to tell you anything you don't already know if we say that The Oldians aren't Jamaican, nor are they Rastafarians, nor do they speak Patois. And yet, without doing so, the Barcelona band presents their sixth studio album, no less, under the title 'We Are Reggae'.

Following the generous collection of hits they delivered on their previous double LP 'Out of The Blue' (Liquidator Music - 2016), The Oldians are back with 12 new songs, only one of which is a cover: a magnificent reggae adaptation of Jimmy Van Heusen's 'Here's That Rainy Day'. 'We Are Reggae' is yet another demonstration of the Barcelona band's knack for filtering foundational Jamaican sounds like ska, rocksteady, and reggae with an elegant jazz touch that sets them apart.

The band shines with its own unique brilliance, thanks to the solid and versatile rhythm section, the solos of each member, and, of course, Sir J 'The Oldian's' driving guitar, which, along with Saphie Wells' vocals, makes a strong debut on the group's last album and, in 'We Are Reggae,' takes the band into its own territory. We could mention the songs, but regardless of how many there are or how they sound, we prefer to highlight the collection of sublime musical passages that 'We Are Reggae' holds from the first track to the last.

They haven't missed the opportunity to join the party, the emeritus Jamaican percussionist Larry McDonald (Carlos Malcolm, Toots & The Maytals, Count Ossie, Gil Scott Heron, Taj Mahal, etc.) throughout the entire album, the Dutch saxophonist Tommy Tornado (Rude Rich & the Highnotes, The Soulsnatchers) with a killer solo in the ska that opens the album, nor Dani Lampérez (KinkyLab Allstars, The Kinky Coocoo's, The Crabtones) and his magical Hammond organ bubbles in up to 6 songs on the album.

As is typical for the Barcelona band, The Oldians recorded the basic tracks for all of their songs live, without any tricks or shortcuts, at Stroika Lab in Manresa. The subsequent overdubs and mixing were handled by Javier 'The Oldian' García at Sir J's Home in Ripollet. Alex Psaroudakis added his mastering touch to the entire collection of songs in NYC in September 2017, and once again, Txarly Brown created the beautiful artwork for the 12" vinyl being released by Liquidator Music.

'We are reggae' is The Oldians' new gift to all those who have followed them with their previous five works and a new opportunity, the sixth (always on time and without messing up their hair) to celebrate with them that crossroads between Jamaican tradition and jazz that the Barcelonans are determined to put on the map with their own name and capital letters.