Satori

Savor Every Moment. (2005)

Jordan Rogowski

When I first listened to Satori's mix of reggae and bluebeat, I immediately wondered if any members of the RX Bandits had their hand in the recording, and after a little research, I discovered my presumption was actually correct. More correct that I had even anticipated, as it seems that Satori actually features all members of the RX Bandits, and features some prominent guest spots by the Exit's Chris Murray.

So, what sets Satori apart from the RX Bandits exactly? Well, while the Bandits fuse energetic punk rock with their reggae and ska stylings, this band drops the punk rock and throws in some bluebeat and dub.

Virtually the only quick work with the guitar comes in the first 10 seconds of the opening track, "Celebration," but that quickly leads into the band's reggae funk sound. Each song has its own unique groove, and they all flow extremely well together. If nothing else, this is an album in which each track seamlessly fuses with the one before it. The instrumentation is pretty minimal, but it accomplishes exactly what it needs to. Thick bass grooves, light tapping of the snare drum, and tight, fluent harmonies provided by the guitar -- it's all there. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is an ultra slow but hypnotic track in which the band features some great backup vocal harmonies, providing the 'oohs and ahhhs' more or less. Hypnotic, soothing vocals, and slow, rhythmic instrumentation is what the band is all about, and the songs come across in just the right way. Satori's vocalist is a strong one, but not that his voice needs to be all that powerful for this sort of music. It's a subtle sort of power. Melody and groove are still the most integral parts of this album, however, and that's well represented, but oddly enough, one of the best songs on the album is an instrumental one. The song displays some great saxophone work, and it's just a fun jam all the way around.

A bit of a departure for the RX Bandits, but ultimately, a departure that was well worth the effort put in to make it.

There's not a single bad song to be found anywhere near this album, and while they may all run too closely together after repeated listens, the album has an undeniably great spirit and a unique sound to boot. Between "Move!," "Wise Up," and "Don't Hide," there's already three songs worthy of checking out an entire album, and once you do, the rest is simply a bonus.