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| 2 Dread inna Babylon (Silver Kamel, 2006) 2 Dread inna Babylon is a valuable album in that it provides exposure to a pair of unsung early DJs who are sadly no longer with us: Ranking Dread and Massive Dread. It would've been nice if the liner notes had provided more information on the two men, but it doesn't because, well, there just isn't much information available on them. I can't even tell when these songs were recorded exactly, but it's a good guess that most are from the late '70s (when both artists released their debut albums). The final three of Massive Dread's tunes, however, sound more like early to mid-'80s, with a crisper sound and more of a drum- and bass-heavy dancehall inclination. As such, Ranking Dread's tracks sound a bit stale by comparison, although his half features more familiar, more classic backing tracks (including The Abyssinians' seminal "Satta Massagana," Horace Andy's "Love of a Woman," and Sugar Minott's "Oh Mr. DC"). Ranking Dread is the better-known of the two DJs, having released some four albums and scoring the hit "Fattie Boom Boom" that was featured on Greensleeves' collection of the label's best early works, Forward, but although Massive Dread is more obscure, his half is more enjoyable -- thanks in part to a vocal delivery that's more forceful and rhythmic (and on the best track, the slow, funky "Morgan the Pirate," a bit like Prince Far I by way of Macka B). Both sides were helmed by Tappa Zukie, though, so the production quality is solid throughout, as is the musicianship, featuring studio greats like Sly & Robbie, Chinna Smith, Tommy McCook, and Carlton Davis. Plus, Horace Andy fans may want to take particular note, as three of the 12 tracks on 2 Dread inna Babylon are toasts of his songs ("Love of a Woman," "Something on My Mind," and "Stop Your Brutality"). I won't pretend to be a fan of the old DJ toasting stylee, but these two Dreads are as charismatic and engaging as any of the more famous DJs from the time period. Available at silverkamel.com. |
| Track Listing Ranking Dread: 1. Satta 2. Woman Lover featuring Horace Andy 3. Dread in Loving 4. Dread inna Captivity featuring Cornell Campbell 5. First Love featuring Hortense Ellis 6. Something on His Mind featuring Horace Andy Massive Dread: 7. Tappa Roots 8. No More to Row 9. Brutality featuring Horace Andy 10. Morgan the Pirate 11. Understand 12. Melody of Love |
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