Bedouin Soundclash - Sounding a Mosaic

Bedouin Soundclash Official Website

Label :  Side One Dummy

I read this album once described as "blurring the line between rock and reggae." May I say, that's a filthy lie. This is a reggae album, pure and simple. The most rock & roll thing about it is that Jay Malinowski's vocals are pretty reminiscent of Joe Strummer. But even that adds a little roots reggae credit.
There's no lack of cred on this album anyway. Bedouin Soundclash are clever enough to know that reggae is more than Bob Marley and/or Sean Paul. The album runs an intriguing gamut of Jamaican music, from the folky, acoustic-driven single "When the Night Feels my Song" to the dubtastic "Rude Boy Don't Cry" to the soulful "Money Worries" [with guest vocals by Vernon Buckley], with hints of calypso and two-tone ska thrown in for good measure..
The band do a great job of manipulating the space of their music. Much of reggae features lush production, with horn sections and keyboards. Bedouin Soundclash provide a stripped-down approach. The sound is big and spacious, but never empty or hollow. It's simple, and therefor unencumbered. While it may not end up as a commercial success, they've not considered that, instead opting to create a wonderful reggae album. Why? Quite simply because they know their roots. Which may sound odd for a band from Kingston, Ontario [yeah, that's right, Canada]. But just remember that nearby Toronto has a notable Jamaican population.

Final verdict: fantastic.

Related Links :

Buy This CD! 

Bedouin Soundclash Official Website