18 May 2006 // A review by Shade
Review by Fliss Masters

Kora are the next big thing; that is, if they aren’t already. The four brothers - Stu, Brad, Fran and Laughton Kora along with Dan McGruar make up Kora and have taken the New Zealand Dub scene by storm.
Why? First of all their sound is electrifying, powerful and stimulating. Kora are able to capture you in the moment and hold you to every note played. Not only are these guys talented, passionate musicians with huge spirit; they also have amazing stage presence and are able to entertain any crowd leaving them wanting more!

EP Volume is a phenomenal four song EP which has been out in music stores since 2004. It includes big hits Burning and Politician, which would be enough to complete any Dub/Funk fans CD collection.
The EP has reached No. 4 on the IMNZ (Independent Music New Zealand) chart. They have toured throughout New Zealand playing at famous festivals such as Kaikoura Roots, Soundsplash and have played along with big acts such as Salmonella Dub and Fat Freddy’s Drop.

The four brothers and Dan come from Wellington and Whakatane, having a history with the New Zealand music scence. Brad and Laughton won the National SmokeFree RockQuest in 1999 with their band Aunty Beatrice. In 2001 Laughton and Dan recorded four tracks which included Crazy Things. In 2002 Kora was formed.

If you ever get the chance to see Kora live, don’t let the opportunity pass you by. You will be guaranteed an exhilarating performance, which will more than likely give you goose bumps!

Kora has long been recognised as the best live act in New Zealand, with an enduring career and legacy that resonates across the generations.

In the early 1990's, Laughton, Francis, Stuart, and Brad, four brothers of the Kora family hailing from Whakatane, began catching the attention of local audiences. After winning multiple band competitions, they earned a first release on Tangata Records. In 2000 while living in Queenstown, Laughton began jamming with local musician Dan McGruer (aka Syrup D), who encouraged him to experiment with vocals. Their live project Soulcharge was associated with locals including KP, Downtown Brown (Sunshine Sound System) and P.Digsss (Shapeshifter). Dan and Laughton both shared songwriting duties and recorded a four-song demo.

Laughton and Fran were reunited in Wellington at Toi Whakaari (NZ Drama School), and continued writing music with Dan, and then eventually all four brothers together became part of the 1st incarnation of Kora.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Kora

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