Review: Water Seed-Two Words

Jameta Barlow

If you haven’t heard of Water Seed, their EP, Two Words, will have you wondering about life before this beautiful, harmonious, and talented band. They are New-Orleans bred and now, post-Katrina, Atlanta residents. Water Seed remind you of all that was, and is, good with live bands who love making authentically real music. Whether you like Earth Wind and Fire, Fertile Ground or Maze, Water Seed delivers exactly what you want on so many levels, all feeding your spirit for classic funk and soul.

On this cut, Tryin, Water Seed is trying to “change the world to where it used to be.” This is exactly what they achieve while “taking us to a higher place like we’re supposed to be.” Elevating the masses through their music is their clear goal as the first track on this EP. The awesome interlude with the expert keyboard followed by the “oh-so-mellow” saxophone places your mind on instant vacation as you welcome this elevation.

The lead vocalist on Dance in the Sunshine is clearly a part of the band as she tells us “Dance in the Sunshine…we gonna dance in sunshine…” in complete unison with the other instruments. The flute peeks through nicely on this track, with a vibrato sprinkled throughout, helping you embrace the sunshine. With a bluesy feel, More Than Natural sings to that spiritual connection one feels that is more than physical and mental, but “it makes you wanna testify.”

Rhythms flood this song as the lead vocalist anoints this track and expresses a need for love on I Need You. Incorporating the elements of the earth—sun, stars, ground—waterfall is heard in the near distance further expressing this thirst, or need for love. On Stormy Weather, the steady drums provide a perfect backdrop and crescendos with the vocalist as you feel the storm approaching.

Definitely my favorite track, Pressin, offers inspiration in life when you feel just like giving up. The highlight of this track is the vocalist, while the instrumental overlays and supports the sweet melody. The lyricist on this track is surprising but fits in very well and emotes the beauty of hip hop and its ever-expanding boundaries.  Another favorite track is when the horns and bass guitar dominates is Love Somebody, a purely instrumental song.

Water Seed is where jazz meets funk, subsequently dates the blues and marries neo-soul, giving birth to waterseed, an amalgamation of some of the greatest genres and a band that sets a very high standard.

www.waterseedmusic.com

www.mypsace.com/waterseed