Although Rhythm & Sound's estimable reissue campaign of the Bronx’s formidable and nearly forgotten Wackies label has garnered much praise among critics and fans, just about every new resurrected release from the comparatively hodgepodge Basic Replay sister imprint garners at least as much if nor more excitement among sound system selectors and hungry collectors. Compiling sixteen mostly vinyl-only tracks from the label’s small yet potent catalog, this overdue disc finally brings these scorching, mostly digital tunes to the unaware masses.
Those who enjoyed the dancehall style of Basic Replay's 2006 essentials White Mice and White Mice Versions have plenty to get excited about here. As should be expected, young Allan Crichton, sounding significantly more mature here on "Nothing Ever Done Before The Time" than the high-pitched boy of those essential Intelitec collections, absolutely kills it over tough machine beats and horns. Chuck Turner and Professor Grizzly go head-to-head with their respective vocal takes over one of the most fantastic riddims I have ever heard. Although Turner's marginally superior "Trying To Conquer I" rails courageously against the vampires that attempt to undermine righteous Jah people, Grizzly more than holds his own while scatting rapid-fire over "Fight The Professor." Onetime Black Uhuru vocalist Andrew Bees wails exquisitely in the tradition of his predecessors Michael Rose and Junior Reid with "Militant." Spouting a signature "tu tu twang" over the bubbly grooves, the underestimated soloist's performance dares wonder-stricken listeners not to seek out his hard-to-find 1995 Music Lion / Ras Records album of the same name.
Although the dancehall numbers dominate, roots-and-culture devotees will relish the soulful Rastafarian vibes of arists like King Culture that define the other side of Basic Replay's output. Ijahman Levi treats us to two gloriously deep tracks, "I Am A Levi," heard by many on his Haile I Hymn LP, and its expansive dub "Part 2." Digging deeper, the late dark prince of reggae Keith Hudson graces us with his presence with the brief but effectively jarring tribalism of "Hunting," while a haunting organ line and some sparse vocals, male and female, drive the legendary Jackie Mittoo's "Ayatollah" into a shadowy corner worth exploring further.
While it is an altogether unparalleled tastemakers' selection, my sole grievance with Basic Replay is an admittedly selfish one. Save for rare cases, the flipsides of the cuts featured here are tragically missing, something that could have been rectified with a second disc at an appropriately higher price. Naturally, this allows the aforementioned vinyl coveters to maintain some precious exclusivity in their crates, adding an intangible value best experienced in a dancehall than on an iPod.
samples:
- Chuck Turner - Trying To Conquer I
- Jackie Mittoo - Ayatollah
- Andrew Bees - Militant
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