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Title Artist Label Format Date |
Riddim Driven ~ Lava Splash
Various VP Records CD December 13, 2005 |
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Rating :
from 5 (excellent) to 1 (poor) |
| Vocals : 5 | Backing : 5 | Production : 5 | Sound quality : 5 | Sleeve : 3/4 |
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Although it's more than a year ago that
this one drop riddim started its march to the higher positions in the
charts, it's in no way out of fashion yet, still bringing in big forwards
in dances. The 'Lava Ground' (or 'Lava Splash' as it's been renamed by
VP Records to avoid confusion with I Wayne's recently released album "Lava Ground")
riddim with its acoustic guitar, maracas and melodic bass pattern was
written and produced by Patrick 'Mr. Z' Henry & Nigel Burell for their
Loyal Soldiers Music. They put themselves firmly on the map with both the
'Lava Ground' and their version of the 'No Warrior/Father Jungle
Rock'-riddim (that was under I-Wayne's "Can't Satisfy Her"). I-Wayne
(born Clifford Taylor, was raised by his aunt and her husband Ansel
Collins - of 1970 "Double Barrel" fame alongside Dave Barker - the
keyboard player on this riddim) with his brilliant apocalyptic "Lava
Ground" opens this album, followed by Queen I-frica's at least as
brilliant "Randy" about living (having lived) with a criminal man,
a brilliant, moving, well delivered story... Sittin pon ah bench ah write ma news On di tings wi used to do Even tho mi know yuh deh ah shot ah licks Mi try mi best fi talk to yuh It was ah joy just fi tell ah gal Seh mi mon will buss yuh skull Steppin as ah wife of ah criminal nuh really mek nuh sense at all Cau him dun never did deh guard him own head Fire tun on and pon di concrete him drop dead Sometimes i miss yuh randy (baby) Sometimes i miss yuh randy (baby) Yuh shudda listen randy And now yuh gone and another mon ah cream yuh corn Tony Rebel contributes the excellent "Heart Of Gold", and the also like I-Wayne high-pitched voiced singer Bascom X delivers the great call for unity "Just Once". Sizzla goes fully into his falsetto delivery for the same-themed "Stop Fighting", D.Y.C.R. walks in Mutabaruka's footsteps for "Expected" and former 5th Element Crew member Chuck Fender is superb on "God Is My Witness" and co-founder and still 5th Element member (recently Anthony Cruz also left after in January this year setting up his own Shan Shan Music named after his daughter Shanice) Richie Spice is in a lovers mood on the fine "I've Got You". Chrisinti's love-gone-wrong tune "These Lines" is also above par, followed by Mr. Perfect's great tribute to his girl "Rainbow" and Luton Fyah still tossing and turning and therefore asking his girl "Tell Me If It's Real". Newcomer Prestige, who delivered fine tunes on both the one drop 'Hard Drugs'-riddim and Christopher 'Longman' Birch' outrageous gospel/soca/dancehall 'My Swing', now contributes the slow spoken/sung "Tender Loving" before Studio One graduate Donovan 'Donna V' Pinnock shows once more he is ridiculously underrecorded ever since his work for Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd, with his smooth voice that so closely resembles that of Cocoa Tea singing the beautiful song about the troubles here and the longing for a promised land "Runaway". The harsh ghetto reality is depicted in Anthony B's excellent "Blood Shed" before Ha-Money deliver the last vocal tune, lyrically related, "Break The Law" on the riddim, and then the album closes with the clear "Lava Splash Version". This album is in fact a case of better late than never, so all non-vinyl buyers hurry to the recordstores to get the great tunes on this great riddim. |
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