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Reviewed by Jamie McCaskill

Trinity Roots: Citizen

Reviewed by Jamie McCaskill

Trinity Roots: Citizen

Having been a huge Trinity Roots fan, and fan of other endeavours Warren Maxwell has put his talent to I was really excited about listening to this new album which certainly didn’t let me down. Maxwell says, in his thank yous, that he is never without his ancestors and we are introduced to them in the first track, Bully, which grabs the listener with a moteatea pulling you into this wharemāhana called Citizen. In true Trinity Roots’ style the songs are never of conventional length, which is reflective the journey you have to go on in each track. The music has space and clarity mixed with roughness influenced from the constant live jams these boys have when they play. It keeps you thinking and sometimes leaves you on the edge, then resolves perfectly and satisfyingly. You can still hear the slow style reggae the original trio made famous and beautiful female vocals from some of NZ’s finest, such as Ria Hall and Lisa Tomlins. It also has elements of traditional Maori waiata subtly weaved through. Ben Lemi‘s lyrics and Warrens vocals and nylon string guitar in Musings of a Cloud are sublime and Tami Neilson‘s voice in Village Man mesmerises. Produced by Trinity Roots, recorded at Surgery Studios by Lee Prebble and mastered by Mike Gibson at Munki Studios, ‘Citizen’ is a must for Trinity Roots’ fans to add to their too-small collection.