Kora: Kora

By Martyn Pepperell

I believe the right way to describe Kora’s self-titled, self-released debut album is music of genuine feeling and soul. In saying that, I imagine a reasonable number of Kora fans looking for an album focused on dub reggae have been somewhat shocked by this release. Likewise if you were expecting some tearing Shapeshifter-esque drum ‘n’ bass, you'd be left unfulfilled. Should you be seeking Aotearoa-style funk rock, huge vocal-driven house and West Coast g-funk, you’ve hit the jackpot. One of the most interesting things about Kora is their approach to playing. The band’s music is a series of layers dropping in and out, on top of and under each other which results in very DJ-friendly music. Coupled with top-notch engineering you'll definitely be hearing this music in the clubs. On a down note, some of the house cuts deserved heavier drum sounds, but hey, you can’t please all of the people, even if you try as hard as Kora have. Standout cuts to my ears were Skankenstein, Pop Your Bubble, Time and Down The Road. Top album.

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NZ Musician

February/March 2008