Music / reggae

Body beat : soca-dub and electronic calypso 1979-1998


Reviews (1)


Songlines

2020 January/February

By

By

Charles de Ledesma

2020 January/February

"This compilation intriguingly connects many dots in the soca music story, while also (not unexpectedly for Soundway) throwing up musically strong and itchingly danceable tracks along the way. The idea behind this selection was to draw on B-sides, dubs and obscure vocals with origins in disco, 80s electro, conscious reggae and early Chicago house, which when added to calypso's obvious influence helps us understand more fully the hybrid style that fully erupted across Trinidad and Tobago, and the wider Caribbean, in the mid-90s. The most recent track here is Peter Britto 's solid 1998 hit 'I Want Your Love', featuring a clear soca synth beat peppered by steel drums and horns ... The second disc throws down a conga-line of corkers from Mohjah's heavy, Carnival Monday road-march pulse in 'Zion Gates (Dub)' - topped with a wildly infectious vocal - to Andre Tanker's equally beguiling tribal 'Wild Indian Band', before finishing with the sparkling lovers' soca 'Last Days'. Body Beat leaves you with a warm glow, musically satisfied and ready to hit the streets".



Information and editions