Online Reggae Magazine

Articles

Articles about reggae music, reviews, interviews, reports and more...

Lloyd Brown - Rootical

Home
Articles
Reviews
Lloyd Brown - Rootical

Lloyd Brown - Rootical

By Erik Magni on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 - Comment

Lloyd Brown’s Rootical puts a big smile on your face.

For prolific reggae singer Lloyd Brown’s second album this year he has joined forces no others than the dynamic and highly successful U.S. based production trio Zion I Kings.

Lloyd Brown is a UK resident and a veteran on the reggae scene with a career spanning 30 years and 17 albums, including the brand new Rootical, definitely one of his best releases so far. That says quite a lot since Lloyd Brown is one of the most consistent artists on the contemporary reggae scene.

Rootical is a 13 track set that might be his most roots-oriented set to date and has a classic, yet modern feel. It’s a mix of romantic sounds, brimstone and fire roots and dub wizardry and has rather sparse arrangements with nyabinghi drum patterns, chopping guitars, bright horns and pulsating bass lines. At times it sounds like Niney in his heydays back in the 70s.

Lloyd Brown is a certified soul singer and one hell of a vocalist. He can be plaintive and express sorrow, while also being uplifting and joyful. But usually it just sounds like he smiles when he sings, which make you want to smile too. It’s such a joy and pleasure to listen to his silky smooth crooning, especially when he clashes more aggressive deejays like the multi-talented Jahdan Blakkamoore, Queen Omega and Pressure.

It’s hard to get a better music experience than this and Lloyd Brown and the Zion I Kings have with this release managed to outperform themselves.