| When
I read the Reggae Injection press release, I
was a bit sceptical. How many times do you
read some thing about a new release, that is
supposed to bring you back to what some
regard as the golden years of reggae? And
how many times did you found out that what
bands call "old skool" in fact is
not? I know I have come across this. What
many people seem to forget, that it is not
only the music that makes a release sound
"old skool", but the way it was
produced is at least as much important as
the music itself. How can you make ancient
sounds with new technology? Much better it
is to use the real thing. Spring Reverbs and
Tape Delays instead of new computerized
effects. But you can never reach there in
this time.
Strange thing, this (Reggae) Injection
that the (Rhythm) Doctors gave me. It makes
me kinda philosophical after listening to 12
Shots of, what I really must call, Authentic
Reggae and Ska. Although it does not sound
100% like the real thing only because the
recording is simply too good still, I must
say that this CD comes very close. And
although the press release mentions the
sound of Lee Perry's BLACK ARK STUDIO, there
is hardly a phaser used on the CD and on
those tracks where it is used, it's not done
in the Lee Perry style. No, most of the
music style pre-dates Black Ark for real.
The Doctors play a very energetic kind of
music, sometimes reggae and sometimes ska.
Every track is instrumental, but many titles
open up with some crazy vocals, which gives
you the feeling that you're listening to
movie soundtracks. One track uses a melody
line from a gospel song ("I Love You
Lord"), revealing the faith of (some)
band members.
As I said earlier, the Doctors play a
kind of reggae and ska as it was played in
the late 1960's to the early 1970's. Not all
tracks are like that, though. As the CD
progresses you'll find some tracks using the
Steppers Drum (basdrum beat on every count)
and there's even three real Dubs present.
And three real nice Dubs they are for real!
I hear many vintage effects like Spring
Reverb.
When you like Sure Dread's instrumental
tracks, or the Stubborn All Stars, I think
you will also love the Rhythm Doctors. But
if absence of vocals (or Dub) bothers you,
then this one is not for you. But they sure
make real what they write in the press
release: "Reggae Injection is for
everyone that'd given up on listening to new
Reggae or SKA Bands." If you don't
believe me, take into consideration, that
they have backed up for Prince Buster
recently (september 2000).
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