If the internet is to be believed, it would seem that a good deal of reggae music lovers out there are already well aware of this gem. Therefore, this review is for those of you who have held prejudices against the genre. I know you're out there. And I can understand your point of view to a point. Often, reggae seems to be associated with mindless party music, stoners and frat parties. It seems to attract drunken middle-aged people to dancing, since the rhythms are slow and often predictable. One of my favorite films/books Ghost World depicts a dude in a bar saying "You guys up for some reggae tonight?" This inspires the female protagonists, who've been arguing about which boys in the place are attractive, to agree that the dude in question is an idiot. This could be author Clowes commenting on the unaccountable fickleness of female attraction. Or it could just be a subtle dig to those that are into reggae. But the dude's statement doesn't smack of idiocy to me. Especially if the reggae in question were anywhere as interesting as The Congos.
To be fair, I'm no reggae aficionado. As far as I know, there aren't a lot of acts in this genre putting out anything as soulful and original as Heart of the Congos. Of course, I could be wrong. I encourage those in the know to send me a heads up. For those who scoff at the genre, for whatever reason, I implore you to give this album a shot. I think you might like it.
I discovered The Congos through one of Dusted Magazine's Listed features and I'm forever grateful to whomever the artist responsible for steering me to these sounds was. I've been discovering a lot of fantastic reggae lately, realizing there's a lot more to the picture than Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Toots & The Maytals. There's something about the rocksteady sound that's always deeply moved me. That and my love of early ska and bluebeat tunes informed my eventual embracing of roots reggae, the most widely recognized form. It's a largely simplistic kind of music, but within that simplicity some beautiful things occur, as Heart of the Congos has shown me time and again.
Built around singers Roy "Ashanti" Johnson (tenor) and Cedric Myton (falsetto), legendary producer Lee "Scratch" Perry works a sultry, smoky dub magic that sends a sound, typically associated with lounging in the sun, deep into the dense murky jungle. But I don't want to give you the wrong idea. Some copy I've read on this album would suggest it's the lost reggae soundtrack of Serpent and the Rainbow. With the exception of the first three tracks, the mood is lighter and more upbeat than the lamenting, often biblically driven lyrical content. That said, the first three songs on this record are some of the most spooky, distinctively evocative reggae available. One of my favorite songs "Fisherman" is unforgettable. It's got a great cavernous shimmer to it that does incredible things with the dub sound. There's an air of insistent urgency to the lyrics that contrasts eerily with the slow pace. Particularly when Myton and Johnson repeat the "Row, Row!" refrain in disquieting harmony.
"Congoman" is a pressure cooker of a number, with a steady sprightly percussive pattern and nicely stretched-out vocals. Every now and then a whip crack peels through the mix and adds to the foreboding atmosphere of the song. "Open Up The Gate" works through a sorrowful progression that, despite some uplifting changes, always dips back into an assailing wash of anguish. The lead vocals are dynamic and painfully overwrought, making it one of the flat-out saddest reggae songs ever recorded.
Awesome as these initial songs are, the rest of the release boasts just as much soul and epic sweep. From the immediate and infectious "Can't Come In," to the stoic and mournful "Ark of the Covenant," there is much indeed to get lost in here. I can't recommend this classic enough for your collection. There's now a bonus second disc containing alternate Scratch mixes and bonus tracks that were added for the '96 reissue.
Disc 1:
1. Fisherman
2. Congoman
3. Open Up The Gate
4. Children Crying
5. La La Bam-Bam
6. Can't Come In
7. Sodom and Gomorrow
8. The Wrong Thing
9. Ark of the Covenant
10. Solid Foundation
11. At The Feast
12. Nicodemus
Disc 2:
1. Congoman [12 Mix]
2. Congoman Chant
3. Bring The Mackaback
4. Noah Sugar Pan
5. Solid Foundation (Disco Cork Mix)
More about: The Congos
