THE ROYAL RASSES Schallplatten & CDs

Review: The 5th studio album by Jamaican reggae artist Lincoln Thompson released back in 1983, 'Ride With the Rasses' was well-loved by those who knew it. A proud proclamation of his Rastafari faith, Prince Lincoln and his Royal Rasses are considered one of the mainstays of roots reggae. The record is conscious at every turn, influenced by the band's label going bankrupt the year prior forcing their return to Jamaica from the UK (referenced in 'Come Spring', the yearning for hot weather). The tone gambol's from serious messaging on the state of the world at the time, to a relaxed and chill attitude like in 'Ride With The Rasses'. The real attraction in Lincoln's work is his falsetto voice, something that distinguished him from his roots peers Bob Marley and Peter Tosh (the latter of which taught Thompson to play instruments). This is a well-deserved repressing of an incredible piece of underrated roots history.