Africa Unite
Rootz

Some records seem to be released right on time to mark a specific transition in people's lives. For me, this is true for "Rootz," the new album by Turin's Africa Unite. A record that seems to reset time and start a new life by creating new sensations and thoughts that, on one hand, inevitably refer to the past, while on the other, want to be a new starting point.

A starting point that seems to materialize also in the sounds of "Rootz." "Roots" that take Africa Unite back in time to reclaim the sounds partly betrayed by their previous album "Controlli" (2006), which seemed to lean a bit too much towards dub and electronics, although credit must be given to them for never getting stuck on a sound, but always seeking new inputs and roads to avoid being too repetitive, which is a known risk in a genre like reggae. Now, almost thirty years down the line, Africa Unite reclaim the warmth that the return of the horn section (a welcome back to Mr. T-Bone and Paolo Parpaglione) provides, especially when deciding to return to roots-reggae.

The Africa sound is now recognizable, just as the voices and the thinking minds of the group are. Bunna and Madasky, besides being the composers of almost all thirteen tracks of the work, have always been the iconic duo of the group around whom various musicians have revolved over the years.

"Rootz," on a first listen, certainly harks back to "Mentre fuori piove," an album released in 2003. It is balanced in skilfully mixing songs with strong social and political critique with lighter, funny lyrics and more purely instrumental and dub episodes where Madasky's hand is more present. Preceded by a true NON-single, "Cosa Resta," a spoken-reggae in which the critique of the current political system in Italy is strong, increasingly focused on media control of information systems rather than the real problems afflicting the country. The song seems to be a merciless snapshot of the political events of the last year. The opening with "Così sia" is also a strong critique and a tribute to diversity in all its forms, especially sexual, thus going AGAINST certain very homophobic Jamaican reggae. It is well known that Africa Unite's reggae is quite detached from Jamaican reggae, embracing Anglo-Saxon reggae more, and you can hear it in a track like "Si," very close to the English Steel Pulse.

"Il movimento immobile" is a strong stance against environmental pollution, while "Mr. Time," a classic spoken song by Madasky, focuses on the passage of time and the importance of living in the present and thus our journey through this earth without letting life be diverted by false gods, whatever religion they may belong to. The album also features numerous guests, from Patrick Benifei on backing vocals in all the songs, to the now "Italian star" adopted by Jamaicans, ALBOROSIE in the fun "Reality," Taranto-born singer Mama Marjas in the steady-reggae of "The Lady," Jacopo, singer of Pordenone's Mellow Mood in the love song "Sensi," and Franziska in "Here and Now."

From the height of their thirty-year career, Africa Unite reaffirm themselves as the true and only flag bearers of reggae made in Italy, not inclined to abdicate from the throne that rightfully belongs to them. On the contrary, they consolidate everything with one of their best albums ever, which will surely please both new and old fans, also contributing to a continuous generational shift in audience, which only confirms the honesty and professionalism of a band that has always worked and played far from the big spotlight, and yet has managed to create a loyal and passionate following.