Currently:

African Roots - Seke Molenga & Kalo Kawongolo - Trojan Records

A very interesting blend of African and Jamaican vibes. This is a Lee Perry production with an interesting story behind it. Here is the backround, as taken from a very informative site; www.upsetter.net/scratch:

This is an album with a great story behind it. In 1977, a would-be reggae promoter brought some fellows from Zaire to Jamaica in hopes of creating a new African reggae sound. Apparently she abandoned the two Africans soon after they arrived in Jamaica and left them stranded on the mean streets of Kingston. Not speaking any English, they had to beg for money and food to survive. Eventually, they found themselves at Lee Perry's house and somehow communicated their desperate story. Perry took their arrival as a sign: Jah himself had sent these men from Africa to make a connection with the Black Ark. Soon after, the pair were in the Ark recording the songs that make up African Roots. Originally eight songs were recorded and a rough mix of an album (entitled Monama) was sent to Island records. Island ultimately shelved the album, and those tapes remain in the vaults until today. < snip> It's an incredible and ground breaking collaboration, done long before anyone was attempting such a crossover, and even before reggae had become popular in Africa. The result was a thick, swirling, tribal groove that is unique in the Lee Perry catalogue. Highlights include "African Roots" and "Muto Ya Motema". The only minor complaint is the tacking on of "African Freedom" by Brother Hood - with music this unique, Trojan would have been better off simply presenting the original tunes.

I like the chant/tribal feel of the music. My only caveat is that the quality of the recording is relatively poor. I understand the nature of recording in Jamaica back in the day and listen past the pops, ticks, and distortion etc. and get into the music. It's just that this one seems to keep reminding me that it would be a better experience if it was done up a bit cleaner. Still, a worthy listen.

Awesome, FF. I'll be checking that out. I think that's the first new album I've been introduced to in a while! I'll let you know what I think later.

And currently for The Zola:

Bunny Wailer - Blackheart Man
Peter Tosh - Legalize It
Toots & the Maytals - Funky Kingston
DA F**KING MAN - Natty Dread








YO!

I recently listened to an LP copy of Natty Dread. Oh lord, did it sound good and suck me into Marley's world! The version of Lively Up Yourself on this release is da bomb!

Glen Velez 'Hand Dance'

Last night I got the urge to do the middle age white guy skank-orama around the house, along with some Belgian style refreshments and God's own flowers for inspiration. Freddie McGregor's 'Big Ship' had me waving my arms in all manner of "meaningful" ways while my hips bumped to the bass line. I howled along with Burning Spear, "... don't get me groooooooovey!" Oh yeah, I was ina yard, mon.

Two of the discs that I played were not 'strictly rockers', as it were, but were decent blends of reggae and contemporary electronica:

Dubmission 2 - (various artists) - Quango Records

A nice dubby remixing of some classic reggae tunes. The reggae feeling isn't washed out by too much manipulation. Seven of the ten tunes are Black Uhuru / Sly & Robbie based, so if that style is your bag, you'll get a heaping helping of that sound. The disc opens with an excellent reworking of Gregory Isaac's 'Night Nurse'. There is also a good workout on Burning Spear's 'Slavery Days'. Even the weaker versions that cut closer to jungle or drum & bass (or whatever you call it) than straight dub reggae are enjoyable.


Creation Rebel - DJ Spooky - Trojan Records

Spooky goes into the Trojan Records catalog (again) and pulls out an eclectic blend of old school reggae to run through his laptop. I have to be in the mood for this one to click, but it clicks for me pretty good. The opening cut, 'Creation Rebel', is a mad mix of cutting and pasting and beats. It can be fun or annoying, depending on your mood. Beyond that are a couple of remixes of Bob Marley's 'Mr. Brown and 'Soul Rebel' that are excellent. Dawn Penn's 'No No No' sounds great. I'm sort of old school so I sometimes get irked with the intensity of the beats and horns and whatnot that show up on some of the tunes here. But overall, a good time is had by all... mon.

Niney - Greatest Hits From the Observer Label - Heartbeat Records

Niney (the Observer) was an important producer of reggae music back in its 70s heyday. He never got as 'big' as Coxone Dodd or Joe Gibbs etc. but he put down solid roots tracks that stand up to the test of time.

This compilation is pretty good as it culls Niney's hit tunes. There are five 12" extended mixes with toasting that up the ante. Sometimes his music comes across as flat to me as when he locks into a middling groove/riddim for too long. Toss in some so so singing and it can start sounding generic.

Gregory Isaacs gets the Niney workover on his 'Paymaster', with a toast from Ranking Buckner that is OK but not great (the toast, that is, Isaacs is awesome). A nice 12" version of Michael Rose doing 'Guess Whose Coming To Dinner' is next. Other highlights are Niney's own 12" 'Blood and Fire', the Mighty Diamonds 'Well Hot', and Junior Byles with a 12" version of 'Weeping' that morphs into an off the wall toast from I-Roy.

This disc is dead center on what 70s reggae was all about. Some murky production values here and there, but that's part of the charm, no? I'm not crazy about all of Niney's output but a decent reggae collection should have a taste of Niney in it.