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Want Some Freedom (Easy Star, 2001) Every Sugar Minott fan's favorite label, Easy Star, once again unearths rare material from the dancehall pioneer, this time his early work with the African Brothers roots harmony trio (including Tony Tuff and Derrick Howard). Although individual tunes from the group can be found sporadically (as with "No Cup, No Brook" on the Studio One compilation Collector's Edition and "Lead Us Father" on Minott's Collector's Collection), this is the first full-length album of African Brothers material. An underground group to be sure, they nonetheless had an established fan base in Jamaican and even in the UK. Listening to their opening track, "Lead Us Father," it's easy to see why. The invigorating horns and righteous three-part harmony echo the Abyssinians' classic material, while at other times the group sounds like the Wailing Souls ("Torturing"), Israel Vibration, or Culture ("Hold Tight"). "Practice What You Preach," meanwhile, has an energy and edginess that hints at Sugar Minott's future forays into dancehall. Strong harmonies and melodies carry "Things and Time," "Hold Tight," and the aforementioned "Practice" and "Lead Us," while the rest, though not spectacular, is solid throughout. Fans of Sugar Minott should be warned that if you want his dancehall sound, you're barking up the wrong tree. Fans of '70s roots harmony, however, should relish the sound, although the availability of "Lead Us" on Collector's Collection makes it a bit less essential. |
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