ROSEWOOD
Reggae Cinta EP CD-R
(self-release)

There are quite a number of bands playing reggae over here since the past 6 years, but are they “reggae” bands? Now that is quite an elitist thing to say. Just like many other music scribes (even the retired ones like me), we are snobs! And snobs don’t like what they like being fucked about with no substance to show.

I’ve been checking out a lot of local reggae bands and i find all of them wanting, specially in the production department. It could be that all they need is a good producer who understands reggae, or maybe the bands themselves don’t understand the sonics which constitute reggae; that deep, bowel-thumping bass, that humongous space resonating within dem wikked riddim and most importantly that honesty which slices through everything else.

ROSEWOOD, just like locals such as PURE VIBRACION, and to some extent, THE REPUBLIC OF BRICKFIELDS et al, are the commercial face of local reggae. This is bland Malay pop music with reggae structures, very light and totally unconvincing. It could have been saved by catchy songs, alas they not here. And lets not talk about the production.

[rating:4/10]

myspace.com/rosewoodreggae