Cool Down

後にプロデューサーとしても名を成すグレート・ルーツ・シンガー、LINVAL THOMPSONの記念すべきファースト・アルバム。BUNNY LEEプロデュースだが、他のBUNNY LEE音源とはまったく別物と言っていい、恐ろしいまでの渋さを誇るキラーなルーツ・ナンバーの数々。当時から大物プロデューサーであったBUNNY LEEだが、LINVALはそんな事はお構いなしで自分の好き放題にマイナー調のキラー・ルーツを連発している。同時代のシンガーたちと比べてみても LINVALの独特の歌唱法はまさに唯一無比。70年代ゲットー・ルーツ・シンガーの最高峰であることは間違いなしの最強のデビュー作。

The first thing to understand about Cool Down is that, like many other early reggae records, it has been issued a number of times by the same labels. Often the same songs are present but in a different order and with different artwork. Not that it's a particularly big deal, but a certain Clocktower LP pressing even credits Thompson as "Lindval," so look out for that if you think it might bother you. That having been said, this offering will likely not disappoint fans of rocker's reggae. Bunny Lee's "flying cymbal" production dominates the session and consequently the listener might recognize several of these cuts from dub compilations on Blood & Fire. "Black Princess Lady," for example, can be heard in dub form on Tapper Zukie's In Dub as "Rush I Some Dub" and it's downright difficult to find a dub record without a version of "Money Money." Generally speaking, though, this is not a dub record. Only the last song on each side is followed by a dub version. These are straight-ahead rockers with no frills and, depending on the pressing, rather muddy production. This can likely be avoided by purchasing it on CD -- but what fun is that. It is also worth mentioning that "Money Money" and "Blood Gonna Run," among others, find Robbie Shakespeare at his slippery and infectious best. Serious basslines throughout. ~ Brandon Burke|