Black Slate (Ensign, 1992)

If the short-lived UK-Jamaica hybrid band Black Slate came up with no other tune than "Amigo" (and some might argue that they didn't), their debt to society would still be more than paid, and their musical legacy would still be engraved in the annals of reggae.  "Amigo" is a timeless song of celebration, and although they are rejoicing about Jah, even if you're not religious, you certainly envision something to be happy about when you hear this groove.  "Amigo," which has a likeable Steel Pulse meets lovers rock feel to it, is only partially characteristic of the rest of this album.  While several of the tunes are similarly happy with mainstream appeal, many are quite serious with borderline raw roots appeal.  "Mind Your Motion," "Freedom Time (Black Star Liner)," and "Legalise Collie Herb," for instance, have a noticeably harder roots sound -- somewhat similar to Misty In Roots -- and they are three of the best songs here.  I would imagine that Black Slate probably wanted to be known for this harder style than the airy "Amigo" sound, but they found a nice niche hovering between the two extremes.  "Rockers Palace," "Live a Life," "Sticks Man," and a great cover of The Jamaicans' "Ba Ba Boom" (They change it enough so that it is practically a different song.) are good examples of Black Slate's quality mid-tempo, light roots style.  The group's only blatant mistake here is their straight R&B cover of The Persuaders' "Thin Line Between Love and Hate."  Blech.  Black Slate's material is unfortunately hard to find here in the US, but it's worth the effort to seek it out.