Search - Keith Hudson :: Hudson Affair

MELODY MAKER FROM JAMAICA

Locks Lion | Blue Mountain Peak | 03/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"THE HUDSON AFFAIR: This is an excellent retrospective of Keith Hudson's production work between the late sixties and middle seventies. Featuring more than 50 prime reggae cuts along with first-class packaging and sleeve notes, this has to be considered the definitive Hudson collection - although to be honest, there's not much competition out there. Setting out with Ken Boothe's great OLD FASHION WAY from 1969, THE HUDSON AFFAIR takes in early reggae classics from singers like Delroy Wilson, Alton Ellis, Horace Andy, and a virtual who's-who of foundation DJs, including Dennis Alcapone, Big Youth, U Roy and I Roy. There are also numerous instrumental and dub versions (check the brilliant MELODY MAKER), and plenty examples of Hudson's own "unique" microphone technique (a somber, not-always-in-tune blues wail from the lower registers), all of which make a convincing case as to why the producer was nicknamed the Dark Prince of Reggae. For the most part, this isn't the kind of breezy, rum and coke reggae promoted by the Jamaican tourist board. Instead, Hudson often prefers deep, voodoo-blues basslines accentuated by wheezing, spluttering organ parts and menacing guitar licks. There's no escaping the ominous overtones of THEME FROM SATAN SIDE, DARKEST NIGHT ON A WET LOOKING ROAD, or CLASS & SUBJECT, but there's also a lighter spiritual side to Hudon's work, as evidenced by Delroy Wilson's classic A PLACE IN AFRICA, and Hudson's own HEALING OF THE LAND and TORCH OF FREEDOM among others. There's an astonishing catalogue of music recorded here; a fantastic anthology that's long overdue. Really, you should buy this right away.



Looking for more early reggae goodness? Check out Pressure Sounds' recent Herman Chin-Loy (Aquarius) retrospective, AQUARIUS ROCK...also very, very excellent."