ROOTS RADICS Schallplatten & CDs

Review: For over 50 years, Mike Brooks has been a key figure in reggae music, both as an artist and producer. He co-founded the Teams label in the late 1960s with Patrick 'Jah Lloyd' Francis and gained fame producing at Channel One Studio with The Revolutionaries, notably on The Mighty Diamonds' 'Shame and Pride.' Brooks later worked at Duke Reid's Treasure Isle Studio, contributing to Pat Kelly's "Night And Day," and collaborated with notable artists like Blacka Morwell and Earl 'Chinna' Smith. After a stint with The Tots, Brooks launched a successful solo career and his 1978 debut album, What A Gathering, came ahead of a hiatus which was followed by One Love in 1983, recorded at King Tubby's and supported by The Roots Radics. The reissue on vinyl by Burning Sounds includes tracks like 'Grooving,' a Bob Marley cover, and addresses themes of relationships, love, and personal reflections.

Review: Johnny Osbourne liked singing about love. The Jamaican born reggae maestro has said love is universal, a hurting thing, confidential, international and even supernatural. And frankly we're ahoy to hear him doing so - his honeyed tones a perfect mix for rolling and dubbed out rhythm that is lovably languid and overlaid with acoustic riffs and loose percussion. On the flip here we get a heady, dubbed out and psyched-up mix from the one and only Roots Radics. Both of these tunes are brilliant on a loud system and never fail make their mark.