After years spent cashing in on their formidable reputation, Trojan are finally capitalising on it. Having exhausted every possible option for box-set concepts (from ‘Beatles Tribute Reggae’ to ‘Motor City Reggae’, from ‘X-Rated Reggae’ to ‘Reggae For Kids’), the once-mighty label is now employing the professionals to present its substantial wares in a favourable new light.
This double-disc set from avant-garde remixer DJ Spooky follows the recent ‘Revolution Rock: A Clash Jukebox’ (selecter’d by Paul Simonon) and bundles together a spectacular array of smash hits ( Phyllis Dillon’s ‘Woman Of The Ghetto’) and rarities (The Upsetters’ ‘Freak Out Skank’), as well as live versions of cuts from The Specials and The Beat, surprising covers (The Survivors’ version of ‘Rawhide’) and loads of other old stuff you’ll like. It certainly showcases a lot of tracks – about 70 in total – but as a result it sometimes sounds more like a trolley dash through the Trojan vaults than a carefully considered compilation. You just wish Spooky would calm down, make his mind up what songs he likes, stop putting scratching effects and spinbacks all over the place and let you hear a couple of tracks from beginning to end. Still, if you need a ‘Reggae For Washing Up To’ mix, this is perfect.
