![[Lloyd Brevett and the Skatalites]](lloyd.gif)
Lloyd Brevett and the Skatalites
African Roots
Moon Ska (CD)
When you pick up a CD with the Skatalites name on it you usually expect to hear
ska, but the Rastafarian color scheme in the CD booklet should be the first
clue where Lloyd Brevett (a Skatalite himself) was heading with this album.
The year was 1975 and the Skatalites hadn't been together for a decade. Ska
had since given way to slower rhythms and despite the name of the band and
label, this album heavily reflects the roots-reggae movement. But given the
Skatalites history and remarkable musicianship you can expect the upbeat
virtuosic flute of "Fugitive," the lyrical saxophone lines on "Candle Light,"
and dub versions of both of these ("Fugitive Dub" is on
the boombox) Where other bands have relied on vocals to carry the track,
Lloyd Brevett continues in the Skatalite tradition of letting the instruments
do most of the work. And if you're itching for more of the original sixties ska
sound, well, not only does it fail to completely disappear on the African
Roots album, but you'll find a few bonus tracks from that era attached to
this reissue. What more could you possibly ask for? Elliott S.