REVIEW: HENRY & LOUIS - Increments (2 Kings Records)
[A short time after I finished writting this review I found out that the promo I'd been sent didn't include all the titles which now will see release. The titles which didn't make it on my promo copy was Donette Forte's "Too Strong" with dub, Prince Green's "Too Late" and "Everytime" with dub and Henry & Louis own dub piece "Love To The Power of Each". Just so you know and have this in mind when you later look the album up.]
Henry & Louis consists on Jack Lundie and Andy Scholes who've been making roots and dub music since they met in the late eighties. While Andy Scholes spent his early days as a member of the Bristol sound system Red Eye Hi Power Jack Lundie was learning studio and production equipment. When joined forces they decided to use the mixing and dubbing ways of old as King Tubby and others though with a modern touch. First release was "How Can A Man" on More Rockers Records in the early ninties which was followed by the "Rudiments" album also released on More Rockers as well as Cup of Tea Records. In 1994 they started their own label 2 Kings. Around the same time Andy Scholes went to live in Jamaica for eights months resulting in various recording sessions with foundation singers like Johnny Clarke, Willie Williams and Tony Tuff among others. The outcome became the highly acclaimed "Time Will Tell" which they release together with Blue & Red (Rob Smith of Smith & Mighty) on the BSI label in 2001. Since that time it's been rather quiet from Henry & Louis so it's nice hearing this album showing that they're still in the game.
I would call this album a showcase album since it's containing ten tracks of which five are vocals and five dubs to those vocals. Personally I favour showcase albums since they bring the best of both worlds on one album. The vocal and the dub. Henry & Louis soundscape is a kind of raw and minimal dub including cheap sounding keyboards (which serves its purpose perfectly though) and the odd drum sample. All dubbed up leaving the bass as the only real foundation.
"Increments" starts off with dub poet Prince Green's "Love Like" where he lays out the many moods of love over a steppers track built around a drum sample of some old seventies dub tune. It would be strict drum and bass if it wasn't for the keyboard horns in the chorus parts. You might have heard Prince Green rasping voice before if you've come across acid jazz group Galliano which were active in the mid ninties. Second up is Henry & Louis own Andy Scholes with "The Message" which has that keyboard intro we'd learned love from the "Time Will Tell" album. Andy Scholes sings a upfront message of love and truth or as he puts it: "The message I bear shall bring contridiction, for the message is change". The way the vocals, lead and harmony, has been put used on "The Message" is what gives the track an edge. The way they support one another and builds up the vibe between verse and chorus. This fact grows clearer as you listen to its dub version which although a good thumping steppers rhythm doesn't reach the same heights as its vocal part.
soundclip - Andy Scholes - The Message
Ras Zebbi's "Fools Say" is something of a anti drug song with a more original approach than ones I've heard before. It took me a few listenings before I grasp the whole of what he's trying convey but it can be a little blurry at first hearing. The rhythm he's riding is a mid tempo steppers with a chill out kind of appeal to it. A very dubby and low key track which is more of the meditational kind you listen to in your headphones than the bass thumping tune you'd hear at a roots/dub dance.
On the forth vocal Andy Scholes returns with yet another track entitiled "Lions Den". "Lions Den" is darker and faster than the previous songs and in the same militant vibe as "The Message". Andy Scholes has a rather light and common voice but as you dig into the song and start listen to the actual lyrics it gets heavier and rougher. Last vocal features Prince Green again with "Revelation Time" where he tries on a chanting style of singing. Rhythmwise a the bubbling bassline works hard alongside drums and keyboard skanks which echos away in the right places.
soundclip - Ras Zebbi - Fools Say
All to all this album will definently be pleasing to those who enjoyed Henry & Louis earlier work since it's trodding on in the same direction as those works and hopefully for those who's yet to discover this rather underground roots/dub duo, minding that roots and dub music is more or less underground as it is. I for one enjoy this album and is quite interested in how some of these songs would sound if played on a sound system?
This album will see its offical release in September 2006 on Henry & Louis own 2 Kings label. Also look out for a coming 12:inch vinyl featuring the full version of Tony Tuff's "Answer", which appeared in a shorter form on the "Time Will Tell" album, complete with dub version as well.
/Jakob Levi - 31/8-06
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