Rasta Communication

Keith Hudson’s career was in a tumultuous place when this album was released back in 1978. Even though the man known as “The Dark Prince Of Reggae” was a well respected producer in Jamaica, success as a vocalist was elusive. Virgin Records signed him to a big four-album contract in 1976 with the label seeing him as “the next Bob Marley,” but that ended after one disappointing album of soul-influenced songs given the all too fitting title Too Expensive. Back on his own label, Joint, Hudson got back to what he did best, releasing a dub album called Brand in 1977, which helped him reconnect with the hardcore reggae faithful. For Rasta Communication Hudson added his own vocals on top of the rhythms from Brand. Hudson wasn’t a particularly great vocalist in the traditional sense of the word, but, like Peter Tosh, he used his limited range as a delivery mechanism for his dead serious pro-Rastafarian beliefs. He also had a group of Jamaica’s finest sessions musicians at his disposal, which Hudson took full advantage of, creating backing tracks featuring layers of atmospheric guitars, nyabinghi drumming and synths that placed him far beyond the typical reggae productions of the time in terms of sophistication. His songs were strong too, with his ode to Rastafarian struggle and determination “Felt We Felt The Strain”, the opening title track, and “I’m No Fool” among the finer tracks Jamaica produced during this fertile period. Only “Musicology” falls flat, with a simple rhythm and lyrics that are both slight and cloying.

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