jsREVIEW:

In 1980, Jamaica was a hot musical touchstone. From Police to Clash, Joe Jackson to 10cc, even Robert Palmer, the 2/2 skank and “ska” guitar noise seemed to reach everywhere. Even Detroit, apparently.

Black Market’s debut album, Air Freight, could be just another genre exercise (they do cover “No Woman No Cry,”) if not for the phenomonally deep bass and sharp rhythmic chops of Black Market.

Larry Duncan, who wrote the songs, sings and plays guitar, apparently spent time in the late ’70s in a small fishing village called Negril in Jamaica, falling in love with the sound of the island, and his tunes are sharp and mercifully lacking the insulting patois that too many of his contemporaries felt was necessary when singing reggae. Tracks like “Rescue You” and “Bossman” legitimately feel like they’re his voice, not some aping.

But really, the standout here is Nolan Mendenhall’s phenomenal bass work, recalling Robbie Shakespear’s easy mastery. Full and rich in a way that only vinyl can provide, this album cries out for dubplate treatment (and if it exists, Cousins’ll be the place to find it). And since producers Jim Dudek and Marc Beznos know how to space out the instruments, this would be killer sampling material for beatmakers.

A surprisingly good album that’s more fun than most of the accepted reggae canon, Air Freight is heavy low beauty.

-js

CLICK TO VIEW eBay LISTING