Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band band leader Bjorn Wagner spent a few months in Trinidad & Tobago where he became fascinated with Steel Drum music culture, and began learning the instrument both through help of local players and on his own. Upon returning home to Hamburg, Germany, Bjorn set out to re-appropriate the Tropical Steel into his already sharply honed Funk, Soul, and Hip Hop sensibilities, creating a truly unique sound. The new single is a cover of hip hop goddess Erykah Badu's 'The Healer'. The Steel Band's version is an instrumental that brings out the musical elements that can perhaps be overlooked in the original bass-heavy version. Steel pan replaces Badu's vocals, on the lines that would have originally uttered the words "it's bigger than religion, hip-hop, it's bigger than the government". Lead melodies are played on twangy muted guitar and retro wah keys. Take a listen to 'The Healer'. -Ellie Rose-Davies