Heart Of The Congos (studio album) by The Congos

You can see what they are going for on this record but I don't think it is executed as effectively as it could have been. The production is quite up and down across the whole release with some of it sounding smooth and clean but other parts sounding messy and clunky. The style and structure gets tired pretty fast with it being so repetitive from song to song that I end up getting really bored when I listen to the record. This makes the record feel like a drag to get through as well. Several songs are pointless to the record also and could easily be cut such as the majority of the second half. One of the only things this record has going for it is the distinctive instrumentation and the unique sound they have. Overall, not a great record in my opinion as the music feels very slow, repetitive and quite boring to listen to.

From VictorVale 02/03/2021 12:50

Grande material de roots reggae! Mestres!

Entrancing and gentle but a bit repetitive too.

An excellent record. Brilliantly crafted reggae which is almost hypnotic at times in it's delivery. It maybe slightly overlong but it's a small quibble. All in all, a good album. Totally underrated.

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Fantastic

Reminds me of Christmas!

As NoWaxJim says this is 'unmitigated genius'! A great album far ahead of its time.

From Graeme2 12/14/2013 16:28

Good stuff. Make sure to only get the blood and fire reissue of this as others have shoddily reproduced sound compared. The blood and fire one is deleted though I think but worth getting as far superior sound wise. Made iTunes refund me when I got a poor version of this. Grat album.

What is most incredible about this album is how otherworldly and full sounding it is given that it was recorded at Black Ark Studios, a 4-track studio with notoriously basic equipment. This is Perry's greatest achievement and - without meaning to do a significant disservice to the band, whose vocal harmonies and rootsy themes are timeless, and were entirely necessary in coaxing this stunning work from Scratch - The Congos are cogs in a much more impressive machine.

From Jimmy Dread 10/03/2011 19:21

Why no-one else has seen fit to comment on this work of unmitigated genius is beyond me. I've got 3 things to say about this LP - 1. it's one of the only JA LPs you can listen to from start to finish and think "you know what, this is an album, not a collection of singles with a few fillers chucked in" (Jamaican music has NEVER been album-focused, but there's some gems around if you look hard enough, this being the prime example). 2. If you ever need evidence that Lee 'Scratch' Perry is a visionary and the most important thing ever to happen to Jamaican music (bar perhaps Coxsone Dodd) here's your proof. and 3. if your knowledge of 'reggae' (horrid word) goes no further than 'Bob Marley', I strongly suggest you whack this on, pump it up, lie back and let it soak in. It will start you on a wonderful, fulfilling journey, trust me...