Wellington’s The Shakedown seem to have only been around a short while (or at least since March last year) but have already made a bit of a name for themselves through their live shows and a couple of singles.
Next Movement is their first release and is 5 tracks of pretty sweet sounding reggae-laden funk. The music is very polished and the songwriting is solid, so each of the tracks really shines, although the last two, Tell Ya and Too Far Gone, would be the standouts for me.
Frontman Timmy P has a great voice, which is well complemented by Lace Reihana, and the counter play between the two really adds a lot to the music. The other members of the band (Tia Beaufort on drums, Liam Hanley on bass, and Tainui Salzman on guitar) add plenty of flourishes and unexpected musical moments, moments that stop the EP from ever descending into clichés. Next Movement is a great debut, and one that I’ve played a lot over the past couple of weeks; given how infectious the songs are its bound to be played a lot more over coming months.
Gathering together a diverse group of Wellington musicians, The Shakedown blend soul, funk, and hip-hop with doses of reggae. The result is a exciting new blend of street sounds and party music.
Frontman Timmy P creates his own edgy but expressive underground vernacular, while Tainui Salzmann (guitar), Lace Reihana (keys & vocals), Liam Hanley (bass) and Tia Beaufort (drums & samples) bring an agile, rock-solid rhythm section. Together they create their own signature rhythmic foundation, providing the ultimate canvas for Timmy P to embellish with his vocal talents.
“I had the privilege of seeing The Shakedown play their first gig as the new collective last week and it truly felt like I was witnessing history in the making. In these modern times, with instant accessibility to every fusion of music in the world, it is exhilarating to experience the birth of a new interpretation of a genre. The Shakedown combine deep, dub roots with urban (almost Beastie Boy) influences, slipping in 'Kiwi Robo-Toasting' keeping us constantly meandering through post 90's street sounds with musicality and precision - all the while Timmy P's cathartic exhalation of personal thoughts and sincere lyrics give us that feeling of non-ego truth. This guy is truly magnetic! A vocal ability Donny Hathaway would nod to, as well as the craftsmanship to MC between stanza's with sublime fluidity. For me in these modern times, honesty reigns supreme and these guys are royalty. Long Live The Shakedown!”
- Warren Maxwell (TrinityRoots, Fat Freddy's Drop, Little Bushman)