Bedouin Soundclash
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Bedouin Soundclash

Toronto, Ontario, Canada | INDIE | AFM

Toronto, Ontario, Canada | INDIE | AFM
Band Rock Reggae

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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Press


"Street Gospels CD Review"

By: Darren McLeod

Though the Canadian music scene has always played host to some terrific output, the artists that are embraced by mainstream culture are often a bit embarrassing. Recently however, some of Canada’s more promising groups are finally getting a spot in the limelight. While most of these come from Canada’s celebrated indie scene, one group is a little reggae-pop act known as Bedouin Soundclash, who had an unlikely rise to national fame a year after a track from their Stomp!-released sophomore album Sounding a Mosaic was featured in a Zellers ad and had a nation of Canucks humming along.

Looking to repeat that success, the group hasn’t changed much for Street Gospels. They remain independent (Dine Alone Records in Canada, SideOneDummy elsewhere), vocalist Jay Malinowski continues to design the album art, Bad Brains bassist Darryl Jenifer is once again behind the boards as producer, and the boys still play their chill mix of rock, reggae, punk, and soul with enough easy-listening appeal that your parents will probably be just as excited to hear it as you are. The largest change to be found is a good one: no remix tracks to end the disc (thank goodness).

From the opening notes of “Until We Burn in the Sun (The Kids Just Want a Love Song)” to the closing ones of “Hearts in the Night,” Street Gospels is solid throughout. First single “Walls Fall Down” has enough hooks to ensure that it will be instilled in your mind after a single listen, while the ska-influenced “St. Andrew’s” might just be the best track the band has produced. “12:59 Lullaby” is among the softest tracks the trio has done, with drummer Pat Pengelli sitting out while bassist Eon Sinclair provides only a few bouncy notes sparingly to accompany Malinowski’s guitar and vocals. No instruments even appear on the strong a cappella track “Hush,” one of the few surprises to be found here.

While Bedouin Soundclash have produced what could certainly be considered a safe album, they have done so in a consistent and focused manner that manages to incorporate a wide variety of influences into their sound. If this is the future of commercial Canadian music, then you won't hear any complaints from me. - Punknews.org


Discography

Street Gospels - Dine Alone/SideOneDummy Records (2007)

Sounding a Mosiac - Stomp/SideOneDummy Records (2005)

Root Fire - Self-Released (2004)

Photos

Bio

Named after Israeli fusion artist/producer Badawi’s 1996 release – which pays homage to nomadic Arabic poet tribe the Bedouins – power trio Bedouin Soundclash formed in 2001 at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Unlike most musicians who try to mimic their musical idols, Bedouin Soundclash forges their own musical path creating music embodying each member’s personal and diverse musical preferences. With a seductive combination of lead singer Jay Malinowski’s soulful wail and hypnotic rhythmic guitar grooves, Eon Sinclair’s deep dubbing bass, and Pat Pengelly’s driving rhythms, Bedouin Soundclash creates its own innovative fusion of Reggae, Rock, Punk and Soul.
In 2002, the band recorded debut album Root Fire. Combining elements of dancehall, hip-hop, dub, punk, reggae and R ‘n’ B, Bedouin’s musical fusion caught the attention of audiences and press across Canada. Heralded as “one of the best albums [we’ve] heard lately” by Exclaim! Magazine, the buzz around the release created a great deal of anticipation as to what was to come. Determined to disperse its musical vibe, Bedouin Soundclash spent the next two years of their youthful musical career playing sold out shows across Canada before hitting the studio once again.
2005’s sophomore release Sounding A Mosaic exploded onto commercial radio and video stations across Canada with the hit single “When The Night Feels My Song”. The song’s massive rise to popularity started when the track was featured in a national Zeller’s commercial and ended up scoring the band a #1 video on MuchMusic, the #2 most played track at Canadian radio, “Best New Group or Solo Artist (CHR)” award at the Canadian Radio Music Awards 2006, and a JUNO for “New Group of The Year” in 2006.
In August 2007, Bedouin Soundclash released the much anticipated follow-up to hit record Sounding A Mosaic. Titled Street Gospels, the album debuted at #2 on the Top 200 Soundscan chart and features the single “1259 Lullaby” which appeared on the popular series GREY’S ANATOMY.

Recorded in Toronto and New York, the band once again called in the talents of legendary Punk-Reggae bass player Darryl Jenifer of Bad Brains to produce Street Gospels. The band also brought in Money Mark (The Beastie Boys) on keys, Wade MacNeil (Alexisonfire, Black Lungs) on vocals/guitar and the legendary Vernon Buckley vocalist of The Maytones, all lending their unique flavour to the album and helping to create the most diverse and grassroots Bedouin Soundclash record to date.

Street Gospels also welcomes the inception of Pirate's Blend, a new label brand the band has created, distributed and marketed under the Dine Alone Records umbrella. The goal of Pirate’s Blend is to grow a home of a larger Bedouin musical family, promoting music that the band loves and things they associate their music with.

For more on Bedouin Soundclash visit: www.bedouinsoundclash.com and www.dinealonerecords.com