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The Fittest by Earl Sixteen

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The Fittest by Earl Sixteen

The Fittest by Earl Sixteen

By Erik Magni on Saturday, May 28, 2011 - 2 comments

A perfect fit for Earl Sixteen.

Sampler

You can’t go wrong with a showcase album. And certainly not if the production is handled by Not Easy At All and Earl Sixteen is responsible for the vocal duties.

The collaboration between the JahSolidRock label and production crew Not Easy At All has certainly born some sweet tasting fruit. First the Chezidek album and then the full length set from Apple Gabriel. Both praised by critics.

Earl 16 - The Fittest Now these Dutch fellows drop another scorcher – 'The Fittest' from foundation artist Earl Sixteen, responsible for the wicked, and recently re-issued, album 'Reggae Sound' and several timeless tunes.

'The Fittest' does not resemble the hardcore riddims and production style courtesy of the late Mikey Dread. The sound on 'The Fittest' is airy, relaxed and smooth with great live instrumentation.

It contains 10 tunes, each followed by its dub version, or, as in one case, by its U Roy deejay cut.

Hardcore followers of JahSolidRock and Not Easy At All will notice some familiar riddims. Changing Times utilizes the backing from Chezidek’s Live and Learn and Rise Up is based on Gifted Ones by Apple Gabriel.

A bunch of the riddims are new, and I literally get the chills each time I hear Modern Slavery. Clavinet, saxophone and a pulsating riddim similar to early 80’s Sly & Robbie. Earl Sixteen’s pleading voice and the moaning saxophones are intertwined in a perfect combination. An excellent mix of hopelessness and joy.

Modern Slavery is also a good example of Earl Sixteen’s conscious lyrics that concerns issues such as the situation in Africa, slackness, child labor and trafficking. He sings “there are more slaves today, than there were four centuries away…trafficking drugs just to survive” and calls repeatedly for a solution.

This is the third stunning album released by JahSolidRock and Not Easy At All. I have a feeling there is more to come, even though it will be a tough task to outshine any of these three releases.