2004 saw the release of PlantLifes debut album The Return of Jack Splash to wide international critical acclaim. Artistic luminaries as diverse as Gnarls Barkley, Mos Def, Pharell Williams, DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Chemical Brothers, RJD2, were showing PlantLife love. After touring Europe, PlantLife ended 2004 on a high note by winning ALBUM OF THE YEAR at Gilles Petersons BBC Radio 1 Awards.While PlantLife navigated their newfound fame, Jack Splash stayed extremely busy working on several side projects and producing songs including the highly anticipated collaboration with Cee-Lo Green (collectively they are known as The Heart Attack). Jack has also been busy working with Alicia Keys, John Legend, Groove Armada, Beyonce, Estelle, Missy Elliott, Daniel Merriweather, Lauryn Hill, Lemar, Raheem DeVaughn, Jennifer Hudson, Ne-Yo, Solange, Jamie Foxxx, Britney Spears and many other exciting artists.With their new album Time Traveller, PlantLife continues the musical exploration that made their debut an instant classic (the best elements of 70s soul, funk & rock, 80s electro freak out, 90s b-boy politics and 2008s futuristic ideals). In the intro to the album, Jack explains that I was there when it all began. I made the whole planet rock with Afrika Bam. I had Melle Mels back when he was on the edge, I used to wear them big suits with the Talking Heads! He goes on to say that he rolled a fatty with Jimi Hendrix, Dr. Dre & Snoop, told ACDC to come back in black and helped start gangster rap with NWA . Is it the truth? Probably not, but if you ask Jack about it hell swear that he was actually there for all of the aforementioned occurrences. Jack explains Honestly, in certain regards I really feel like the energy I have inside me is the same musical energy of all of the people I love who gave it everything they had. Jack shows his continued love, respect and admiration for the ladies in his songs. Song titles like Sun Shines Through Your Love & What A World Babygirl show the exhilarating optimism of Plant Life love despite chaos. In the latter, Jack splash declares War, corruption your love is my protection! Not to be pigeonholed though, Jack follows those songs up with a healthy dose of stripclub fanfare. Not your average 808 stripclub fanfare though, Take It Off! is strictly 80s sleaze (something like Motley Crue meets Timbaland). With a conscious decision not to weigh the album down with the obvious pessimism of modern day politics, PlantLife leave most of the politics for the end of the album with songs like Tear The House Down and Believers. In Tear The House Down Jack insinuates that we might be better off having Bootsy Collins for President and in Believers he tells us that Whether its Tupac Shakur or my very own kin believers are those who refuse to give in, and just in case we might still have doubts about our convictions, not to worry because in the end, love will win. Another wild ride from beginning to end, Time Traveller is another important artistic statement from a band who refuses to conform to todays boring musical blueprint. As Jack explained back in 2004, All we really want to do is contribute some serious positivity to the world of music, and if some beautiful ladies shake their asses in the process then I think we did our job!
PlantLife