MUSIC

Fleece, Bristol (Fri 9 Sept) Something in the air’s revived the dormant giant that was Bristol’s live reggae scene and it’s a welcome reminder of just how good those days were. The Fleece fills steadily for the early PA set from veteran lover’s rocker Dallas (a regular Black Roots support in the day) and he sings with conviction to warm things up. While there’s a pleasing number of younger people, there’s no doubt that the core audience probably last saw Black Roots at Trinity circa 1985. Time may have thickened/greyed/embaldened them, their dancing may be more shuffle than skank, but the love is still there, and once the snap of a one-drop drumbeat launches the 10-man Black Roots sound it’s that love that flourishes. Happily it’s instantly apparent that 20 years away and the sad loss of bass man Derrick King earlier this year haven’t blunted the Black Roots sound one jot. Old favourites like ‘Juvenile Delinquent’, ‘Chanting For Freedom’ and ‘Opportunities’ still have the authentic freshness of their early days, with sweet Wailer-like harmony vocals and tightly woven trumpet and keyboard filling the sound around slamming riddims. The drumming is impeccable, crisp and deadly efficient, the bass is rightly economical, only the occasional ‘dub’ sections waver a little. Above all, they look as delighted to be doing this as the punters are to hear them and, if we’re cheated of ‘Bristol Rock’ or ‘Frontline’, then it’s a good enough reason to catch them again, and soon. (Tony Benjamin)

Copyright Tony Benjamin 2011