Roots Meeting (A La Folie Music, 2008)

*GUEST REVIEW*
I've heard tell that reggae goes over big in France, and a good many Jamaican and non-Jamaican reggae artists include that country on their international tour itineraries. Even so, I don't know of many French reggae bands. No More Babylon is a French reggae band that would be well worth knowing even if this disc of theirs wasn't laden with guest stars. Their riddims are tight and dub-inflected, sounding much like any number of '70s Jamaican studio lineups and though lead singer Cedrik Ynesta has a ruff n' tuff singing style that grabs, the visitors that the mike gets handed over to are no slouches either. Ken Boothe, U Brown and Earl Sixteen (all of whom No More Babylon has backed on stage) are each in classic peak form on their respective cuts and those sit-ins with which I am less familiar -- Brother Marcus, Josie Mel, Jah Marnyah, Kenny Knots and Maryse Chastan -- shine as well. Generally, the band tackles a given riddim on their own before letting the guest voice step in (or vice versa). Such an approach can get tiresome, but it's done with such seamless conviction and pure fire here that potential problems with repetitiveness are kept largely at bay. And if that's not enough, take into account this album's 70-minute running time, which allows it all to permeate nice and deep. Great band, great guest artists, great CD.

- Tom Orr