Various Acts - 'One Step Beyond' (Virgin)
5/5
By: Matt Tomiak
Two CD's, forty-five tracks and almost three hours of music spanning a period of twenty years: 'One Step Beyond' is about as comprehensive as these kind of packages get.
And whilst 'OSB' treads strictly familiar ground for Mark Lamarr-style aficionados of the genre, it's still a superb beginner's guide, as well as a foundational 'greatest hits' collection.
Disc-one concentrates on the scene's founding fathers, such as Desmond Dekker and The Aces and Prince Buster, who, lest we forget, was responsible for the original versions of 'One Step Beyond' and 'Madness' - yet, come CD-2, and we're in the new-wave; thus, rather notable to compare the infectious, jovial Caribbean sound of the early pioneers with the eventual re-emergence of the genre's newcomer-scallywags.
Distinctly, although most - UB40, Madness, Bad Manners, et al - retained the forefathers' light-hearted approach, it was the likes of The Specials that lent this music an explicit, political edge for the first time, especially via hits 'Too Much Too Young' and - of course - an era-defining 'Ghost Town': possibly the most standout highlight, still to this day.
Needless to say, such compulsive names and talent provide requisite listening throughout... An educational outing all should be subjected to at some instant or other.
Artists in this article: Various Acts
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