Tabou 1 Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Jamaican reggae supergroup Black Uhuru, captured at the height of their powers. 1982 was a fertile but latent moment for reggae; allegedly, only three radio stations dedicated to the genre existed in the US: Doug Wendt in San Francisco, Roger Steffens in LA, and Lance Linares in Santa Cruz. Perhaps it was this relative lack of attention that spurred the lattermost radio host to facilitate a Black Uhuru live show at Soledad Prison, SC, owing to his desire to help inmates acquire professional skills that could be used after release. It's striking, really, as it's almost unheard of to imagine music existing among the occupations that inmates might consider nowadays - but such were the ways back then. To Lance's surprise, his idea was enthusiastically accepted and the group performed in front of a full house at Soledad Prison. Ending on the rivetingly percussive 'Sensimilla' - the video-recorded version can be seen online - this is a worthy historical record of a timeless, inspiring and empathic performance.

Review: Tabou 1 is on a roll right now and their latest offering features reggae icon Johnny Clarke teaming up with the legendary rhythm duo Sly & Robbie. 'Every Knee' is an archetypal roots reggae anthem that has everything you want in a tune. It demands to be played loud and proud and blends Clarke's soulful, spiritual vocals with Sly & Robbie's masterful bass and drum foundation. The rest of the tracks here also have deep grooves and heartfelt lyrics that resonate with themes of devotion and unity and are enhanced by the signature dub-infused production.

Review: Jamaican rhythm section legends Sly & Robbie have an unparalleled ability to craft immersive dub soundscapes. This timeless duo of delights on Tabou shows that once more. 'Ogun Dub' kicks off with deep, resonant basslines and intricate drum patterns and is designed to pay homage to the Yoruba deity Ogun, is blends mystic and spiritual themes with hypnotic grooves. Layers of reverb, echo, and stripped-down instrumentation ankle add to the trip while 'Rise Of Shango' on the flip is another journey deep into the heart of dub that is utterly cathartic.