Product Description Prince Fatty is a group put together by producer and engineer Mike Pelanconi, (whose recent credits include Lilly Allen's smash Alright Still for Regal/EMI and Little Barrie Stand your Ground for Genuine/PIAS) for the purpose of recording a limited-edition single for Stussy to celebrate their 25th anniversary. Ninas Dance became an underground smash, enjoying multiple plays on Radio 1, and by popular demand Mr Bongo secured Fatty's recording services for the follow up album titled Survival of the Fattest . Prince Fatty sound is designed to dub your feet with Rock Steady beats and stimulate brain waves in a jazz-like way... delivered in an up-beat, positive and organic funk fashion. Mixed in an analog haze of vintage spring reverbs, tape echoes and custom hi-grade mixing console, Prince Fatty won t disappoint the lovers of the early 70s sound. Prince Fatty is champion in the Dub Arena. With a guest line-up that includes legendary drummer Style Scott from the Roots Radics, hammond organ by Bubblers from the infamous Ruff Cut Band, Afrobeat star Bukky Leo on sax with the Nostalgia 77 Horn Section and with special guest vocals from Little Roy, Winston Francis and Hollie Cook, the new vocalist for the band The Slits . Little Roy has worked with such reggae greats as Jackie Mittoo, Prince Buster, Lloyd Matador Daley, Lee Scratch Perry and Studio One, He enjoyed hits with Bongo Nyah , Black Bird" and Tribal War. Winston Francis, is the prodigy of Chuck Bird, the great impresario, writer and performer. Winston went on to work with Carlos Malcolm, Derrick, Harriott and Boris Gardiner and recorded at Coxson's infamous Studio One in Jamaica, collaborating with foremost reggae artists including Dennis Brown, Bob Marley and Bob Andy amongst others. He enjoyed success with Mr Fix It and his cover of the Mamas and the Papas' classic California Dreamin' which was Tony Blackburn's Hit Pick of the Week on Radio One for two weeks straight. Review Not many reggae groups owe their genesis to a fashion brand. Then again, Prince Fatty is not your average reggae group. The brainchild of producer and engineer, Mike Pelanconi (the man behind the desk for Lily Allen's Alright Still), they formed to celebrate Stussy's 25th anniversary and, having gauged an interest in their summery heritage-conscious music, decided to stick around.The default setting for their album Survival Of The Fattest is major key dub-infused 70s style reggae not unlike London Soul-Reggae outfit Pama International - which means lots of jazzy guitar chords, swirling organs and lashings of solo trombone. Anyone put off by Pelanconi's pop credentials should check some of the guest names in the line up: Roots Radics' drummer Style Scott is present, so is Bubblers from the Ruff Cut Band, as are vocalists Winston Francis and the legendary Little Roy.Most of the tracks keep to the above remit, but when the Fatties go off-script, the results impress. ''Big Man Cry'' boasts a mid-70s snare tapping drumbeat, ''Mr Freeze'' goes further by adding some militant kick, while the distinctly British sounding ''Milk And Honey'' (featuring a wonderfully lazy vocal by Hollie Cook) calls to mind the work of Dennis Bovell and is by far the strongest track on the disc.The only major gripe is it's all so completely backwards looking, when artists like Lutan Fyah and Alborosie can combine old school sensibility with a modern approach. On the other hand, there is a clear gap in the market for this stuff, and while an exercise in pure nostalgia, it is not trying to be anything else.Authentic sounding yet shamelessly retro, Survival Of The Fattest has serious designs on being the soundtrack to your summer. So if you thought it all started to go wrong around 1978, this is the album for you. --Angus Taylor Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off in a new window
R**N
mondo retro
Firstly, consider the attention to detail and the inluence that drives this disc. You will be rewarded with a style that has been absorbing the vibe of Reggae gone by. Y'know, the original, the seed ! The good stuff...Thing is, with Reggae, there is so much quality and abundance that it is too easy to discard too much of it to suit your mood.I recently re -discovered - Roots Dub -Studio One... If this 'Prince Fatty' creates the kind of interest, one takes..! that sets in motion an interest in reggae from hearing his sound to as many individuals as possible...I would be glad. This album gets better and better. Good thing !This album has loads of classic riffs which make me wanna play guitar Jazzy Reggae style.The Trombone,percussion and the fact you can get Hollie COOK - vocal and dub with AL Capone... Genius -Buy IT,PLay it, Love it.
P**E
... out of that effort has come just so much joy too. I love this
Absolute ACE recordA lot of sweat an' tears making this for sure no doubt but out of that effort has come just so much joy too. I love this. It is in the groove but has many new ideas. I was privileged to be in one of the first two tone bands in the land and learned so much from my Afro Brixton friends (two tone wasn't called that in 1969, we just got on grooving). Wish I knew where you are now :-((
D**S
Five Stars
Bangin
D**I
Sweet!
My favourite reggae album for ages, and destined to be top of the playlist for every summertime bbq.Not a dud track anywhere and some of the nicest brass I've heard in a long time.This will definately have you up and dancing in no time!
L**A
Phat Tunes
What to say? I can dance to this guy for hours shame he doesn't play out more often but this is a nice substitute meanwhile. Not cheap but quality never is. Yah boo sucks to "free" music!
G**E
this is real thingy
in a british music world of jaded rock icons and tired middle class mor indie crap this is sooooooo refreshing dahling Earthy and brilliant Sounds like proper 70s reggae- the way it should be!!
