From the Top Drawer XXVII - The Rhythmites

Roots reggae/dub, and associated offshoot variations, styles & philosophies had a considerable influence on many bands of the UK underground scene covered on this blog, and even if that influence on the music of those bands was not that obviously evident, the values and consciousness expressed by reggae artists were very likely taken on board. Certainly the experimentation of dub techniques developed in Jamaica in the 1970s have had a huge impact on the way attitudes towards studio production and mixing have evolved since then, particularly in electronic dance music.

Here to fill a gap on the reggae front is a very tight live set from the West Country-based Rhythmites. Formed in the late 1980s and here captured playing at the Sir George Robey at Finsbury Park, London as guests of Club Dog, this is a very decent audience recording of this conscious roots band getting the crowd skanking to the max, the resulting tape being sold through the merchandising outlets of the Woofsters.

No track titles available for this set, but as usual ripped @320kbps and divided into two parts.

- Get it HERE -

Live at the Frome Festival 1997 - not great quality but nice performance.

The Rhythmites are alive and well and playing today. After a break from 2000-2007 they reformed to play a few festivals. In May 2009 they started writing and recorded the album 'Stand Strong' released in May 2010.

Rhythmites website 

Thanks to BJ for the lend of the tape.