The Congos / Various - 7” Pack - Rhythm & Sound Edit and Mixdown.

> *All Six 7"s in one Pack* Heralding the imminent arrival of their double cd rhythm project - “Fisherman Style”, our favourite reggae reissue label bless us with a six-ply seven inch pack of pre-release style new vocal versions to the Congos’ mighty “Fisherman”. Most pertinent to these pages, they have integrally involved in the production Berlin’s own dubmeisters Rhythm and Sound, in an astonishing, painstakingly detailed and ultimately spiritual process of editing, restoring and mixing down every single interpretation. One of the label’s finest early moments was retrieving and restoring “Heart of The Congos” itself, an eternal classic catching Lee Perry at the height of his powers and matching him with an unmatchable vocal chemistry from Cedric Myton and Roydel Johnson. At the time, the true version of the album had long been missing in action, totally unavailable in any of its early manifestations, jamaican Black Ark or british Go Feet. One of the features of that double cd set is the extended “Fisherman” versions, which clearly provided ample inspiration for this extended meditation, an image of the faithful eventually triumphing and voyaging to redemption. What is certain is that Rhythm and Sound, fresh from their own one rhythm excursion on “See Mi Yah” have set about the task with no little gusto, re-empahasizing the smallest nuance, differentiating and appreciating the intricacies of every version clearly, you’re left feeling the rhythm flow past you like water in a river, some sort of remarkable progression in itself. Of course, Blood and Fire have congregated a sumptuous cross section of jamaican talent for this project. When you know that the artists involved straddle the classic and new schools, epochal names like the Congos themselves, Max Romeo, Horace Andy, U-Roy, Big Youth, Prince Jazzbo, Mykal Rose sit naturally and at peace on this monumental rhythm next to the finest talent direct from ja – Luciano, Early One, Lutan Fyah and an awesome “Make Poverty History” version from Country Culture –and in actual fact, that’s just a fraction of the wealth of names convened for the feast of the eventual album release. In superb counterpoint to the first ever burial mix versions elsewhere this week, these are an absolute must, massively recommended. (Review By Boomkat)

The Congos


Blood & Fire Label

Boomkat Page (to listen some audio clips)