Heart of a Punk Soul of a Rasta

BACK IN THE BLACK ARK
THE CONGOS

When people talk of The Congos I guess it's fair to say that the album that springs most readily to the lips is their 1977 debut "Heart of the Congos". "Heart of the Congos" was recorded at the legendary "Black Ark Studios" under the control of Lee "Scratch" Perry and unequivocally deserves its place in the top ten of reggae albums of all time; and it remains today the yard stick by which all that has followed is measured.

On The Congos latest release the comparisons with there debut are implicit, in the title "Back in the Black Ark" and in the Congos reunification with Lee "Scratch" Perry - OK so it's not actually recorded at "Black Ark Studios" but yes THE GENERAL is once more behind the controls and also briefly behind the mic.

"Back in the Black Ark" doesn't revisit "Heart of the Congos" though in style or as a stand alone piece, instead on the 14 tracks of "Back in the Black Ark" The Congos serve up a majestic reggae master class. The album opens with a version of Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang" (Go here for video) launching straight into the unique power of The Congo's harmonies. Classic ROOTS follow with "Celestial World", and "Garden of Life" where Lee Perry magically joins the vocal fray; and then with the Watty Burnett's penned "Chariots" - "before you scale these walls, prepare to break a fall" (clips playing).

There are two more covers of note, "Up on the Roof" which closes the CD and a quite wonderful version of "Rainy Night in Georgia" sung by Watty "Baritone" Burnett midway through. But the meat and drink of the album is provided by the 6 songs penned by Cedric Myton & Noel Myon, meticulously crafted and unassumingly executed; these are core of the piece and where the importance of this work resides.

After an absence of too many years I saw The Congos play live at the Buttermarket, Shrewsbury in November 2006 - in those far off halcyon days before the smoking ban. They were in majestic form that night bringing warmth, fire and light to the coldest of coldest nights. It was apparent to me then that these guys weren't simply a relic of the past doing the rounds as a last hurrah. They had an unquenchable vibrancy and need to carry forward their message; thankfully The Congos haven't been denied their unique and totally irreplaceable voice!

The musicians:
Drums: Leroy (Horsemouth) Wallace/ Winston Jones
Bass: Errol Seaton/Boris Gardener/Keith Francis
Keyboards: Robbie Lyn/Tony (Asher) Brissette/Everton Bryan
Guitars: David (Little D) Trail/ Dwight Pickney/Earl (Chinna) Smith
Percussion: Negus Johnson/Paul Smith
Congo Drums: Roydel Johnson/Derrick (Watty) Burnett
Horns: Glen Da Costa/David Maden/Hopeton Williams/Everol Ray
Vocals: Cedric Myton/Roydel (Shanty) Johnson/Derrick (Watty) Burnett/Kenroy (Tallash) Fyffe and Lee Perry.

Recorded at Lions Den Recording Studio.
Produced by Lee Perry/Clive Hunt & The Congos
Released on Mediacom.

P.S.
Life isn't fair sometimes cos I had to send off to FRANCE to get hold of my copy of this wonderful CD. And it cost me a bleedin fortune! (Ok so it turned out to be worth every penny but let me just moan a bit).

It's soon to be released in the UK (on the 22nd of March) for a whole pile of money less - go to Play.com or Amazon.co.uk and you'll save a bundle compared to what I had to pay - Also if your copy is the same as mine remember to shove it in your computer (even though it doesn't say anything on the sleeve) there is extra stuff in there, believe me.

Reggae is alive!
In France!
Hang your heads Britain.