To say it's taken a long time for Basil Issac, the tireless front man of Black II Basic, to secure a record deal for his act would be criminally understating the case.
In years it's been long enough, but in terms of genres, mood changes and fashion trends, you can forget the calculation. Let's just say it's a journey through two decades and one century. His dues have been more than paid. Yes sir.
Why it's taken so long for this record to appear is a bit of mystery, especially given Basil's talent as a percussionist and show man.
Thankfully there's little sign of compromise in his first. The A-side is a drawn out afro beat meets Mas band wig out, slapped around the skin by a bit of jazz horns and the odd production tweak (although that could be accidental).
The more obviously produced tracks kick in on the b-side in the little short of glorious percussion riot of the 'Thunder Afrika' mixes. Of these the "we'll bring the house down" like vocal mix is easily surpassed by the instrumental. A bit if a treat for the beat heads.
