Mr. Bass Man All Stars

Campbell, Andrew Bassie – Mr. Bass Man Allstars (Young Tree)
Reviewed by Sadie O., 10/14/05
Appealing roots reggae with a large cast of contributors. Some big names like Horsemouth Wallace and Chinna Smith, several different singers. My guess is that “Bassie” went around and got all the people he’d played with/for to come over to Tuff Gong studio and lay down a few tracks. It looks (from the record cover) like a rather amateurish production, but some of the best Jamaican stuff is like that. From the pictures in the booklet, it looks like most of the engineers are in middle school. It’s still tasty stuff.
Can’t make out any FCCs. Best tracks 1, 7, 12 – all are good
1. 4:12 dramatic opening, energetic midtempo roots groove, you can tell the bass is working out but it’s the drum (Horsemouth Wallace) that’s most noticeable. Vocals by Squidley Cole, a great name if there ever was one.
2. 3:47 uptempo bubble, sweet vocals
3. 3:47 slow, mellow groove, pretty harmonies
4. 3:53 spoken intro, laid-back groove with occasional metal guitar chords, singer and dancehall toaster trade off.
5. 3:59 midtempo, fairly powerful and full instrumentation, intense singer.
6. 3:38 uptempo, energetic love song, hyperactive singing.
7. 3:27 rather commercial sounding start, but settles into a cool, fun midtempo dancehall groove with the hyperactive singer.
8. 3:57 midtempo bubble, dancehall with Rasta toasting.
9. 3:37 midtempo urgent (and rather loud), several toasters trade off.
10. 6:40 random spoken start into true Nyahbinghi drumming and chanting. Twice as long as other songs, lovely singing, but little instrumentation other than hand drums and a bit of melodica.
11. 3:49 midtempo, “Denton Screechy” is anything but – very nice vocals. Hardship lyrics.
12. 4:26 dramatic intro, tough drums, classic roots sound, harmonies.
13. 3:43 sweet midtempo bubble, cool keyboard sounds.
14. 3:37 bubble goes in and out, baritone toasted chanting remains, a bit off-key. Dubby and pretty stoned.
15. 3:58 uptempo bubble, mellow vocals, rasta message.
16. 4:11 midtempo, melodica, mellow groove, instrumental.