- Artist
- Prince Fatty
- Label
- Mr Bongo
- Release date
- 16th July 2007
- Genre
- Reggae
Pass the rum - Lily Allen producer cooks up weighty dub and reggae on smooth collection of cool collaborations
Although reggae continues to exist in its own smoke-hazed, dub-echoing universe, oblivious to the vagaries of fads and scenes, it was interesting to note how one of the biggest albums of last year – Lily Allen’s Alright, Still – was rich with Seventies UK ska flavours. Which makes this a timely release from one of the producers on that very record, Mike Pelanconi, for he is the brains behind this soundsystem-style studio project.
Featuring such Jamaican session legends as Style Scott on drums and guest vocalists including Winston Francis and Little Roy, Survival Of The Fattest is an immaculate collection of trippy, bowel-shuddering bass quakes and Hammond organ-led Seventies reggae grooves. Similar in style but less brooding than King Tubby’s tape-echo excursions, the mood throughout is rum-fuelled beach party chill out. Those new to reggae may find some instrumental workouts somewhat journeyman. However, the plaintive trombone solos on the likes of Meltdown and Switch Blade relieve excessive head-nodding, as do the vocal tracks of which the sweetly melancholic Milk And Honey (reminiscent of Janet Kay’s Silly Games) is the pick of the bunch.
More to try: King Tubby: King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown Janet Kay: Silly Games The Skatalites Meet King Tubby: Heroes Of Reggae In Dub Desmond Dekker: Israelites
