THE HERBALISER are all about moving forwards, onwards and upwards. Bonding over a shared love of jazz, funk, rare groove and hip-hop in the early 1990s, West London duo Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba have evolved with each chapter in their 15-year story. First it was instrumental beats, breaks and samples. Then they added guest rappers and vocalists. Later, as international festival favourites, their line-up swelled into a mini-orchestra with lush arrangements to match.
On their latest album, Same As It Never Was, THE HERBALISER hit a dazzling new peak. With a new label, a new main vocalist, and a new focus on soulful songwriting, this is their richest and most diverse record so far. A timeless modern soul record, it should appeal not just to specialist fans but also to a new generation seduced by the knowing pop-soul nostalgia of Amy Winehouse or Mark Ronson. Glossy and gritty, organic and eclectic, Same As It Never Was builds on the band's hip-hop roots with jazz, funk, R&B, pop and instrumental soundtrack influences.
"It's still a hip-hop inspired record, but at the same time it's a lot broader because our musical and emotional horizons are broader," says Jake. "As teenagers in the 1980s, we were into rare groove and hip-hop and early electro and funk and soul and jazz. It's a big melting pot."
Same As It Never Was marks a more collaborative approach to the band's music. Jake and Ollie remain the musical nucleus, but they have opened up the songwriting to Jessica, plus their regular EASY ACCESS ORCHESTRA collaborators Ralph Lamb and Andy Ross. All five are now permanent HERBALISER members. The legendary bass guitarist Pino Palladino, a personal hero of the band, whose unrivalled career includes guesting with everyone from DE LA SOUL to ERYKAH BADU to THE WHO, also plays on four tracks
Indeed, the whole of Same As It Never Was takes The Herbaliser to a higher level. Their musical voyage of discovery continues. Forwards, onwards and upwards.
On their latest album, Same As It Never Was, THE HERBALISER hit a dazzling new peak. With a new label, a new main vocalist, and a new focus on soulful songwriting, this is their richest and most diverse record so far. A timeless modern soul record, it should appeal not just to specialist fans but also to a new generation seduced by the knowing pop-soul nostalgia of Amy Winehouse or Mark Ronson. Glossy and gritty, organic and eclectic, Same As It Never Was builds on the band's hip-hop roots with jazz, funk, R&B, pop and instrumental soundtrack influences.
"It's still a hip-hop inspired record, but at the same time it's a lot broader because our musical and emotional horizons are broader," says Jake. "As teenagers in the 1980s, we were into rare groove and hip-hop and early electro and funk and soul and jazz. It's a big melting pot."
Same As It Never Was marks a more collaborative approach to the band's music. Jake and Ollie remain the musical nucleus, but they have opened up the songwriting to Jessica, plus their regular EASY ACCESS ORCHESTRA collaborators Ralph Lamb and Andy Ross. All five are now permanent HERBALISER members. The legendary bass guitarist Pino Palladino, a personal hero of the band, whose unrivalled career includes guesting with everyone from DE LA SOUL to ERYKAH BADU to THE WHO, also plays on four tracks
Indeed, the whole of Same As It Never Was takes The Herbaliser to a higher level. Their musical voyage of discovery continues. Forwards, onwards and upwards.
