Rootsy (One Voice, 1999)

If you've listened to reggae for a while, it's rare that you hear something unique.  The British band Rhythm-ites present just that with their use of the Australian aboriginal didgeridoo.  The band has had an underground existence in one form or another since the mid-'80s and is supposedly the first European act to incorporate the didgeridoo into their sound (I don't know how to prove/disprove that).  Beyond that instrument, though, the group fuses an edgy electric sound -- with electric guitars, dancehall-leaning bass lines, and even an electronica flair (as on the jungle beat of the ironically titled "Rootsy") into their Misty In Roots-like brand of roots.  This EP presents a brief yet intriguing peek into their sound, with four extended live performances plus one studio track.