pama international - love filled dub band
in england a rare thing is currently happening, the sun is shining.
so you have 2 guesses as to what’s filling the bass drums at ireallylovemusic hq.
oh yes, the reggae groove is back in full effect.
so when this beautifully packaged album hit the mat you can imagine how big the grin was.
pama intl have stepped out from the fall out of their short lived liason with trojan records, set up their own record label, rockers revolt, and decided to kick start a whole new-but-old revolution. taking on board folks from bands such as pwei, bentley rhythm ace, and even a couple of the specials, the gang go all out for the 70s soulful reggae sound with authentic bubbly basslines, hammond organs, melodica, horns, and a lot of lovely ear pleasing dub effects wrapped around radio friendly tunes. also, it can’t be left unmentioned, but the album sounds brilliant, probably helped out by the fact that john collins, the man behind the genius that was ghost town by the specials, has stepped up behind the mixing desk and sprinkled more of his magic dust over the results.
where things are refreshingly different from a lot of ganja obsessed dub, is that the lyrical direction throughout is one of peace love and harmony, with a heavy nudge to the power of education.
meaning that like the 2-tone era, the band are using their music to spread a positive message yet providing a soundtrack for the troubles of today. so, knife culture is given the spotlight in the superb highrise, world environmental problems set the tone for tomorrows news today, and the shallow facade that is the throwaway society are all given time.
as mentioned elsewhere, the band are currently on tour with a couple of the label mates from america, so, if you are in the mood to have a little skank to some love filled dub, then surely you know what to do.
in summer-y : a cracking album.
more detail : here