Sing Along With The Yoots

We heart this album so much. It's our 'go to' playlist in the car, especially when we are in chronic Bangkok gridlock, like last night when it took an hour to cover five kilometres.

The Yoots, comprising top musicians from a number of leading New Zealand bands including Fat Freddy's Drop and the Black Seeds, take classic Maori songs put them through a funk, ska, reggae, country, soul and acid jazzy wash to produce a superb set of head nodding, toe tapping, huge grin inducing tunes.

The songs really resonate with me because as a young fella growing up in Manutuke - a tiny rural Maori town south of Gisborne, NZ - they were the soundtrack to weddings, 21st parties, bus trips, pub sing-alongs and more.

This collection has also been a good way to introduce my daughter and wife to a few timeless classics and both are now huge fans. While I love all the songs, the last track, Po Atarau (Now Is the Hour) is my favourite. A traditional farewell song, it always brings a tear to the eye - don't ask me why.

I recommend the album to everyone especially expat New Zealanders living in faraway lands.

Buy the download or CD
NZ Herald review