reggae

Rip It Up, Issue 171, 1 October 1991, Page 32

reggae

VARIOUS ARTISTS Reggae Blasters 1-4 (Jayrem/Festival) More budget priced compilations courtesy of Wellington's Jayrem, a label which has recently returned to releasing reggae with a vengeance. With rights to labels like Greensleeves, RAS, Ariwa and Shanachie, they've got access to a wealth of material, and I can only say "more, please". It's also a nice gesture forthem to mix in local bands like the much-underrated and now defunct Dread Beat. Part One includes

Naturalites' rocking tribute to Selassie I, Picture On The Wall', Smiley Culture's still-funny 'Police Officer' and Black Uhuru's 'Great Train Robbery'. Part two features Bunny Weiler's sweet dancehall stepper'Cool Runnings', Mutabaruka's dub poem 'The Mystery Unfolds' and Macka B's hilarious 'Black Man'. Part three opens with the live version of Burning Spear's brooding 'African Postman', followed by the rootsy 'Politics of Hunger' from Barry Ford, a British-based singer last

heard of back in the late 70's with a band called Merger. There are also a couple of shots of African reggae, from Alpha Blondy and Reality. Part Four's standouts are Dennis Brown's 'Crazy List' and the sweet UK Lovers sound of 'Curious' by Kofi. Plenty of variety, with a minimum of 15 tracks on each set. Playing soon on a beat box near you on the hot days we're craving after this discontented winter. DUNCAN CAMPBELL MUTABARUKA BlackkWi 81ak...k...k LINTON KWESI JOHNSON Tings An' Times CULTURE Three Sides To My Story VARIOUS ARTISTS Me Gone Buckk Wild (Shanachie/Jayrem) A writer once described dub poet Mufabaruka as the living embodiment of Rastafari. One look at the cover of his latest album, the sombre expression on the classical African features, capped by the dreadlocks with the streak of white in the middle, and you'll understand why. His name means Medicine Man in Amharic, and over five albums he's been the voice of the downtrodden, declaiming his version of verse in a cool and undramatic fashion. The words do the shouting for him. Blakk deals to injustice, poverty and racism with perception and humour typical of this unique artist, standout being The People's Court* where he takes a leaf from the book of Judge Dread, a classic reggae character, and plays him with relish. There's also a fine remake of an old ■ single, 'Junk Food' (Muta is a vegan and runs a health food shop in his spare time). . Linton Kwesi Johnson announced his retirement after 1984's brilliant Makin' History, claiming fatigue and a desire to work on other things. Apart from the occasional live appearance he's been quiet, but Tings An' Times is LKJ in top form, short though it is. World events seem to have inspired him again (see 'Mi Revalueshanary Fren'), and he teams up once more with Denis Bovell's superb Dub Band for a set that has as much in common with rhythm & blues as reggae. Welkom bak, mi fren. Culture never seems to run out of steam, their sound is rougher and more urgent than that other great vocal trio. the Mighty Diamonds. The 1 Oth anniversary of Bob Marley's death has been marked by a worldwide revival of interest in Roots music, and there are fewer finer exponents than Joseph Hill, a true-born Rasta who has never strayed. Check Three Sides for songs like 'Be Honest', 'Suffered and 'Still Rest My Hearf and drink in a sound

that never dies. Me Gone Buck Wild is a compilation of current dancehall favourites from the likes of Frankie Paul, Yellowman, Admiral Bailey and Shabba Ranks. Hottest sounds from the studios of Black Scorpio, Dynamic Sounds and Mr Doo, amongst others, and all well for making a move. All titles available on CD and cassette. DUNCAN CAMPBELL YAMI BOLO He Who Knows It, Feels It CULTURE Culture In Culture WINSTON JARRETT & THE RIGHTEOUS FLAMES Solid Foundation (Heartbeat/Comus) It was ever thus with reggae. For months we're starved of new music, blowing our meagre wages on hideously expensive imports, then suddenly an embarrassment of riches. The above three are just a sampling of the extensive catalogue from the Massachusetts-based Heartbeat label, licensed here by Comus Distributors of Hastings. Rolando McLean, alias Yami 8010, rose to fame as q child with hits like 'Free Mandela' and 'Bad Boy Posse', and has been helped along the way by such artists as Sugar Minott and Augustus Pablo. He Who Knows is the work of a grown-up youth with a strong cultural awareness and an impressive voice, showcased on his remake of the standard Twilight Time'. Culture are veteran keepers of the great reggae tradition of vocal trios, led out by the charismatic Joseph Hill, he of the husky throat and the fire in the belly. In Culture dates from the mid-1980's and marked a welcome return to form with the reunion of the original trio with Albert Walker and Roy Dayes. Check out 'Capture Rasta', 'Peace And Love' or 'Old Tattoo' for sounds to stir the soul. Culture's latest work is reviewed elsewhere. Winston Jarrett and the Righteous Flames started out as backing singers for Alton Ellis in the 19605, recording many classic sides for Duke Reid and later Coxsone. Jarrett recorded some 100 titles during the 70's under various names and for numerous labels, as is common in reggae, and Solid Foundation follows on from 1989's Jonestown as a bid to keep the Flames' name alive as a credible Roots act. Unfortunately, the songs don't really live up to the pedigree of the players. Jarrett is gifted enough in melody but is stumped for anything original to say. He hits the occasional good groove with songs like 'Karoo-Kang King' but there are players of his era who are doing better, and so Jarrett may be

