Multi-instrumentalist and singer P-Dub, a.k.a. Tomothy Boyce is currently based in the New Jersey area, having been schooled in reggae by an older Kingstonian Rasta when he was 17 years old. He certainly learned his lessons well, having become an in-demand musician, but perhaps more relevantly, as this album, his twelfth under the name Predator Dub Assassins since 2005, demonstrates well.

Holiday opens the set with some roots rock reggae, its blues-rock guitar (low in the mix) recalling the late 70s works of Bob Marley. In contrast, Flatter, a duet with Tiffany Sterling, is a fine pop-styled piece of lover’s rock, whilst Legacy has a strong classic roots feel. Tumbleweed Tuesday is a fine ska instrumental with excellent lead horn lines and a subtle jazz inflection, and Best Life is just a simple, very effective good-time vibe, particularly in the vocal.

Never Get Away has a U-Roy styled dee-jay break, and One More has a very fine early 70s vibe (and maybe a hint of rocksteady) combined with a conscious dancehall dee-jay rap. The dub if this to finish is a nice touch too. All killer, no filler!

(PS: Note too that the digital “Deluxe” version of this set available on the website has extra dubs and acoustic versions.)



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