The Roots Radics revel in stripped-back rhythms with lots of wide-open spaces, but just hear how rich their accompaniment is on
Victory Is Mine. The beats may be all programmed, a militant tattoo to boot, but how organic the arrangements, how warm the resulting sound. No matter how sharp the rhythm, how taut the riffing,
Errol "Flabba" Holt's throbbing bass heats the stew, while the brass section of
Dean Fraser,
Dave Madden, and
Nambo Robinson brings the songs to a boil. No wonder
Dennis Brown reaches new heights within, with the musicians forever pushing him higher. Reveling in the music surrounding him, the singer tears into every number with relish, from the sweetest love songs to the most militant of cultural pieces. As with all great sets, every track has something fabulous to offer, lyrically, musically, and/or vocally. The title track combines all three: sturdy beats, a sumptuous arrangement with the musicians all vying for attention, a jubilant love-conquers-all theme, and a stunning performance from
Brown.
Dwight Pinkney's fabulous riffing is showcased on "Call Me,"
Robinson serenely showboats his way across "Sad News" (one of three cover songs within),
Dean Fraser smokes on "We Are in Love," the percussionists and programmers grab the limelight on "Everyday People," and so it continues on, as every musician alone or in combination displays his or her superb skills. And overhead
Brown glows brightly in all his glory; his soulful performance on the lovelorn "Should I" is riveting, the power of his righteous warnings on "Everyday People" is overwhelming, his pleas of "Don't Give Up" come straight from the heart, while the richness of his tones on the impassioned "Call Me" and the sweet breeziness of his cover of "Sunday Morning" are exemplary. Victory is indeed his, but
the Radics deserve an equal share of the prize, as does
Leggo Beast, whose productions cleanly etch out the greatness of this set.