Shangoband, Wise Shepherd

When I’m looking over the lists to find a new record to snag for a review, not a lot ever pops up in the Dub/Reggae section. In fact, it’s usually completely vacant. So, when something did finally show up, I grabbed it because, frankly, I like dub. It’s a dying style, but it’s not without it virtues. And, yes, I’ll be honest, “Shangoband” just sounds way to cool to pass up.

While I’m not blown away, I wasn’t all that disappointed, either. Wise Shepherd shows these guys have been around the dub block before; they know the routine. They can sink into a groove just like old-school. The lyrics seem to reflect a sincere immersion in the beliefs historically associated with reggae — Englishman and company really wish you would all stop fighting and just get the hell along. Okay, he’s a little more graceful than that. And I think we could use some of that these days. Maybe we should just relax a little bit, okay? And maybe enjoy something every now and again.

The real shame about this record is the production. Rather than stay true to the old school, Shangoband slips into the smooth-jazz trap, with super-artificial keys and programmed drums that ultimately reflect no soul. While lyrically and vocally they deliver sincerity, it’s hard to take seriously when that’s backed by such sterile instrumentation. A lo-fi analog run with that “live-in-studio-feel” would really serve their purpose with a much higher degree of soul and passion.