Most Americans know very little about Guam, and would probably be surprised to learn that the small island territory has a music scene. They might be even more surprised to learn that music scene included ska band Fat Tofu. Forming in 2015, the band has sought to combine all three waves of ska music into their sound, with both originals and covers, including a perfect take on Hawaiian reggae artist Kolohe Kai‘s “Cool Down”.
The original is as smooth and relaxed as one could imagine, with Kai’s vocal take comparable to an R&B singer. For Fat Tofu‘s version, they bring in help from STRAIGHTUPJED and pick things up a bit, with up-stroked guitars, rollicking drums, and that ska horn section we know so well. The vocals remain cool, with backing harmonies that both speed up the pace of the original to give the track more of a lively vibe. With the hip-hop style breakdown on the bridge and the build up at the end, the track gains energy that would get a live audience jumping.
Check out the original here, and then take a listen to Fat Tofu‘s ska-rific cover!
The Indy Review 