Tactics - Dennis Bovell

Advantages: Unaged and powerful poetry, beautiful music and production, memorable artwork
Disadvantages: Short

...primarily a print figure, it wasn't surprising that he'd marry his rhythmic Jamaican creole to the sounds of reggae. He's a powerful enough writer and orator on his own, but the addition of bass heavy music adds lead into his boxing gloves. Linton's years with Island were the most successful and fertile, Forces Of Victory being the defining moment of that period. Though barely half an hour in length, each of the 8 tracks deliver a powerful message within some seriously high quality music. Though not a singer, his mesmerising monotone delivery commands your attention. And it's not just how he's saying things, it's what he's saying. The respected producer and bassist Dennis Bovell and band's music punctuates and draws emphasis in familiar Dub style; the echoing percussion and keys alongside stray sound effects, rhythm guitar skanks and horns... Read review

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Advantages: Amazing powerhouse drumming, long solos.
Disadvantages: All tracks sound stylistically the same.

...This album, Dennis Chambers, a world class drummer plays along with some world class musicians like Scofield (guitar), Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone), Randy Brecker (trumpet), Jim Beard (Clavinet, organ, keyboards and synthesizer) and Will Lee (bass guitar). I've seen Dennis play the drums live and normally when he's playing to a backing track or in a group he plays more drum solos and fills than grooves. But in this album he's actually laying down more grooves and holding them. Dennis chambers typical album consists mainly of funky bass line melodies and funky upbeat drum beats. But in this Outbreak album it's different to all his others. I t was much more brass and saxophone orientated than his usual styles. To me, I think its one of the best fusion albums. If you're into the sort of funk, jazz, fusion style of music then I... Read review

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Advantages: A step back in time.
Disadvantages: Not known enough today.

...Folk Rock probably takes me back to my roots, to the music that made a difference to my youth, and in this genre, one of the saddest moments for me personally was when Sandy Denny left the group "The Strawbs" after only one recording, and a six month stint, taking the place of Judy Dyble in a group called Fairport Convention, a well known folk band with an enormous following both in the UK and worldwide. What saddened me was that the album she made with the Strawbs got lost amidst the more commercial work that she produced with Fairport Convention, and somehow never quite made it to huge popularity, although it is probably one of my favourite albums. At the time of joining the Band, Sandy was going through college for a nursing career, and the popularity of her voice and style pursuaded her to give up her college work and begin what... Read review

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