Posted on 08/19/2008
That vibrating, mysterious yet playful world of dub and rock steady is well relayed by producer Mike Pelanconi, who pieced together strong musicians from reggae bands around, to form Prince Fatty. Following on their success with the single release ‘”Nina’s Dance,” their first album release, Survival of the Fattest manages to evoke those dark nights and red stripe bottles that go so well with a dub.

With its intent on creating a warm, swaying vibe, …Fattest is mostly instrumental reggae songs, the bass mixed down until it bubbles underneath the horns, one drop drums and this wavy web of keyboards, echoed throughout the speakers. The vocalists that appear give top-notch performances, notably Little Roy who shines on opener “Curious” and sweetly sings wisdom on “Don’t Give Up,” sounding like Cocoa Tea in his youth. The band gives good reggae, most pleasing is Bukky Leo with the Nostalgia 77 horn section, who anchor the album highlights “Mr. Freeze” and “The Death of Hercules”.

And although the album is a solid listen with songs that would fit well at any smoky gathering, there is something askew here. The marketing aspect of this project is of minor consideration (the band was formed to create a single to celebrate the anniversary of a UK clothing company), but rather it is that the authentic, idiosyncratic elements of dub music are a bit subdued on the recording.

Of these elements it is the interplay between producer and song that should be more apparent. For dub is an intrusion on the recorded song. The quick cutting out of instruments to create a breakdown and the echoing of said instruments over themselves gives this added density to the songs. Pelanconi does right on “The Death of Hercules,” and his restraint on “Meltdown” makes sense, but on many of the other instrumentals, more haze, more well, fat, is all us easy skankers could ask for.

- Christopher White