By GRAHAM REID
(Herald rating: * * * * )
Hot, young North London outfit who bring to mind classic bands like early Steel Pulse and Black Uhuru but with a colouring of hip-hop/r'n'b vocal exchanges between the righteously named singers Kasha Menelick Tafari and Jahmel Ellison.
There's a strong, rootsy feel and some love and lost-love songs which aren't cloying. But your favourable impression might waver with Universal Love. It's a nice sentiment but you fear they could end up doing the whole Aswad radio-pop schlock.
It's an impressive, if slightly finger-wagging and overlong debut, and when maturity brings some gravitas to their seriousness they'll sound fierce.
Label: JetStar/ King
<i>Ras Ites:</i> Urban Regeneration
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