Together Not Apart Backbeat Soundsystem

The UK has always been fertile ground for reggae, nurturing a scene that deeply respects the genre's roots while continually pushing it into new territories. When we first brought Backbeat Soundsystem into the Easy Star family, they were already standing out as a bright light in the modern UK reggae wave. With TOGETHER NOT APART, the eight-piece outfit delivered a definitive statement, blending up-tempo, funky reggae with heavy grooves that immediately felt at home on our roster, perfectly bridging the gap between the UK sounds of labelmates like The Skints and the funk-infused energy of The Black Seeds.  

Helmed by the band's lead singer, main songwriter, and producer, Dean Forrest, the album strikes a careful balance between weighty subject matter and infectious energy. The tracklist navigates a space somewhere between the classic foundations of bands like Steel Pulse and the modern sensibilities of stateside acts like SOJA. Forrest deliberately crafted the album's vibrant atmosphere as an antidote to "angry music," proving that a band can tackle sharp political and social commentary without sacrificing the underlying warmth and romanticism that makes reggae so universal.  

Ultimately, TOGETHER NOT APART stands out as a record that effortlessly bridges eras. It takes the best elements of twenty-first-century reggae and grounds them with just the right amount of old-school influence. From tight horn arrangements to slick, deep-pocket basslines, the musicianship across these twelve tracks is both heavy-hitting and remarkably smooth. It remains a solid testament to the band's kinetic live energy and a crucial piece of the transatlantic reggae conversation we've always championed at Easy Star.

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