Rega E

Rip It Up, Issue 124, 1 November 1987, Page 37

Rega E

As Brixton is to London and Hansworth to Birmingham, so St Pauls is the black heartland of the southwest English city of Bristol. It was here thatthe first blackpeople arrived, in chains, in the 16th century. It is also the home of Black Roots, a band now four LPs old and still bubbling under, unlike its colleagues Aswad and Steel Pulse. However the band is blessed with a keen manager, keen enough to travel all the way to London to see Jayrem’s Jim Moss and do a deal to release the band’s material here. Their latest effort, All Day All Night, is already available. It’s a crossover bid for commercial success and doesn't settle as well on these ears as its two predecessors, The Front Line and In Session. The title track of the former was used as the theme for a BBC comedy series. The latter is a compilation of sessions done for John Peel’s radio show. Both albums are mellow and meditative in approach, with The Front Line featuring some extended dubbing that should delight spliff rollers everywhere. A worthy group and no lightweight. Black Uhuru, now in its fourth incarnation, drifts further and further away from its roots, as displayed on the debut LP Black Sounds of Freedom (the literal translation of the group’s name). Originally released under the title Love Crisis, this features Errol Nelson (later replaced Puma Jones), Michael Rose and Ducky Simpson. Rose’s voice dominates, Jammy mixes and the cover of Marley’s ‘Natural Mystic’ is a bonus. Well crucial. On cassette only are the Mighty Diamonds’ Reggae Street and Max Romeo’s Holding Out My Love to You. The Diamonds are reggae’s most enduring and consistent vocal trio and their sweet harmonies are unmatched. Reggae Street includes such gems as ‘llliteracy’ and ‘King Kong’ and needs no more recommendation from me. The Romeo album is another of those one-off reggae ventures undertaken by the Rolling Stones, featuring Keef on the LP cover and somewhere on the album. It’s not Romeo’s best (check the Lee Perry-produced War in a Babylon for proof), but it has its moments, especially 'Vow of a Nazarene.’ Due out this month is Judy Mowatt's latest, Love is Overdue. Mowatt still performs as a member of the I Three, although she outshines both Rita Marley and Marcia Griffiths as a singer and turned on a blinder of a solo set at Sunsplash last year. Vocally she’s often compared to Aretha Franklin, and she certainly has some of the tone, if not the sheer power. Love is Overdue is a soul crossover with American producers and covers including ‘Try a Little tenderness’ and ÜB4o’s ‘Sing Our Own Song.’ Duncan Campbell