The Aggrolites - Reggae Hit L.A. (Hellcat)
3/5
Recorded in only 3 days, L.A residents The Aggrolites' second album, the creatively titled 16-track mammoth 'Reggae Hit L.A.', grew from sound check jams which took place during the lads' eight month tour. The result is a more than competent and well produced compendium of feel-good party tunes ranging from the harmlessly jovial to the overtly groovy.
Overall this album is a celebratory melting pot of summertime philosophy pinned up with salient ballads such as 'Let's Pack Our Bags' and padded out with carefree jams such as 'You Got 5'. The message behind the album, if you haven't already guessed, is an ode to the thriving reggae scene in L.A, and a shameless promotion of it. Although lacking the adverse political proportion which characterised early reggae, 'Reggae Hit L.A' breathes new life into the long canonised genres, feeling reminiscent, without coming across as a rehash.
The album is bustling with friendly, peace-loving grooves and the opening track 'Work It' is no exception. Aside from a very brave synth noise, this is a wholesome track, and lead singer Wagner's voice introduces itself with soulful presence. The lack of lyrical depth in the album as a whole begins in the second track 'Faster Bullet', but this prang is overcome by strong melodies, polished rhythms and welcome flourishes which stay reassuringly within the reggae idiom.
Many of the tracks, although primarily of the reggae genre, flirt wantonly and convincingly with other genres of black origin. 'You Got 5' presents optimistic ska-vibes which are carried gently but firmly by an usurping sub bass lick. 'Reggae Hit L.A' is a James Brown-esque soul-funk tinted reggae anthem which displays intrepid up-beat razzle-dazzle and succeeds in becoming the crest of the album. 'Lucky Streak' makes itself known with a blithesome mo-town chorus which settles comfortably somewhere in the sub-conscious of the listener.
A sly moment of ambivalence emerges in 'Lets Pack Our Bags', and haunts the listener like an overbearing aunt. Starting off as a melancholy but diplomatic love song displaying sweet sentiment, this schmoozy number is suffocated by the highly superfluous inclusion of four bars of the original James Bond score, which crops up more than once and sullies an otherwise admirable piece.
'Reggae Hit L.A' is a more than competent collection for fans of the genre, and Wagner's voice decorates the tracks with gruff, synonomous spark; so much so that at times it almost estranges the could-be hermetic backing tracks, which occasionally become any ordinary reggae song. Also, listening to the full 16 tracks could become strenuous and only recommended for the hardcore reggae zealots. This is a befitting reggae excursion filled with tinny timbales, sumptuous skanks, rocking riddims and hopped-up hammond staccatos guarenteed to warm the faces of your party guests like a towel made from dreadlocks.
Stream two tracks from 'Reggae Hit L.A.' HERE.
Artists in this article: The Aggrolites
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