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Peter Fox & Seeed Prove German Reggae’s Not An Oxymoron

Topics: Music | 4 CommentsBy admin | October 24, 2008

Two words you don’t often see next to each other: “German” and “Reggae”

The lyrics are in German.
Found a translation here.

If you’re in a funk today, check out the Peter Fox clip at left. If you’re not feeling a bit chippier by the end of the tune, call your doctor for an emergency dose of Zoloft. Your case may be terminal. I had heard of Seeed, the German reggae-ish hip-hoppish band before, but never given them a good listen until recently, when I discovered singer Peter Fox’s solo material. This is the freshest sound I’ve heard in a long time, somehow fusing string sections, the beatboxy-ness of M.I.A., and a kind of laid-back über-sunshine. By the way, if the idea of German reggae sounds a bit at odds with itself, get in touch with the fact that German music even had an influence on Mexican music. Coincidentally, the Peter Fox material is slated for U.S. release on election day. Order a copy now. You may need something to cheer you up that day. For another cool clip check out Alles Neu, also from the release Stadtaffe, which BabelFish tells me means “city ape”.

Read Comments

  1. Posted by Dojo Nick on 10.24.08 10:59 pm

    Ian, that Seeed is some cool sh*t. For a really fun listen check out “Pete Fox Will You Marry Me” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHl9bM7uwD8&feature=related

  2. Posted by admin on 10.25.08 12:47 am

    That Miss Platinum clip is a hoot, and sent me on one of those fevered trails of links that led to this piece about Balkan beat. Who’d have guessed that lederhosen would one day become required rave attire?

  3. Posted by Dojo Nick on 10.25.08 9:41 pm

    Dangit, you always end up makin me spend 6 hours on the internet listening to music my frends don’t get. I betcha ain’t herd Rinken Band. Try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTf15Oval4E&feature=related

  4. Posted by admin on 10.26.08 11:40 am

    No, I ain’t, although I think she’s wearing a getup I used to wear in 1984. That is some cool shite. Okinawa says “Bite me, Bjork”. I’ve actually heard some stuff like this before; Riuchi Sakamoto used Okinawan singers on a few recordings. In fact, I’ve searched for ages for one tune that my Japanese girlfriend at the time told me was a folk song about a sorceress who magically stole her lover’s ears for cheating on her. Or something creepy like that. I love that image, so I hope I never find out it’s about something more mundane…