Talisman – I-Surrection (Sugar Shack Records)
LP/CD/DL
Out Now
Bristol roots reggae pioneers return with only
their third studio album in nearly thirty years.
Three studio albums in thirty years doesn’t sound
like a great output, but, to be fair, Talisman only reformed two years ago,
and, do play live at any given opportunity as supporting Selector on their
recent UK tour shows. Co-founders
Dennison Joseph and Desmond Taylor (now Dehvan Othieno) return with a typically
70s sounding reggae album of six tracks.
Six? Well, yes, but there’s a twist. Whilst Side A contains timeless roots reggae,
there’s a little surprise waiting on the flipside where each track is give the
dub treatment. Arguably, there is
nothing earth shattering about any track on the album, but, why change when
what they do is so good and so authentic?
Talisman could quite easily try and update their sound for the 21st
century, but, when an audience like that of Black Roots’ has been baying for
re-releases and re-issues, the obvious thing is simply to carry on where you
left off.
Lyrically, social conscience remains a prime
objective, and their lyrics are as incisive under the current Tory government
as they were when our current leaders could only drool over Mrs Thatcher in the
70s and 80s. Talisman argue that
whatever progress our society has made, some of the simplest problems still
remain.
Opener, ‘Greetings’ ensures the listener quickly
settles into the mood for the album.
Easy, lazy, reggae that will please any fan. ‘Help Yourself’ is pure Marley complete with
Bob’s “Woah’s” throughout, and, namechecks to Malcom X and Martin Luther King
are joined by those of Stephen Lawrence and Smiley Culture on ‘Season For
Freemen’.
The dub versions are good and satisfying, and
whilst not dubbed out of proportion, have enough reverb and snare to be
accepted as tracks in their own right.
The pick of the bunch being ‘Things A Dub’ (version of ‘Things A Get
Tough’), which is quite simply sumptuous and perfect for relaxing and, well,
doing nothing.
Not an album that will change the world of reggae,
but, do we really need to? When you have
the winning formula, why change?
8.5/10
Links
Published on Louder Than War 28/10/13 - here
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