Put to tape in the mid-'70s, the instrumental renderings on
Rebel Rock
are largely re-imagined versions of tracks originally appearing with vocals and different arrangements of
Errol Dunkley
's
Sit and Cry Over You
. Both albums were recorded under the supervision of producer and arranger
Count Shelley
while conducting the
Third World All Stars
, an assemblage of Jamaican musicians visiting
Shelly
's London studio, as well as some of the top U.K. session players available. Unlike a run-of-the-mill dub album, the instrumentals here are augmented with additional horn and synthesizer overdubs, adding a relaxed, meandering lyricism to the already warm-hearted sounds. The additional brass touches also lend different perspectives to the songs, giving some more of a ska feel and others a jazzier bent. The sinister skank and devilish horn section melody of "Repatriation Remedy" have an almost Ethiopian funk-styled groove, while "Patricia's Love" has a far sunnier ska tinge to it. Futuristic synthesizer parts add richness to "For All Ways," which flirts with more disco-inclined production. Album-closer "Moog in Blues" also gets further out with an almost Hawaiian-sounding lead guitar, slathered in delay and reverb. The set manages to be eclectic and adventurous without being too bombastic or losing any of its subtleties, and captures a bright moment in the meeting of the minds between Jamaican and British reggae heads of the '70s. ~ Fred Thomas