Can't believe I never picked this one up before. Heart Of The Congos holds a cornerstone place for a bunch of different record collectors: reggae aficionado's say it's arguably the best Lee Perry vocal production outside the Wailers, rockish people always make noise about it, diggers frickin' love it for some reason (there's tons of better drum stuff out there), it's the numba one weed smokers album, rasta anthem, etc. Bottom line, a lot of discerning (and diverse) people really like this record and it deserves to be somewhere in your collection. Not so much because it's got some universal appeal though. Heart of the Congos is a deep deep record, and a unique convergence of the Congo's ghostly rasta melodies with the genius of Lee Perry. Behold! I give you "Fisherman," "Congo Man" and "Open The Gate!" If those don't pique some interest, you've got no business reading this review in the first place. And if they do get your ear all in a "new sound" bundle overload, congratulations, you're alive. Continue on with "Ark Of The Covenant" and "Sodom & Gomorrow." Nice clean pressing from VP.

• music label: VP Records

reviewed by the mgmnt 05/2016