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Rhythm Killers - Sly and Robbie Released 1987 Track Listing
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The seminal, pioneering 1987 solo album from Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, 'Rhythm Killers' was the first album to fuse reggae, dub and rock together into a dance sound that the mainstream public could embrace. It was also instrumental in making Sly and Robbie into successful solo artists. The musicians on the album are a veritable 'who's who'; Sly (drums and percussion), Robbie (bass), Bootsy Collins (vocals and guitar), Shinehead (vocals), Bernard Fowler (vocals), Pat Thrall (guitar), Bernie Worrell (piano) and more. Produced by the peerless Bill Laswell, 'Rhythm Killers' blends insistent, pounding funk and dub beats with orchestral arrangements, rock guitars and rap vocals. Seamlessly arranged, these tracks can be listened to as one long EP or six individual tracks. 'Fire' is a stunning rework of the original and represents a very open, spacey, funky into. 'Boops' introduces the layered insistent rthythms that run throughout the album and segues nicely into the guitar-oriented 'Lets Rock'. 'Yes We Can Can' continues the driving feel and runs on to the amazing title track, on which the rapping/toasting is truly jawdropping. 'Bank Job' provides a slick end groove and leaves you wondering why the album is only 40 minutes long. In retrospect the tight, complex rhythms of this album are all the more amazing given that it was produced in 1987 without recourse to sequencer overdose, simply bass, guitar, keyboards and rhythm. But don't make the mistake of assuming this album is purely a reggae / retro hit. Many of the rhythm patterns and ideas in this album have since been successfully reworked by funk, dance and drum'n'bass artists in recent years (although sadly 'Yes We Can Can' was outrageously rehashed as The Simpons hit single 'The Bartman'). The overall feel of the album is incredibly uplifting, funky and mellow, the perfect pre-club party music, post-club sunrise accompaniment, or afternoon tunes for dancing in Queens Park. It is a testament to those involved that 'Rhythm Killers' sounds as fresh today as it did in 1987. Mad Pierre, 20th May 1998 |
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