Kora first made waves five years ago with their highly regarded eponymous debut.
Their follow up album was always going to be hugely anticipated, especially from such a tight knit and territorial scene such as New Zealand’s.
The reggae/rock/funk thing has been done to death in recent years but this is an enjoyable and infectious record, literally ‘Light Years’ away from traditional stoner rock that seems to be taking up the airwaves.
Kora expand their palette by offering massive props to a diverse range of influences, from the soul jam of Galaxy Express to the thud and stomp of Bad Thin.
Stand out track is ‘Story Ain’t Over’ which sounds like the best Timbaland electro-funk meets Kraftwerk, or the moment robots finally got soul.
Being ahead of the curve from the beginning though, Kora transcend cliché with a thoughtful and stirring mix that leaves the worst rock excesses behind for a more polished electronic sound.
