LEVI ROOTS - RED HOT

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RED HOT

TRACKLIST




01 Share Love (Acounstic Mix)
02 So Out Of My Mind
03 Cool Me Off
04 US Africa
05 Border Avenue
06 Try Try
07 Everything Is Natural
08 Black On Black
09 Red Hot
10 Mix Up
11 I Love the King
12 Share Love (Rockers Mix)


•Artist: Levi Roots
•Tittle: Red Hot
•Genre: Reggae Roots
•Record Label: Soundbox
•Year : Oct. 2009
•Country: Jamaica
•Mixing Enginner:
•Co Production: Mad Professor
•Track:12


Levi Roots has always played and sang, in the early 1980’s Levi got his break after building a name for himself as an MC for Sir Coxsone of Outernational Soundsystem. His debut single, “Poorman’s Story”, was released in 1981 and coupled with Fred Locks’ “Voice Of The Poor” it was an instant favourite with reggae fans and launched Levi onto the UK recording scene. He then went on to form his own band, Matic16, along with the brothers, Patrick and Henry ‘Buttons’ Tenyue on brass as part of a ten piece band.


Levi Roots set up Conqueror Records in 1982 and Matic16’s third track ‘Say You Want Me’ was released. Later he gave Mikey General his break with the haunting tune “Baby Mother” then Jack Radics’ first ever UK release and Dionne Warwick’s “Walk On By”. He wrote with and produced a host of up and coming superstars including Junior Reid, Half Pint and Michael Palmer.


In 2002, Levi Roots recorded the track ‘Red Hot’ for producers Mafia and Fluxy which was later included on their Roots and Volume compilation in 2007, and that same year Levi Roots began recording for his latest studio album also now entitled “Red Hot”. Levi has additionally written songs for an album project with Neil Fraser the Mad Professor, a follow up to their co-produced double “A” side Soundbox 12” single “Push, Push” coupled with “Cool Me Off”.


The album opens with “Share Love (acoustic version)” which is just so beautiful and shows this man CAN sign. “So Out Of My Mind” comes up next and will be the first single release from this album, my problem is that this is the weakest track on the entire album and includes one of my biggest hates in Reggae music – synth drums. To me this track almost sounds like a filler track (one used to fill-up the album) and not a single.


Next up comes the mighty track “Cool Me Off”, I just love this one with its old-skool riddim and wicked vocals about getting too close. Now this one should be a single.. After this comes “US Africa” which is a good track (except those blasted synth drums again) if a little too cheesy for my taste. “Border Avenue” is a true Roots track with all the right ingredients, wicked track. “Try Try” is up next and again another very cool track except this time it’s not the drums but the cheesy keys that let this one down. The next track “Everything Is Natural” sounds very familiar like I heard this several years ago, but since the album has been in production for several years, this could well be possible.


Yet another top quality track comes in the way of “Black on Black”, which is all about blacks fighting blacks (inna ghetto). The album title track “Red Hot” comes along next and is a praise to Jah, this is yet another quality tune. After this come yet another quality tune, “Mix Up” has a slightly more up tempo riddim and would be happy on any sound system playlist. Coming to the end of the album we have “I Love the King” which has the praise to praise. Finally we have the full version of “Share Love” (the opening track) and despite having those synth drums again but this time with those keys, this is a very good track and another possible single release.


My overall feeling of this album is that it is very well produced and recorded with nearly every track being top quality music, only being let down by the one track (which just happens to be the next release). My biggest gripe is the lack of use of quality session players – i.e. the lack of a real horn section and the over use of synth drums (you just can’t beat the sound of a real drum kit). Levi’s voice is so sweat and sounds as good as his food tastes and goes to prove that this man has real talent and not just in one area.




If you love real Roots music with a touch of Lovers Rock, then this album is for you.