Singles + EPs

Single Review: Natty

[Single: July]
[Label: Atlantic]

‘July’ is the second single from modern reggae-soul singer-songwriter Natty who, since appearing on a summer tour with Hard-Fi and Kate Nash and on “Late With Jools Holland” prior to the release of his debut single, ‘Cold Town’, has started to stir somewhat of a fuss about his new way of doing things reggae. Fresh from a string of festival appearances at Glastonbury and Latitude, most notably, Natty will also release his debut album ‘Man Like I’ In August’.

From growing up in a typical Central London estate, with nothing to do and only music to turn to, the inevitable influences from the likes of Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan have always rang true throughout the 24-year-old’s music. However, it’s his will to shift reggae-soul into a modern state that is most interesting. Sifting deeper into his music you can really see what he’s trying to do with his genre. Clearly, judging from the release of UB40’s new album, the old dogs haven’t learnt any new tricks, but can this new boy on the block “busta move”?

‘July’ is a lot lighter than his previous single, and obviously being released in July and about the summer, it’s going to resemble Marley in all his ‘Three Little Birds’ glory; but Natty doesn’t need to use the past to sum up his style, he’s reinventing a dead scene on his own. Like the Hard-Fi boys he shares a love for dub artist Lee “Scratch” Perry (who Hard-Fi originally coined their name from); but it’s his other interests, most notably, American rapper Nas and garage MC Dillinja that spark the real energy within his lyrics. Everyone remembers how cheesy Shaggy was, now looking back at his heyday, but it was the energy of the man that made him appealing, however much of a cock he sounded. On the contrary if I were to say that Natty sounded like a cock, there wouldn’t be much point in me writing this review now, would there?

This track mainly comprises acoustic guitar and vocals but with contributions from Natty’s band throughout: Emre on drums, Bear on guitar, the smooth Chrizla on bass and with backing vocals mainly from Jon Blood who also plays on keyboard and a djembe which, if you will in layman’s terms, is a small bongo drum.

Natty’s music is simple, its chilled, its everything reggae should be, except it’s not strictly reggae, I mean I could easily see Alex Turner writing these lyrics - on half a kilo of reefer and red wine mind you, but still. Natty has done things the hard way, but the right way so far in his career, he hasn’t jumped on the reggae band wagon and made it easy for himself; he’s been out on the road trying to stir the crowds and shift some real opinion. So far, it seems to be working out just fine for him.

For fans of: Bob Marley, Newton Falkner, Damien Marley
Band link = Natty

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