Tauranga’s No Reply has brought us another of those South Pacific dub/reggae crossover numbers that only people from the islands in the South Pacific CAN bring. This time the subject material is inspired by one of those sets of islands directly.

Singing about life within the protection of the mighty reef around Rarotonga, the principal island of the Cook Islands, with the single Big Swells we are again transported to the warm sea breeze, the crashing of the waves that just cannot get past that life-giving reef, as we listen to the Polynesian-influenced timbre of vocalist Andrew Fredrickson – who wrote the lyrics – atop horns, a gorgeously minor keyed reggae beat, and some wicked, cheeky hip-hop rhythms.

My missus and I have great memories of Rarotonga. Muri beach, Captain Tana‘s boat tour, a spin round the island in a hired Rav-4. Listening to the tune, the melody and the beat, together with the soothing vocal and its easy to follow lyrics painting a picture in the minds eye of the paradise Raro is, and I was back there. Ohhh and how I want to go back there!

This is a band that knows how to create this music. Nate Sowter at Link Flamingo studios has helped create a hit. It has to be. With a bittersweet edge reminiscent of some early UB40 melodies, the band has again shown their professional chops here. With guest musicians Tua Meti (Cook Island drums), Glenn Tuahini (Conch) and Matty Buxton (backing vocals), we have another that my wife is going to be adding to her Spotify along with this band’s debut single, which she flipped for. It’s night-time, she’s asleep, but I know her taste in music – and this is definitely it!

It’s also one of my go-to sounds. No Reply deserves support on the airwaves because they are very, very accomplished and are heading places. This is another taste of the sound of the summer. Play it at a party. At the beach, At the barbie. At a show. I want these guys at Homegrown next please.