by Jo-Ann Greene
The original trio reunites and releases an album worthy of the Heptones' name, and in one fell swoop extinguishes the memory of the subpar sets they had saddled fans with in recent years. Boasting a pair of excellent covers, a great take on one of their old masterpieces, and a clutch of new numbers, Pressure! recaptures the group's old magic. The trio is assisted by Tapper Zukie's superb production and fabulous rhythms laid down by a kaleidoscope of island talent: Sly & Robbie, Mafia & Fluxy, Errol Flabba Holt, Earl &Chinna& Smith, Robbie Lyn, Frank &Bubbler& Waul, and more. Of course the covers -- Bob Marley's &Rastaman Live Up& and Burning Spear's &Marcus Garvey& -- are an immediate point of entry, with both boasting inspired arrangements and seething rhythms. Leroy Sibbles' powerful performance on the latter vies with Winston Rodney's own, with Barry Llewellyn and... Read More...