Afro Riddim Sessions, Vol. 1

Ex-Centric Sound System – Afro Riddim Sessions Vol. 1
Reviewed by Sadie O., 4/5/06
“Dancehall goes to Africa” – but carries a heavy load of “trancemospherics”. More reggae/Jamaican than their previous CD, but still with the trademark complex layering of riddims and electronica. Singing/toasting by various Jamaican artists.
Tracks tend to run into each other, making it good for continuous play. There is a LOT of ganja on this CD. A LOT of ganja…
No FCCs that I could discern. I like 14, then 2, 10, 13, 15 best.
1. 0:44 deep male voice introducing Ex-Centric sound System
2. **3:11 starts with leftover electronic sound from intro. Goes into midtempo reggae with lots of overlaid riddim. Several male voices (English), layers of sound. Fades into single male toaster which continues into beginning of next track.
3. *3:38 chanting from previous track with percussion and some electronica, cool midtempo synchopation.
4. *3:36 chanting and drums – uptempo, not really nyahbinghi. Jamaica/Africa/Electronic drone in equal proportions.
5. 2:39 sweet relaxed downtempo shuffle, layers of sound, some female vocals. A bit precious for my tastes.
6. 4:07 beat continued from previous track, but with toasting and layers of percussion, less sugar. Some Rasta preaching/quoting Haile Selassie.
7. *3:59 starts with a bit of preaching, random noises, riddim comes in gradually.
8. 1:19 drumming, vibes, horns, random. Mellow and atmospheric.
9. *3:50 toasting and singing, downtempo Afro-Jamaican beat, very dubby, fire up dat spliff, star!
10. **3:58 echo’y trumpet, uptempo complex synchopation. Good beat for butt-shaking!
11. 3:39 hand drums and toasting, dance beat comes in – riddims fit together rather oddly. Not quite experimental, not quite normal… Lots of weird noises.
12. 0:27 …number nine… number nine… number nine….
13. **3:48 really cool slightly downtempo beat, Afro-dance w/ toaster. Beat fades in and out, toaster keeps chanting about dancing…
14. ***3:01 female toaster, upbeat shuffle, good for wiggling. Fun noises.
15. **3:40 midtempo relaxed riddim with blooms and weebles, lovely male singing. All about vegetarianism…
16. *3:39 continues from previous track, but gets a little more stoned. Not so much “dub” as “magic cookie land”…
17. 2:49 random singing, drums, vibes, noises. A bit of Mardi Gras riddim comes shuffling by.