Keith Hudson's reggae experimentalism at its finest. After producing successful hits for artists like John Holt, Delroy Wilson, Alton Ellis, and the great toasters U-Roy and Dennis Alcapone, Hudson turned his attention to his own music. Notoriously diverse in his output, Flesh Of My Skin Blood Of My Blood finds Hudson exploring the outer reaches of reggae. He's at his best when digging into the roots side of the genre, as evidenced on "Darkest Night." The opening cut, "Hunting," is another prime example. Traces of the blues are woven together with roots and nyahbinghi rhythms while bird calls take you further into the jungle. "My Nocturne" gives Hudson and his band plenty of space to extend the groove of "Treasures Of The World." The interplay of their instruments proves to be hypnotizing. When it came to his own music Hudson never really produced a hit. However, his penchant for experimentation produced some of the most unique music to come out of the 1970s.

• music label: Mamba 1975 / Basic Replay 2004

reviewed by Shy Barbie 03/2016