The Earliers - The Earliers EP (Self-published/Back To Basics)

The duo from the Toulouse area has in fact been active for over fifteen years. What began in 2012 with the YouTube channel Karigan Reggae Drummer - which grew into a major success with more than 170,000 subscribers and over 40 million views - in 2020 evolved into Roots Makers, a collaboration with American riddim maker Dm Kahn.

Driven by the desire to make real, live music, The Earliers were formed in 2023 as a seven-piece band fronted by vocalists Sebah, also the frontman of Les 100 Grammes De Têtes, and the Franco-Congolese Congo Lion.

With a vintage-sounding repertoire that effortlessly moves between ska ('Chatty Chatty'), rocksteady ('Now We Are One'), nyahbinghi (the Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus-leaning 'Angel At My Door'), reggae and lush soul ('Dream Come True', 'I Miss You My Father' and the excellent closer 'Eternal Dreamer'), the band has crafted a little gem of an EP. The vinyl edition is unfortunately- but entirely predictably - already sold out.

Still, do yourself a favour and check out The Earliers online, because to our ears this French outfit is nothing short of an absolute revelation.