Album Review
Genre: Roots
Format: CD Album
Reviewer: Henrik Bæk
Added: Thu, Jul 23, 2009
Alborosie ››
Escape From Babylon
"The hottest thing to come out of Sicily since Mount Etna, Alborosie is ready to erupt", says the press release following the debut album Escape From Babylon with the Sicilian born singer/songwriter Alborosie and I'm willing to accept this comparison made to one of the largest volcanoes in Europe. Besides being an in-demand producer (UB40, Mario, Angie Stone and Manu Chao among others) Alborosie is one of the rising reggae stars and one of Europe's greatest reggae talents in many years. Last year Albo independently released the CD Soul Pirate and even though the album had some great tunes, it didn't really make the impact one could expect after the hit singles Kingston Town, Herbalist and Rastafari Anthem all featured on the album.
Now the Jamaican based Albo erupts with this 16 track masterpiece featuring stellar line up with some of the best musicians in the business like Dean Fraser, Squidly Cole, Flabba Holt and the great vocal harmony group The Tamlins just to mention a few. Together with Clifton 'Specialist' Dillon, Albo is responsible for the production and the recording have all been done in Jamaica. Musically the sound is vintage Jamaica paying ras-pect to people from reggae's golden age starting out with the opening track America (Draw Back Your Soldiers). With its typical 'call & respond' chorus the cut reminiscent the work of Burning Spear and it is a clear political statement to President Obama to withdraw American troops from the world's many warzones. Old school Black Uhuru sound can be found on the also political Global War, where Albo sounds a lot like young Michael Rose, with whom Albo have worked with on previous productions. I Rusalem is a tribute to the holy city in Israel heavily inspired by Ivory Coast reggae singer Alpha Blondy.
Also modern roots, dancehall and lover's rock can be found on this diverse album and the musical and production quality is outstanding. The ska' witty and bum-shaking Mama Don't Like You is an instant summer hit but also the ganja praising No Cocaine is a great tune. Songs like I Can't Stand It (featuring the late Dennis Brown) and Real Story draws inspiration from the DJ era, while Money contains samples from Horace Andy's classic tune of the same name. The CD closes off with the vibrating Nyabinghi chant Likkle Africa making a solid end to a great album.
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