KEY POINTS:
Rating: * * * *
Following on from the excellent Nigeria 70 compilation comes Calypsoul 70, a collection of 20 tracks from the beautiful Caribbean mixing reggae, Latin, Afro-beat, funk, soul and, of course, calypso _ a style of music originating from the early 1900s when African slaves first worked in the sugar plantations of Trinidad.
As the delicate chink of guitar and the sweet burst of horns kicks in on opener The Little You Say by the Revolution of St. Vincent you can't help but walk out on the deck and spark up the barbie; then with the woozy and wobbly Rhodes on the Checkmates Disco Groove it's time to crack a nice cold one; and songs like Raycan by the Hondells, who have a Latin street band feel, will see you inviting the neighbours over for a dance.
It's not all summery and breezy, with righteous and revolutionary tracks like Biosis Now's psychedelic-roots-rock-funk anthem Independent Bahamas, Lancelot Layne's ghetto commentary on Yo Tink It Sorf? and the pleading reggae of Tyrone Taylor's (man, these blokes have great names) Move Up Blackman. And then there's the stunningly unique version of Gwen McCrae's 90% Of Me Is You played by Amral's Trinidad Cavaliers Steel Orchestra, whose shimmering and ghostly sound is unsettling at first but soon becomes astounding.
Even though it has its heavy and rebellious moments the celebratory vibe of the compilation continues throughout which means the party will carry on at your house after the sun has gone down and into the wee small hours.
Scott Kara
