Recently, New Orleans group Water Seed was featured on these pages in Ear To The Ground because of their phenomenal single “Feel Like I Do.” And now, they are back on the radar with their March 12th release entitled Wonder Love Part 1 – the first installment from the double disk album.
Water Seed’s N’awlins background is quite prominent in their music, especially in their instrumentation. There’s also a sprinkle of a little bit of everything in terms of influence. A little jazz, a little soul, a little hip hop, a little Je ne sais quois. It’s all in there. The first track takes you on a roller-coaster ride with its frenetic pace on “Can We Just Dance.” The mood is slowed down considerably and sensually with the fine balance of spoken word and jazz tones on “Hues of Blue.” The phenomenal “Feel Like I Do” is also present, as it should be. “Adam and Eve” is a gorgeous and sensuous instrumental that you would be happy to leave on repeat to set the mood right for a secret rendezvous. Also included in this set, is Water Seed’s delicious cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry Bout A Thing.” They added their own flavour, their own harmonies et al, and were able to put their own stamp on a classic tune.
Water Seed doesn’t seem to be afraid of pushing the boundaries at all with the mellifluous sounds of the vibraphone, the unapologetic horn sections, and ever-changing sequences. It’s a beautiful thing. Be sure to check for Wonder Love Part 1 if you don’t have it already. It will be loved by jazz enthusiasts and soul lovers alike.