- 2023-02-08
-
MUSIC
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad Announces New Album “Love in Time”, Shares New Song “Chants” with Clinton Fearon
American reggae band Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, consisting of Chris O'Brian (drums), James Searl (bass), Dylan Savage (guitar), Tony Gallicchio (Keyboard) and Eli Flynn (guitar), announced their seventh studio album “Love in Time” would be released on April 7, 2023.
It is their first album in seven years since the 2016 album “Make It Better”.
The album comprises 11-track, featuring guest appearances from Skribe Da God, Double Tiger, and Blakkamoore, as well as working with collaborators from Clinton Fearon, Anthony B and The Movement.
Originally the idea was to build towards three different releases, but the diversity of the songs and production styles all complemented each other in ways the band had not expected.
The band bassist James Searl said, “It's exciting to work with talented people outside the strict structure of a band.”- From the album, the band released the first single called “Chants” on January 27, 2023.
The band teamed up with Jamaican reggae singer Clinton Fearon on the track,
The track was written by James Searl, Dylan Savage, Christopher O'Brian, Elijah Madani Flynn, Anthony Scott Gallicchio and Clinton Anthony Fearon.
Produced by Matthew Goodwin and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad.
The song was originally written for James Searl's son, as a reminder to remember the power of music when facing times of trouble.
The band shared on social medai, “'Chants' began to be written with the hope of being able to share it with Clinton Fearon. After we toured together, we had a nice day to jam and relax in Rochester. James had first heard Clinton Fearon sing with the legendary Gladiators. His bass teacher David Gould had given the entire dub squad some foundational reggae recordings in 2003, including the Gladiators recording, 'Back To Roots' shortly before James took a trip to Ghana with fellow squad member at the time Matthew Goodwin.” -
They continued, “'Back To Roots' was listened to constantly for the years to come and shortly after the band began touring, they met a fan in New Paltz NY who would bless them with reggae CD's whenever they returned to the area. Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Brown Band as well as Clinton Fearon acoustic recordings and Gladiators live in Holland 1981 were the most treasured of those gifts and were staple van listens in the bands first many thousands of miles around the country.”
They added, “Getting to jam with Clinton was surreal. Following it through with a full length song to share with the world is an entirely different way to exist all together. Giving thanks for every moment of it.”
Photo by Mike Martinez - source : Apple Music