Thursday, August 19, 2010

Melbourne crew Blue King Brown has just released Worldwize Part 1. It's a two-CD set - but only half of the release. Worldwize Part 2 will follow next year.

They've been recording material at home and overseas for more than two years, ending up with more tracks than they could use on a single release. Bassist and songwriter Carlo Santone told triple j that they decided to find a way to get all the new songs out to fans.

"Over one brain-storm session we developed this four direction concept, the north, south, east, west. From that idea it all just fell in to place, like all these tracks should be on the northside and all these dub tracks, they should go on the south side. Why don't we do an east and west as well. That was a great moment when that happened and really gave us direction and helped us finish this record off."

Vocalist Natalie Pa'apa'a explained where the concept came from.

"The directions, north, south, east and west, this is inspired by Native American philosophy. We hold important people from every direction, irrelevant of colour, race or religion. Also the symbol of four directions is a really strong symbol called the medicine wheel, which is really important to everyday life. It's about keeping your life in balance and acknowledging all four directions and being centred in the middle."

Blue King Brown spent a few weeks recording in a studio in Kingston, Jamaica, the heartland of reggae. That had a big influence on the band and allowed them to collaborate with artists including Sly And Robbie and Queen Ifrica.

The band is on the road now with the John Butler Trio but promise their own national headline tour early 2011.