Reggae Reviews: MDV

Style One (TMPQ, 2004)

MDV is a British outfit whose compelling sound harkens back to the classic early '80s Black Uhuru/Sly & Robbie collaborations. From the first few moments of the opening track of their EP Style One, you hear the electric guitars, the digital effects wizardry, and the scatting vocals that made Black Uhuru such a worldwide phenomenon. While "Don't You Care" bears the most obvious resemblance to the band's great '80s work, the following few tracks are also consistent with the sound. "Wake Up," "Keep It Real," and "Down Ism Capital" are particularly effective, as typical rootsy one-drop rhythms are downplayed in favor of a dark, bass-driven, layered synthesizer and dub-like sound that is as atmospheric as anything you're likely to hear nowadays. However, I can’t really wrap my ears around how the final two tracks -- the fairly standard digital dancehall of "Who R You?" (DJs with British accents are an acquired taste) and the solid yet straightforward modern R&B of "So Good" -- blend with the rest of the EP; they sound more like Styles Two and Three. Hopefully MDV will focus on the reggae sound of the first 5 tracks on Style One for their full-length album (assuming there is one), as it's certainly engaging enough to draw a considerable following. Check out samples at mdv.org.uk.

Track Listing
1. Don’t You Care
2. Wake Up
3. Keep It Real
4. No Fear
5. Down Ism Capital
6. Who R You?
7. So Good

Roots All Sorts (TMPQ, 2006)

MDV follows up their 2004 EP Style One with the colorful full-length album Roots All Sorts. The title is apt, since it mixes traditional roots reggae with "all sorts" of other styles. Specifically, they blend roots with dancehall, electronica, rock, and pop in an intriguing combination of sound somewhat akin to what I've heard from Germany's Seeed. Even if not every effort strikes your chord, you have to appreciate the band's willingness to experiment, which contributes to the album's sense of excitement and wonder. And for the most part, their mad scientist concoctions are successful in crafting a sonic dreamscape, at times brooding and murky, at other times kinetic and rousing, but always just a bit trippy. Revisited from their EP is one of the best cuts -- and one of their best blends of traditional roots with modern sounds -- the haunting "Keep It Real," along with the down-tempo harmony of "Wake Up" and the offbeat digi-reggae-rock of "Down Ism Capital." Other strong combinations of old and new include "Change Their Ways" and the haunting anthem "Dangerous Times." MDV delivers a welcome throwback to '80s synth reggae with "The Heat Is On," a dark, bluesy roots tune with vocals and overall production that hearkens back to Eddy Grant's heyday, and "Saturday--Sunday," a drowsy dub with a smattering of vocals that could easily have come from an early '80s Black Uhuru dub set. Those looking for a little twist in their reggae routine might want to check out MDV.

Track Listing
1. Change Their Ways
2. Beautiful Day
3. Dangerous Times (Pt. 1)
4. Screwface
5. The Heat Is On
6. Riff
7. Keep It Real
8. Dangerous Times (Pt. 2)
9. Wake Up
10. Death Bells' Toll
11. Saturday Sunday
12. Nagasaki Dub
13. Down Ism Capital