Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One was one of the foundational reggae recording studios in '60s and '70s Jamaica --
Lee Perry was engineer there in the '60s, and it's where
the Wailers made some of their earliest and best ska recordings. During reggae's heyday in the '70s, bands like the Soul Vendors and
the Sound Dimension recorded instrumental tracks (or "rhythms") there that became the basis for countless hit singles by a variety of singers. Dodd is still active in the industry, and Studio One (in cooperation with the American Heartbeat label) is still turning out great reggae. One might be forgiven for wondering why
Alpheus, the latest golden-voiced singer to make his debut under the aegis of Studio One, should use the same rhythms that powered the likes of
Ken Boothe,
the Silvertones, and
Delroy Wilson 25 years ago. But it's hard to concentrate on that question, fair as it is, when the music is this good.
Alpheus has a sweet, R&B-influenced voice and sails expertly over these vintage rhythms, making each one his own. Whether remaking "Equal Rights" in his own smooth style or updating the classic "Throw Mi Corn" rhythm as "I See You Through My Window,"
Alpheus manages to make all of these scraps of reggae history sound fresh and new. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson