Cornerstone Roots Tour
Posted: Sat Jun 9, 2007 10:00 am

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There is little doubt the new Cornerstone Roots album Free Yourself will strike a positive note with many New Zealanders at home and abroad like their debut album Soul Revolution did four years ago. With guest vocals on one track from current king of the dancehall Luciano himself, Free Yourself also has the power to reach those from many different shores.

Whether it is the fact the Raglan-based band are heavily family oriented or deeply tied to the land they come from - the 10 tracks on Free Yourself will serve like a calling to peoples near or far to rise up, feel enriched and to align themselves more acutely with Aotearoa and the world around them.

In true Cornerstone Roots fashion Free Yourself is roots-rock reggae in its best understated yet lively mood.

Front-man Brian Ruawai's powerful voice, which calls on the listener to identify their political stance and spiritual taste. The JJ Cale influenced lead guitar is punctuated by the driving rhythm section of bassist Naomi Tuao and drummer Boyd Dixon. Tasty nuances from percussionist Aaron Bush and keyboardist Nicholas Stevens give this album a rich vein while Brian and Naomi's son Reiki (often seen joining the band live on stage) provides backing vocals on Freedom meaning this is an all-in-the-family offering.
Free Yourself was recorded live at Dudley Studios in Hamilton with engineer Dan Howard.

That distinctive Cornerstone Roots sound hits from the opening track Calling with Brian's lyrics inviting the listener to identify their political leaning while he laments an imperial America.

Next is Home. If ever an ex-pat New Zealander needed a modern day anthem to either make them homesick or more proud of their land of origin then this is it. Written by Brian as an ode to his roots in Raglan, Home will be equally appropriate to someone who hails from Wellington or an African herdsman's love of the Sahara Desert. "I take a piece of home with me woven around my neck, close to my chest. A piece of land and sea as seasons change summer, autumn, winter, spring."

As well as being an influential front man Brian is also New Zealand's premier reggae event promoter, with he and Naomi organising the award-winning annual reggae festival Soundsplash in Raglan as well as bringing international superstars like Third World, Big Youth and Dub Syndicate to our shores for the first time.

One such foray by Brian into the promotional side of reggae has reaped a real highlight on Free Yourself and in Luciano's own words "a No 1 hit in New Zealand and a No 1 hit in Jamaica - I guarantee it".

Luciano, who is hailed as reggae's true superstar since Bob Marley's death, played a sell-out show at Auckland's Galatos the night before with his right hand man Mikey General but still found time to enter the recording studio with Brian ahead of his time slot at the Big Day Out.

The result is Jah - a soulful reggae track that displays every single delicate range in Luciano's voice before kicking into a ska-influenced party
starter.

The album's lone dub offering Steppas is sublime - it stays true to the genre while giving a serious nod to the New Zealand roots vibe sound.
Elsewhere on Free Yourself the Corners choose a heavy rockers sound to expose their militant mood, especially on Civilisation which again is a dissident voice targeted at the power hungry.

Brian said the album is a natural progression from Soul Revolution.
"Every milestone I reach or barrier I step over, I always like to share with people," he said.

"Milestones and journeys are tools and there always seems to be someone who can relate to what I’m saying so I like to share it with them."
Brian called the gap between the first and second releases "second-album-itis" but, again, it was natural progression for a band that wears plenty of hats.

"It took a while to actually agree on tunes and decide on how it was to be recorded," Brian said.

"Like the first album, songs were written in the studio and others were road tested over the last four years. We had to get everyone in the same place at the same time in between tours.

"It's also not easy to write about the global issues that affect the entire populace or emotions that often overwhelm us."

Cornerstone Roots formed in 2001 after a session at the local Raglan Musicians Club, the original three-piece featuring Brian, Boyd and Naomi. By the following year the Corners had released debut album Soul Revolution, described by some reviewers as “brilliant” and impressive”. The album was recorded in Wellington with engineer Lee Prebble at The Surgery where the rhythm tracks were recorded live in one weekend. 2004 saw the band cross the Tasman eight times with the release of the Forward Movement EP which was nominated for best roots release in 2005.

Free Yourself released in New Zealand June 11
Nationwide tour July to September
Go to www.motherland.co.nz for more info

RE: Cornerstone Roots Tour
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:05 pm

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