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SOUL SYNDICATE

HARVEST UPTOWN, FAMINE DOWNTOWN

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1977 - Epiphany Records - studio - discs:1

Soul Syndicate was a super group basecally working in studio as a backing band from the 70's to the mid 80's. They worked with everybody supplying first class Roots music. This seminal album was recorded in 1977 at Harry J Studio and Aquarius Studio in Kingston and it was engineered by Sylvan Morris and Stephen Stanley. Soul Syndicate are: Earl "Chinna" Smith (guitar, vocals, harmony), Tony "Valentine" Chin (guitar, harmony), George "Fully" Fullwood (bass, harmony), Max "Feelgood" Edwards (drums, percussion, vocals and harmony), Richard "Jamaka" Johnson (keyboards, harmony), Donovan Carless (vocals, harmony), Arnold Breckenridge (trumpet, harmony), Donald Greaves (trumpet, harmony), Enroy "Tenor" Grant (tenor saxophone, harmony) and Earl "Wire" Lindo (piano). What they deliver is some rich textured and funkyshly flavoured Roots music (a good example here is "Rootsman Connection"). The music is not only played by top musicians but it is also most of the times built around some quite complex musical structures. The result is incredible simple: perfect smooth surfaced Reggae bringing it itself the force, and sometimes the sharp straightness of a deep heartfelt musical message. My preferred songs are: "Brass Attack" (some sort of quick megamix of musical citations with the Abyssinians as the main source), "Wicked A Goo Feel It", the version of Junior Byles "Fade Away", "Jam Down Rock", "Red Gold And Green", "Black Cinderella" (written by the great Jimmy Radway), "We Got Love" (a gem indeed) and the deep and fast "Ital Brass". The less are not less interesting. Actually the album is so good that this list should change monthly. Listen to the incredible Spanish trumpet in "Deep Within" and how it dialougues within the guitars. A Jazz-Roots song. Complex and extrimely direct. Avoid the terrible Thirld World style of "If It's Love That You Want": I do not need it! The set closes were it started: with "Brass Attack (reprise)". This album shows huge enlightening musical landscapes built around a powerful Roots core. Unmissable.