PERFECT PAIR: RAINBOW JUICE X TOM TOM CLUB’s 'GENIUS OF LOVE'
Tumblers and turntables at the ready...
SLEEVE NOTES
Gentle Folk: I first tried Gentle Folk’s annual release back in 2016 when the term ‘natural wine’ was still a novelty. The style was bold, experimental and the taste varied between identical bottles. ‘Rainbow Juice’ was fruity and balanced, but tinged with just the right amount of funk. Since then, wineries large and small have entered this space, blurring the lines of what ‘natural wine’ is, much like the term ‘craft’ has changed in the world of craft beer.
Tom Tom Club: Tom Tom Club was a collaboration of artists, sound engineers, and musicians, led by husband-and-wife duo Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads. Despite David Byrne’s criticism of their “commercial direction”, ‘Genius of Love’ was briefly in the #1 spot in the US and just cracked the top 40 elsewhere. However, its legacy is in the countless artists who have sampled it, cementing its place in music history.
TASTING NOTES
Gentle Folk – Rainbow Juice: The 2022 iteration boasts 12 grape varieties sourced from the Adelaide Hills. It’s juicy, crisp with a vibrant acidity, akin to biting into a just-ripe Granny Smith. It’s complex, straddling the line between rosé and an orange wine, fermented on skins and aged on oak, and still preservative-free. Winemaker Gareth Belton aptly describes it as ‘Adelaide Hills Spring in a glass’. Larger wines have tried similar styles and trendy labels, but the authenticity and flavour of the real thing remains unrivalled.
Tom Tom Club – ‘Genius of Love’: Released in 1981, ‘Genius of Love’ stands as a pop masterpiece, blending elements of reggae, rap, funk and R&B. The song is instantly recognisable, but not for the original. It’s been sampled an astounding 179 times, notably by Ziggy Marley, 2Pac, and, of course, Mariah Carey in her hit ‘Fantasy.’ This catapulted the track’s melody from a nostalgic flash in the pan to globally recognized hit. While all renditions have their appeal, nothing matches the original’s unique fusion and sense of “Fun, natural fun.”
IN CONCLUSION
On the surface, ‘Rainbow Juice’ paired with ‘Genius of Love’ is a match made in heaven, but the parallels run deeper. Both Tom Tom Club and Gentle Folk were pioneers of experimentation, harmoniously blending elements to birth something new. ‘Genius of Love’ mirrors Rainbow Juice, evolving over the years with various interpretations, each adding its own distinct layer, creating an ever-changing and uniquely enjoyable experience.
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