The cynical will immediately point to the Jack Johnson connection. True, the case for re-releasing ALO’s 2004 Fly Between Falls was doubtlessly boosted by the fact that members of the group also feature in Johnson’s touring band. Their best friend’s worldwide surge in popularity will also have played a part, as will the establishment of Johnson’s own Bushfire Records imprint.
In truth, however, Fly Between Falls deserves at least a second bite at the cherry on its own merits.
Full of fast guitar strums, snappy drumming and soaring riffs, its best qualities are Zach Gillis’s sultry vocals and the warm intrinsic backbone groove brought on by Steve Adam’s bass shuffles.
Songs like the peppy Californian beats of ‘Spectrum’ and the bluesy funk of ‘Shapeshifter’ complete the album’s inoffensive beach record feel with its laid back acoustic stoner funk.
Johnson himself crops up on the downtempo reggae of lead single ‘Girl, I Wanna Lay You Down’, which has the ring of a certified radio hit.
When the record plays too obviously to its stoner image, it does however begin to flounder. ‘The Gardener’, with its tripped out funk is just plain tedious, whilst lyrically, the record is consistently flaky often making reference to evenings spent with Rasta, pasta and peanut butter.
The irritable ‘Barbeque’ in particular marks a distinct low point with its trippy upbeat flourishes offset by Gillis’s stoned comparisons on how life is like a barbeque.
These aside though, Fly Between Falls is an enjoyable lazy listen. Johnson fans should love it.