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REVIEW: PABLO PAUL - Don't Dope/RAS HENRY - Happy Home (Kingston Connexion)

After the success of Ras Danhi's "Nowhere" it's time for the release of Kingston Connexion's second 12:inch vinyl which features Pablo Paul and Ras Henry. We was introduced to Pablo Paul on the first 12:inch with "Respect" and is now presented with another one from this rather unknown singer. "Don't Dope" starts off with a rather rockish guitar solo before running into a cheerful rhythm sounding very clean. With clean I mean no percussion or such in the background just a straight rhythm laid down by rockers style drum and bass with keyboard doing the double chops and guitar doing the skanks. The guitar has a rock kind of approach to the rhythm which by no way is bad although the solo's is a bit over the edge for my taste. Along with the cheerful rhythm this gives the song a crossover feel. As this being an anti dope song I heard a theory that the guitar licks was to portrait rock and roll due to its friendly attitude towards drugs which was (and I suppose still is) so distinguished at the time.

soundclip - Pablo Paul - Don't Dope

When flipping the vinyl we get to hear a slow roots tune entitled "Happy Home" by Ras Henry. Both Ras Henry and Pablo Paul were obscure singers who would loiter around Zap Pow's rehearsing room trying to get their chance to showcase their skills. David Madden who was in charge of Zap Pow recordings gave them a chance but since he really didn't believe their tunes would sell he erased most of the recordings. Thankfully this wasn't erased. Since being a lover of deeper roots I feel this track much more than "Don't Dope". "Happy Home" is typical for those slow roots tunes that came about in the mid seventies. Slow and rock hard one drop rhythm in company of bass lines going up and down the scale in a very bluesy manner same as the guitar who fires off blues licks every now and then. Ras Henry's vocal delievery is some what in the middle of talking and singing, sounding just like many other Rastafarian one away singers at that time. In the whole I like "Happy Home" because of its upfull vibe, message and the simplicity of how uncomplicated a good roots tune can be when stripped down to its essence, vibes.

soundclip - Ras Henry - Happy Home

Many more releases are in the pipeline from Kingstone Connexion. A 12:inch with Zap Pow and Beres Hammond's "Last War" also featuring a never released horn cut. A 10:inch with the obscure tracks "Scorpion" and "Don't Walk Street" by Rob I Peart and a 7:inch that should be out in the coming weeks featuring Big Sax label owner Mr Lonely Man (aka G Nervous) with "Sometimes". Recorded at Channel 1 and mixed by Barnabas. Check soundsample HERE

Rootsy Collins 6/12-06