destined to remain in the second division. There are plenty of other titles in the Heartbeat catalogue, including new albums by Lee Perry, Sugar Minott and Niney the Observer, plus many vintage Studio One titles not previously released here. For more information, write to Comus Distribution Co, PO Box 919, Hastings, (all review copies were on CD but some may also be available on cassette). DUNCAN CAMPBELL ' RITA MARLEY / / We Must Carry On JUDYMOWATT Look At Love - •. ■ (Shanachie/Jayrem) . The careers of Marley and Mowatt, two of reggae's leading sisters, are inextricably linked. They reunited for this year's Reggae Sunsplash with Marcia Griffiths to perform again as the l-Three with the Waiters Band, as well as singing solo sets. It's therefore hardly surprising that Marley and Mowatt should turn out albums of very similar style and content. It's Rita's first solo effort in more than seven years. She's been rather preoccupied since Bob's death, battling in court over his estate (now / apparently back in the hands of Chris Blackwell) and overseeing the career of son Ziggy. Apart from a few modern techniques there's hardly a gap between Carry On and its predecessor, Harambe. The backing is courtesy of China Smith's Soul Syndicate and some of the übiquitous Third World, production credits largely going to Miney the Observer. Four of the songs, including the title track, are credited as previously unreleased Bob Marley songs, although it should be noted that a version of Who Colt The Game' also turns up on Lee Perry's latest. Still, Rita is in fine voice, and the only real lapses are a dodgy version of the Bee Gee's To Love Somebody' and 'Just One More Morning', where she overstretches her vocal capacity in the Lovers Rock idiom which is best left to younger singers. Judy Mowatt, I've always felt, was the best of the l-Three, with a voice like honey and ginger often reminiscent of Aretha Franklin. Her attempts at soul crossovers on 1987's Love Is Overdue were not all that successful, however, and Look At Love sticks closer to what she does best, with much more consistent results. She's also been tentative with the digital sound, but seems comfortable enough on V 'Guilt/, produced by Home T as a: single for Greensleeves and included here. She also covers another ÜB4O song, Watchdogs' and delivers a mellow version of the Young Rascals' 'Groovin'. Bob gets a look-in with a

sweetly devotional 'Jah Live' but it's the newer songs like 'Fly African Eagle', Tomorrow Nation' and 'Skin Of My Teeth' that really stand out here. The Akabu/African Woman composition ‘ Warrior Queen' gets a sensitive, low-key reading that turns it into a chronicle of the achievements of black women throughout history. Two strong . statements from conscious, hard-working women. Both titles available on CD and cassette. DUNCAN CAMPBELL JOHNNY CLARK Authorised Rockers I ROY \ Crisus Timer U ROY Natty Rebel/ Rasta Ambassador PRINCE FAR I Dubwise SLY DUNBAR Sly Wicked and Slick (Virgin Front Line) - // Having taken up a third of my allocated space with these titles, I'd better keep the rest of this brief. Virgin, bless their hearts, reissue more of the 70s finest Roots music, lovingly remastered for CD. It's all wonderful and very reasonably priced. The Johnny Clark set combines the 1976 releases Rockers Time Now and Authorised Version. It's a fine showcase for a seminal artist who got stuck a bit in the 'Bos, apart from an excellent collaboration with the Mad Professor called Yard Style (grab it if you see it). The I Roy includes 1978's Heart of a Lion and 1980's Crisus Time LPs, plus three tracks recorded with Denis Bovell's Dub Band, best known for backing Linton Kwesi Johnson. Not to be confused with U Roy, whose DJ pedigree is even older and can seriously claim to have been the first of the genre. The Natty Rebel CD contains that 1976 LP, plus 1978's Jah Son Africa and four tracks from a 1976 London concert. Rasta Ambassador dates from 1977. The Daddy of them all, with a flick of the wrist, will make you jump and twist. Half the Prince Far I set comes from Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Part 2, the other tracks said to be "previously unreleased". Well, not quite. One comes from a 1980 release, Showcase In A Suitcase, but let's not quibble. It's all well hard. Sly Dunbar's selection is from the 1979 release of the same title and 1978's Simple Sly Man. Reggae's top session drummer was to go on with Robbie ■; Shakespeare to establish the Taxi / Sound, which took reggae into the. 1980 s. The signs are already here. The singing won't win any prizes but the ' rhythms are crucial. DUNCAN CAMPBELL