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Following on from Jerry Dammers’ Spatial AKA last week (see HERE), I must admit I didn’t have much of a good work for the rest of the Specials on their re-union sans Dammers. So good to see that on the Pama International project that involves one of the ex-Specials (Lynval Golding) is hot in the roots groove of the Soothsayers (which can’t be a bad thing).

The CD kicks off with ‘Dub A Disco’ could have been given a proper Disco 45 mix and ‘Are We Saved Yet?’ is a bit sarcastic on the soul-reggae protest song (with a flowing sax solo from Andy Kinsman that fades out a bit too soon for me).

‘I Still Love You More’ is a bit pop-reggae but ‘Still I Wait’ is authentic roots reggae from the ‘Golden Age’; producer, bassist, keyboards and percussionist Sean Flowerdew knows his musical heritage; how appropriate then that Holly May Flowerdew feature on vocals [or is that a nursery rap] on ‘He’s More Like His Father’.

Lead vocalist Finny has a distinctive voice that sounds the best on the slow dubby one, ‘What You Do Now’ that’s a bit of a grower with the trumpet solo. And if you flip over to ‘Happenstance’ and we’re in Third World territory but we could do with more of that keyboard sound as it slips into ‘Dub A Dance’; yeah that’s more like the 12” version of old.

As they say, “I am not greedy, I want more” on the best track ‘Trade It All For More’ - Sly and Robbie stylee; along with the closer ‘Look Out Your Window’.

‘Question The Answer’ featuring Lynval and fellow ex-Special Sir Horace Gentleman is another highlight and you can easily see why this band would be ideal at a summer festivals like Wychwood, Bestival or even Newbury Football Club (see gig list below starting tonight with the Dub Pistols who have their own single ‘Ganga’ out now and their own ex-Specials connections in the past).

Hand on heart, I can’t give this one a 10 out of 10 but I want to hear more, on a sunny day preferably at a festival with a beer in hand. But if you can’t have that, get the CD.

Forthcoming Gigs:
12 Mar 2010 - Phoenix w/Dub Pistols Exeter
13 Mar 2010 - The Hippo Plymouth
19 Mar 2010 - Chinnerys Southend
20 Mar 2010 - The Square Harlow
2 Apr 2010 - The Forum Darlington
3 Apr 2010 - The Well Leeds
29 Apr 2010 - Black Box Belfast
30 Apr 2010 - Cell Blaenau Ffestinio
1 May 2010 - The Blue Rooms Hereford
2 May 2010 - The Garage Swansea
8 May 2010 - Labadoux Festival Belgium
14 May 2010 - Jazz Cafe London
16 May 2010 - Bearded Theory Festival Derbyshire
21 May 2010 - Newbury Football Club - Marquee Newbury

Reviewed: Pama International - Pama Outernational (Rockers Revolt) Cat. No. RRHIT9CD Release date: November 2009
Tracklisting:
1 Equality And Justice For All (3:27)
2 Dub A Disco (1:44)
3 Are We Saved Yet? (3:15)
4 I Still Love You More (3:00)
5 Still I Wait (3:49)
6 He’s More Like His Father (4:43)
7 Happenstance (2:59)
8 Dub A Dance (2:23)
9 Question The Answer (2:03)
10 Trade It All For More (5:04)
11 What You Do Now (5:49)
12 Look Out Your Window (2:30)

Links:
www.pamainternational.co.uk
www.myspace.com/pamainternational
www.rootsreggaerevolt.com
SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE www.soundsoftheuniverse.com
7 Broadwick Street, Soho, London, W1F 0DA Shop Enquiries tel: 020 7734 3430