Search - Sly & Robbie :: Language Barrier

A little nugget of mayhem

R. Kopald | Oregon | 04/29/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album first came out in 1985, with practically no stateside recognition. Which is a shame, because this is right up there with Herbie Hancock's "Future Shock" for originality.

Think high octane Drum n Bass with flushing toilets and keyboards thrown in for good measure. The album is an onslaught of aural alarms and craziness. Yet, holding it down like a rock are the inimitable Sly and Robbie. This is a great record. Very urban sounding and almost threatening, in a weird way. Plus, any album that has Bob Dylan on it is at least worth one listen!

Not to mention Bill Laswell, Wally Badarou, Herbie Hancock, et. al. If you like disjointed yet somehow plausible insanity, this is one to have. One of those recordings that hits the spot when nothing else will. Highest marks for this quirky and very original work from two superstars of Jamaican music, and yet another example of how these two were forgetting stuff most other musicians will never have the chops to even approach."