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Rating: Great |
Strut Records is truly innovative when it comes to concept albums. This album is the first in what will hopefully be a series of albums pairing two critically acclaimed and well-known artists for a unique collaboration. Amp Fiddler is an R&B/Soul singer who has garnered considerable praise and enjoyed strong overseas sales. His associations with George Clinton, Maxwell, and more recently Corrine Rae Bailey have helped Amp Fiddler gain notoriety, but his work stands alone. Sly & Robbie are considered legends of electronic reggae/dub production. Strut Records decided to put both acts in the same studio and gave them a five-day deadline for an album. A huge risk, considering that chemistry is just as important as talent when it comes to music. Fortunately, Amp Fiddler's voice seems perfectly suited to Sly & Robbie's production, and the end result is track after track of smooth, soulful music.
If you don't know who Sly and Robbie are, you've been living under a rock. The duo has been steadily topping the reggae charts with their amazing melodies and releasing albums for years. You've at least heard their rendition of the Mission Impossible theme from the first film. Before you conclude that Sly & Robbie solely make reggae music, give this album a listen. The duo creates some very smooth and polished compositions. Sure, they place a heavy emphasis on the bass lines, but they blend a few other elements to balance things out. Overall, the duo has a very full sound, which is hard to achieve. They fill out the track so you get more than just the bass line, drums, and instruments. The mix threatens to get a bit hectic, especially when you throw a vocalist into the mix, but they manage to make everything fit perfectly. Take "Crazy Day," for example, where the bassline propels the song forward, but we're sprinkled with organs, synths, and sound effects. "I Fell On The Wagon" has an upbeat, club-friendly beat where the duo mixes a funky bassline with a variety of instruments. I have to admit, being used to reviewing sample-based rap music, it's a bit difficult for me to truly grasp the talent and sound of Sly & Robbie. Since the guys also play all the instruments and there are so many elements in each song, it's something you have to hear to appreciate. I have to say, the only simple and less impressive music on this album comes when the duo fully embraces their reggae roots and crafts a very generic riddim on "U." It's not a bad track, but it pales in comparison to the lush soundscapes of the rest of the album.
Amp Fiddler delivers a sweet, soulful voice and thoughtful lyrics. He's truly talented, both vocally and songwriting-wise. You can hear the mournful blues he sings on "Crazy Day," where he laments the police knocking on his door, having to leave his house, and impregnating a woman, all on the same day. "Blackhouse (Paint The White House Black)" has a strong political and social message, but isn't as aggressive as Public Enemy or Dead Prez. It delivers the same strong message, but might not get you arrested if you crash into it in a car. "Serious" is about relationships and the need for dedication and commitment to make things work. "I Believe In You" is another down-tempo track where Amp Fiddler implies the feeling isn't mutual. "Lonely" is another track where Amp explores the reasons why love doesn't work. The heavy emphasis on scorned love and the pursuit of someone might probably turn some people off, but it's done very well.
Considering it's a collaboration that was quickly put together, there's no denying the quality. Amp Fiddler sounds fantastic with Sly & Robbie, especially on "Drama Insides," true D'Angelo quality. For me, it's simply a taste of great soul, funk, and roots-inspired music, so thanks to Inspiration Information for that.
= Full Album Play List =
= Track List =
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