There is a specific sound that nobody but nobody does quite like New Zealanders. Fat Freddy’s, Trinity Roots, Salmonella Dub, The Black Seeds, Katchafire, Che Fu, Herbs. It goes on and on, and my apologies if I missed out one of your favourites. That dub/reggae/R & B crossover that smacks of summer, laid back ladies and gents of the many varied cultures prevalent in these islands of Aotearoa jamming and laughing and generally just getting on with being at ease in one another’s company.

Tauranga’s No Reply are making a statement with this, their debut single, Departure Lounge. Written in Wellington/Middle-Earth airport at the end of the pandemic lockdowns, it sets the scene for a DJ spinning a set to an oblivious crowd – which doesn’t bother him in the least. It’s classic Kiwi-made stuff, and it makes me immediately think of warmer weather, less uptight vibes, the smell of a frangipani garland laid around one’s shoulders upon arrival in the gorgeous islands of the South Pacific.

Expertly crafted dub/reggae pop, Departure Lounge is a big band pop song that has been engineered and polished by Nate Sowter at Link Flamingo studios. Brass heavy, as one would expect, I can tell you now that my missus will melt when she hears this. My buddy Warren Maxwell (Trinity Roots, Fat Freddy’s, Little Bushmen) will be high fiving anyone he sees. This is a great summer track, released at the perfect time, and containing a great hip-hop rhythm section underneath a ska/reggae guitars/bass anchor. The brass really elevates the overall composition, with all instruments in the mix executed very well.

Vocalist Andrew Frederickson has just the right timbre for the genre. Hmmm… timbre for the genre… doesn’t look it but that kinda rhymes. Clever Jack. The studio has got the balance right and we have a single that the likes of George FM, Mai FM and the commercial pop stations in Auckland need to run with.

Enjoy this one in the car, in the gym, at home relaxing or in company, go see them at a festival because this song will go down well in such surroundings. And we have a lot of festivals over the summer. Someone book these guys, and get them high rotation air.

Splendid music!