Album Review: Groundation Building An Ark

White boy reggae from Northern California doesn't necessarily sound very appetising, conjuring up images of stoned surfers in the thrall of Jamaica. Yet Groundation, who formed way back in 1998, are seven albums down the track and still keen to bring something new to the genre: amazing musicianship. Whilst they've got the roots-reggae sounds down – with drums, congas, bass, Hammond B3, horns and guitar – there's a very strong jazz and improv approach to the way they put the ingredients together. This is something you rarely see in reggae sets; very few have the kind of chops to cope with solos. Yet most players on Building An Ark get an opportunity to shine. Curiously it feels so natural, the transitions into some of the jazzier moments feeling like the next logical development for the music. You only really question when you suddenly realise in the midst of a frenetic organ solo that the tune started off with a relaxed, reggae groove. There's a lush-fusion feel at times, providing the album with a rich sheen, something that will no doubt upset roots purists, but someone needs to tell them that the '70s are over.

Building An Ark is conscious music liberally dosed with biblical references, which reinforces their commitment to roots, yet the consciousness goes much further, seemingly suggesting that we are one world, one music as they break down the barriers between pop, blues, jazz and soul, with tunes up to seven-odd minutes.

Groundation are a lot more than you initially expect, and despite the stylistic mélange, the band are very much self-assured and offering something new to a genre filled with pale imitators. Just don't hold where they come from against them.