ROOTZ UNDERGROUND - MOVEMENT (2008)

1. Rory of Stone Love Intro

2. Time Is an Illusion

3. Victims of the System

4. Deep Underground Interlude

5. Herb Fields

6. 20 Centuries

7. Hammer

8. Farming

9. In the Jungle

10. Special Place

11. Orange Sun Rays Outro

12. Riverstone

13. Climbing to the Rootz Interlude

14. In My Hut

15. Rain

16. When I Go

17. Corners of My Mind

18. How Much Longer

19. In the Jungle Remix - (remix, Bonus Track)

A blind listening test to the debut album from the Kingston, Jamaica, outfit Rootz Underground might leave listeners guessing that the disc was recorded in the early 1980s. MOVEMENT was actually released in 2008, but its style--pure roots rock reggae--recalls the crisp sound of second wave roots bands like Steel Pulse and Black Uhuru. Yet Rootz Underground isn't merely a retro outfit; their updated take on classic Rasta grooves is vital and refreshing. Dense, percolating beds of rhythm, sweet guitar and keys, and touches of psychedelic production make MOVEMENT a deep and welcome listen.

Rootz Underground: Jeffrey Moss Solomon (vocals, guitar); Paul "Scooby" Smith (vocals, organ, keyboards); Stephen Newland (vocals); Charles Lazarus (guitar); Colin Young (bass guitar); Leon Alexander Campbell Jr. (drums)