Reggae Promos Summer 2009, Vol. 1

Reggae Promos Summer 2009, vol. 1
Reviewed by Sadie O., 7/3/09
Dancehall and Reggae promos from May/June 09. First 9 tracks are from Kirkle Dove, and feature 4 solid and interesting riddims with several different vocalists. Tracks 10-14 are from a Barrington Levy comp, tracks 15-20 from “Reggae Train” compilation.
No FCCs detected. I like 5, 10, 14, 15 best.
1. 2:56 ***riddim is uptempo drumming and clapping, vocals trade between Vegas’ sweet sing-jaying and Maestro’s coarse Sizzla-style dancehall.
2. 3:36 ***same riddim but with some minor added strings. Completely nutted vocals (what did you expect?) from the Energy God.
3. 2:55 *same riddim, bit of spoken intro, comparatively subdued dancehall vocals.
4. 3:32 ***rockin’ midtempo, bass-heavy dance riddim. Commercial-sounding female vocals, but I have to admit I’m really enjoying this.
5. 3:43 ****same boppy riddim as track 4, dancehall vocals with some backing harmonies – great noise.
6. 3:16 **shaker intro, downtempo minimalist (but building) dancehall riddim, female vocals, sometimes dancehall and sometimes “R&B”. Odd “eeny meeny” lyrics.
7. 3:13 *same riddim as track 6, lots of different vocals, rather perplexing lyrics about DJs.
8. 3:48 *midtempo roots skank, tormented-sounding singer, hard times lyrics.
9. 4:00 **same riddim as track 8, love song with Turbulence’s mad vocals and extremely sweet, commercial-style backing vocals.
10. 3:43 ****classic from Barrington Levy, emphatic midtempo riddim.
11. 4:23 ***downtempo riddim, all about pot, nicely stoned sounding.
12. 3:40 ***midtempo roots skank, autobiographical lyrics, sweet sound.
13. 2:55 **downtempo roots skank, same lyrics as the Black Uhuru song (diatribe about avaricious women), sounds like it was recorded in a bathroom.
14. 3:29 ****midtempo skank, great early dancehall sound.
15. 3:51 ****downtempo boopy skank with solo sax – instrumental.
16. 4:01 uptempo shuffle, sweet vocals. Very commercial production.
17. 4:03 **same downtempo boopy skank as track 15, no sax and with vocals, Rasta lyrics. Pleasant.
18. 3:42 ***downtempo nyahbinghi – hymnlike reworking of “Holly Holy” – weird!
19. 2:47 ***midtempo electronic riddim, fine dancehall