Aswad - AswadAswad has proven to be one of Britain's most influential and enduring reggae acts. Though later releases would find the group exploring more commercially oriented, r&b flavoured reggae (and garnering crossover chart success as a result), their self titled debut for mango is a satisfying set of straightforward roots music. For the most part, the album traffics in floating, downtempo grooves, as on the instrumental 'Red Up' and the surging 'Natural

a previously unreleased alternate take of “The Inner Light

 most of it performed by him and his producer / collaborator Gary Olsen at Olsen’s studio

an approach and examination of some of the biggest theme and issues of our time through the doorway of the personal

Alpha vocalist Wendy Stubbs

the Nairobi Chamber Orchestra performed the song at an official state dinner in Kenya

Humphrey floats over the top with a near-inexhaustible supply of melodic ideas

Clement Dodd was once again able to maintain Studio One’s position on the throne as the number one sound in the Jamaica

Cave later admitted that the album ‰ÛÏwas made at a difficult time in my life when things were spiralling out of control in a lot of areas

let alone carry over to the affectionate "Frances Sokolov"

Guest artists include Green Gartside

tightly coiled leads ("Safety")

It’s an example of well crafted jazz-rock that doesn’t compromise any of its jazziness