Vamos A La Playa is the latest album by Philadelphia based international Reggae Hip hop band Rockers Galore, who revolve around Blayer Point Du Jour and Adam Benites alongside Joe Jordan, Tyler Hayduk, Michael Pipitone, Chris Tolomeo, Josiah Krawiec, Timi Dread, Talia Morris, Sydelle Prosopio and guests. It was recorded mixed and mastered by Tommy Joyner at Milkboy The studio. This is the second best reggae album released today as nothing tops the new Lee Scratch Perry and Youth album Spaceship To Mars that also comes out today 13.9.24.
The album opens with Celebration Life a chilled rocker for the joys of life, with plenty of brass, ready to wake up and give praise to the most I, in a cool laid-back way, the vocals are more hip hop than traditional Reggae Rocker.
Blood In The Sand layers brass over a samba style beat, harmony vocals and Joe Jordan's monster guitar solo, that attacks full on like his legendary footballing namesake, Sydelle Prosopio's Spanish rap really makes you sit up and listen.
Roots Rock Reggae is a vastly different take on this classic theme to the one I heard at Notting Hill carnival this year, or the song on a similar theme that Los Fastidious played at Rebellion at the start of last month, but the sentiments are the same, they need to hear a loud sound system playing Roots Rock Reggae to smoke some of that Lambs Bread, this is a great upbeat party anthem to get a room bouncing along with them.
Sweet Sensei has been properly imbibed, while listening to this and enjoying my carnival delights, this will work with any of the hundreds of other songs about our favourite herbs, mellow vibes and good feelings while you take a lick off that joint once more.
Troddin Outta Babylon they are going through the red sea on a typically rasta like journey, in search of the thirteenth tribe, off to exile in search of freedom rather than bondage, let Jah be your guiding light once more, the brass finally gives way to some squiggly guitar with a cool bongo beat behind it.
Top Of The Mountain has the sort of classic riddim that would have got my old sparring partner Bill searching for which 60's tune it's taken from, I'd be guessing from a Sonia Pottinger production or Treasure Isle, they are Rocking till the early light once more, the tune is more modern than the reference might suggest, the brass stabs are woozy and infused with the message of love they bring to I & I in the never ending search for peace and love.
Let The Light In wants to get away from all the darkness, despair trouble and bad times, it's time to Let The Light in, the intense rap gets close to taking it to the church, but the uplifting message is central to how they are vibing.
Charm City does the opposite of 70's reggae, that's often sparse and full of space, this is heavily layered deep roots feelings, trying to change perceptions, brass weaves with the harmony vocals hoping to bring an end to pointless hatred and war, no more racism, chant down Babylon and let it burn, from the ashes bring a new dawn over the righteous riddims.
Troddin Outta Babylon Dub DJ Architekt mix strips things back to the bedrock riddims and brass ready for your freestyling over the top of it. It almost has the feel of a Gregory Issacs Dub Plate.
Sweet Sensei Dub DJ Architekt keeps the choral parts of the vocals and adds more bass shaking drums and the heaviest bass of the album this needs to be heard at room shaking volumes in a huge cloud of smoke.
Find out more at https://rockersgalore.bandcamp.com/album/vamos-a-la-playa https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100041790889288
