SALMONELLA DUB: Freak Controller
By Adam Burns
The hippie is still strong within the Salmonella canon after 18 years of doing it for the love of it. On their seventh studio effort ‘Freak Controller’, lyricism that ranges from ‘Things that I’ve seen yeah they make me feel good,’ and ‘Listen to the sound – make you feel good,’ doesn’t stray far from the characteristic vibes that the Kaikoura collective have tried to communicate over the course of their career. That’s what their homegrown soaked dub ‘n bass riddims have been all about. Without mucking around, ‘Freak Controller’ gets down to business with an immediate live drum ‘n’ bass break on opener Restless Soul, driving acoustic guitar and aching bass flourishes, followed by more restrained rhythms on Up And Running featuring vocal interplay from Metua Manuu Tangiiataua, Mana Retimana and drummer Dave Deakins. Good times anthem Dub Shakes sees the band in infectious mood, singing about dub cakes and dub pills over a funky psych-tronic breakdown. ‘Freak Controller’ occasionally revisits the done and dusted pastures of ‘Killervision’ era with the dubwise combination of hypnotic vocal loops, brass stimulated melodies, mellowed rhythmic patterns. Assisted by the sonic science of Pitch Black’s Paddy Free, this is conventional but solid Salmonella.
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