Empire Road [Import]

Matumbi, Matumbi | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Europe Generic
• ASIN: B0001CVBGY
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #348,717 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Bluebeat And Ska (Single Version)

2. Empire Road

3. Music In The Air

4. Hook Deh

5. Malfunction

6. Breakdown (Single Version)

7. Points Of View (Squeeze A Little Lovin)

8. Guide Us Jah

9. Straight To My Head

10. Rock

11. Ordinary Man

12. Come With Me

13. War

14. Nothing At All

15. Black Civilisation

16. Blackman

17. Bluebeat And Ska

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deserved more notice, October 26, 2002

By 

Susan Hinojoza "It's a full life." (Union City, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Empire Road (Audio CD)

Back in the early 80's I was browsing in a record store and I heard "Hook Deh" by Matumbi.I had to buy the album and practically wore it out. FINALLY, you can own Matumbi for your CD player. Matumbi is a fantastic reggae band. Just the right combination of social commentary and sun-drenched danceable tunes on this CD. I don't know why this band went largely unnoticed.

If you like reggae, you will LOVE this band. If you're not particularly fond of reggae, this CD is very accessible and will introduce you to different reggae sounds and let you in on a secret--Bob Marley isn't the only Rasta worth listening to! Don't pass this CD up.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crucial UK Reggae!!, August 6, 2004

By 

Dejan Kovacevic (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Empire Road (Audio CD)

Matumbi was formed in London in 1970 and from the very beggining they embodied the essence of emerging UK reggae scene. The man behind Matumbi was Dennis Bovell who, in his many projects, established British reggae as a viable force independent from Jamaican motherlode. Recording in various lineups as Matumbi, African Brothers or African Stone as well as backing many successful solo acts - from Janet Key and Susan Cadogan to Linton Kwesi Johnson and Lee Perry - Bovell contributed to invention of many reggae subcategories, such as "lovers rock" and "dub poetry."

Matumbi's strongest side, however, was a smooth blend of rigteous roots reggae with pop and, more importantly, newly introduced New Wave of the late seventies. Punks and Rastas mingled freely at the time and did some amazing "crossovers" even before the term was coined. You can hear echoes of these exciting times in the music of Matumbi and, despite the prefered format being roots reggae, it is that element that distinguished British reggae act from its Jamaican counterparts.

No matter how important they were in establishing the scene, Matumbi never had the success of, say, Aswad, Steel Pulse or Maxi Priest who simply followed in their steps. And Matumbi are not alone: Black Slate, Misty in Roots, Pablo Gad are only some of the acts who produced high quality output around same time, but never recieved recognition due.

This reissue corrects some of that unjustice. And although I managed to wrangle a couple of original Matumbi vynils - number of years back a friend found them in some second-hand stores, in London, of course - I highly recommend this edition: it covers both all of their great singles and important album track, plus some rare 12" versions. And being that this is the only Matumbi available on CD, you should have no doubt!

(In addition, check out Dennis Bovell's solo retrospective "Decibel: More Cuts and Dubs, 1976-1983" and also Lloyd Bradley's fantastic book "Bass Culture" - tittle of which is apropriated from a legendary Linton Kwesi Johnson' album.)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally out on CD!!, March 8, 2002

By 

eklaasman (Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Empire Road (Audio CD)

I searched and searched to find anything of Matumbi on the web and finally they (EMI) got smart and remastered their nicest tracks.
I hope a lot of people agree and buy this album so EMI (or anyone) will bring back more of Matumbi on CD.
There is still lots more I'd like to see "reproduced" so let's hope they will!!