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Rootdown Records presents Anthony B., Apache Indian and Spectacular Longplayers

Top level News Reviews Albums & Compilations
  Category: Reviews

Author: phanthomas
Publishing date: 14.09.2005 17:02


Not really the latest news, but Rootdown Records from Germany recently sent some great promotion copies from international artists that needed a review badly. Amongst them are the highly anticipated new Anthony B. Album "My hope", the controversial and much discussed Apache Indian Album "Time for Change" and Spectacularīs debut album "Find yourself".
Please read on for detailed info and tracklists.

Anthony B. - My Hope
Anthony B. - My Hope
Label: Minor7Flat5
Artist: Anthony B.
Title: My Hope
Cat-No: n/a
Avail: 08/15/2005
Distr: Groove Attack

Rating: [XXXXXXXXXX]

Well, what do you expect of another Anthony B. album? Solid, conscious rootsīn culture reggae? Well, then thatīs exactly what youīre getting with "My Hope" and with that being said, we could honestly conclude the review. Go out and buy the CD now.

Ah, hm.. maybe worth mentioning is the feature "Face off" with german artist Gentleman which was already featured on his own album "Confidence" released in 2004. There are also some nice features with Mark Wonder ("Don't Cry") and Taffari ("Rise up"). And last but not least not to forget the great, but admittedly a bit experimental tune "Dancehall Thing" on the "Classic" riddim that features a full orchestral instrumentation over a pushing dancehall riddim. The rest is - as said before - just what you expected : on a high rootsīn culture level and worth buying.


Tracklist:

Minor7Flat5
Minor7Flat5
Produced by Brotherman & the Al.Ta.Fa.An team


Further Information:
Minor7Flat5 - Official Website
Rootdown Music - Official Website
Groove Attack Distribution







Apache Indian - Time for Change
Apache Indian - Time for Change
Label: DHF Records
Artist: Apache Indian
Title: Time for Change
Cat-No: DHF 36-2
Avail: 06/27/2005
Distr: n/a

Rating: [XXXXXXXXXX]

Well, one thing first: Reactions within our staff and friends has never been so diverse just upon the announcement of a release as with Apache Indians 8th longplayer "Time for Change"! We really had everything from "Wh00pee - Finally!" to "Back off with that bu*****t!" and even worse..

But honestly - What else to expect of an artist that is just as eclectic as the Indian and has been successfully riding every style from ragga, jungle, dancehall to even banghra and ohers. And this with an overwhelming success that brought him seven UK Top 40 hits, quite a couple of awards (Just recently credited with the "Life Time Achievement Award" at the UK Asian Music Awards) and more than 11 million copies sold of the eight albums that walked in front..

So this new album will probably again fulfill any expectations you might have had - no matter if you like or hate the indian. The album introduces itself with an uptempo remake of the well known "Israelites" tune by Desmond Dekker and featuring the originator himself in an excellent combination (also featuring a slower radio edit) and goes through a variety of different genres and influences like banghra ("Sometimes Love", "Acting Shady", "Global Talk", "Get loose" ft. Pras, "Tere Toor" ft. Binder Bajwa, "A prayer for change" ft. Gunjan), soul/rnb/pop ("So Hott!" ft. Ms. Jade & Lady Ru), dancehall ("Throw your hands up", "That Girl" ft. El Feco, ), jungle ("Selecta!"), reggae ("Everyday", "All Religions", "Shackle & Chain", "Om Numah Shivaya"), ska (ft. Luciano in "Calling out to Jah", "Tell me now") and a really great unplugged track ("I Pray") in the following.
Really, every tune is professionally produced and bears Apache Indians personal style. Itīs just a matter if you like the specific genre or not - iīm personally not such a great banghra-fan for example (No! - really not!) but i do also really like some of those tunes, but really not all. After all it really sounds like a UK-influenced production again, bearing elements of ragga, jungle and UKīs very individual style and that also makes it very much worth listening - i just wouldn't call it a "reggae" or "dancehall" release. For anyone new to the UK-scene, iīd recommend listening to snippets before buying it, 'cos you may need to get tuned to it first..


Tracklist:

DHF Records
DHF Records
Produced by Apache Indian, Charlie Brown, Simon Duggal, Diamond Duggal/Swami, Michael Nanton, Jim Beans
Artists: Apache Indian, The Reggae Revolution Band, Desmond Dekker, Luciano, Pras, Gunjan, El Feco, Binder Bajwa, Wil Guice, Ms Jade, Lady Ru


Further Information:
DHF Records - Official Website
Rootdown Music - Official Website







Spectacular - Find Yourself
Spectacular - Find Yourself
Label: DHF Records
Artist: Spectacular
Title: Find yourself
Cat-No: DHF 34-2
Avail: 05/30/2005
Distr: n/a

Rating: [XXXXXXXXXX]

Originally - after listening to it just twice - i was intended to write a slating review about Spectacularīs first longplayer "Find yourself". Originally. But more or less "accidentally", i caught myself grooving to the album, whilst writing reviews on the beach these days. As i thought i had already deleted this release from my player, i really wondered who that would be and was really surprised to find Spectacular on the playlist. Not an outstanding album in every aspect, but it is well produced and really nice for a debut feature. Outstanding tunes of the album would be "All of my Love", "Family" and "Move", also featuring many already well-known riddims (e.g. "Doctors Darling", "Bitch", "Bonx it", "Black Survivors", "Arena", "Stopp"). The "Gangsta" track with the Specializtz is also interesting for itīs somehow strange but nice swiss/jamaican fugees-sound-alike combination. The rest is more or less good and solid stuff, but doesnīt deserve more than an average rating in my eyes.


Tracklist:

DHF Records
DHF Records
Produced by Beatschmieda (GER), Germaican (GER), Ganglords (CH), Minor7Flat5/Brotherman.


Further Information:
DHF Records - Official Website
Rootdown Music - Official Website




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