The follow-up to
Johnny Osbourne's 1980 Fally Lover album, and even though two years have passed, time seems to have stood still here, but that's not surprising considering this set was also overseen by
Junjo Lawes and backed by the
Roots Radics. Regardless,
Never Stop Fighting has a brighter sound than its predecessor, especially on the first half of the disc. Across four love numbers
the Radics offer up a series of breezy backings, or as breezy as the band can be when fired by Scott Style's militant beats and
Errol "Flabba" Holt's thumping basslines. However, pianist
Gladdy Gladstone and keyboardist
Winston Wright keep the sound light and the melody flowing, reaching effervescent heights on the delightful "Sister Mister." Most of the album is themed around matters of the heart, and while numbers like the superb "Curly Locks Girl" are declarations of love, there's also the emotional confusion of "Over 31 Under 21" and the timeless romance of "Love Is Universal." In a totally different vein comes "Baccara" (aka "Backra"), a patois-heavy party piece with a carnival lilt. There's little for culture fans, but
Osbourne makes up for quantity with quality, opening the set with the potent demand to end the violence of the title track, fueled by one of
the Radics' most militant rhythms, and ending with the heartfelt sufferer's song "Words of the Ghetto." But the set's showcase is the extended "Give a Little Love," a soulful call to share the love, and boasting one of
Scientist's most spectacularly militant mixes. The Radics are superb as always,
Lawes' dubby production giving even the breeziest songs a deep roots feel, while
Scientist gives every number the sharpest of edges. An excellent set. ~ Jo-Ann Greene