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Pama International - Love Filled Dub Band
Pama International - Love Filled Dub Band
Soul-fuelled, dub-induced Roots, Rockers and Reggae.
Sampler
Originally released on CD and vinyl via their own label Rockers Revolt in 2008, after leaving Trojan Records where they'd become the first band in 30 years to sign to the illustrious label, Pama International’s ‘Love Filled Dub Band’ is due to be re-released in digital format, by new record label Phoenix City as part of their opening salvo of releases.
The album, which was their fifth at the time, found them really starting to hit their stride, and it gave you exactly what it said on the tin, a musical mix of “Soul-fuelled, dub-induced Roots, Rockers and Reggae”. Not always one for the reggae purists, but their mix of Studio One, Black Ark, King Tubby with Stax flavoured funk and soul with punk and 2-Tone ideology thrown in, they created their own unique style and brand which always promoted reggae in a positive way.
Lyrically the album is fairly conscious dealing with the “one love” ideal and the multitude of troubles in the world today. From environmental global disasters and war, to violence on the streets and the wasteful consumerism that plagues our society. Don't however let this put you off as the tunes are not all doom and gloom, but try to raise the spirits with a party vibe that begins with the funky, soul fuelled reggae of, Wherever You Lead. Former single Highrise, used to spearhead a campaign tackling the issues of gun/knife crime within our communities, rides a slowed down version of the Cherry Oh Baby riddim and features guest vocalist Michie One (one half of the London Reggae duo, Louchie Lou & Michie One), while The Specials guitarist Lynval Golding takes lead vocals on his self penned Wonder Wonder. In fact Lynval appears on all of the songs with other guest appearances littered throughout. There is the trombone of Rico Rodriguez MBE, Sir Horace Panter of The Specials on bass and sax player Paul Heskett who was a member of 2 Tone one single wonders the Swinging Cats.
There are, as the album title suggests also a couple of dub versions nicely scattered across the album rather than following straight on in the shape of Orgon will Follow (Wherever You Lead) and, Lovely Dub (Lovely Wife) both keyboard driven classics that evokes memories of Studio One house band Sound Dimension.
This album was probably the best album from Pama with keys man Sean Flowerdew and vocalist Finny, the two constants in the band; they have been together since the late 80s when they were with ska band The Loafers, in fine form. The production by Sean with the aid of John Collins, who was also behind the desk for The Specials seminal Ghost Town, is crisp and solid with the band having something of an edgier sound than with earlier releases. It was lauded by a lot of the music press, MOJO, Echoes and so forth on initial release and featured in many peoples Top 10 Reggae albums of 2008 including those of Record Collector and Total Music mag so if you didn’t get this first time round it would be churlish of you to miss out again!
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