Israel Vibration - Why You so Craven (2023)

After two exceptional albums cut for producer Tommy Cowan, Israel Vibration now linked with Junjo Lawes for the band's third set. It initially seemed an astute move. The roots age was coming to a close, the action moving back to the dancehalls. And up and coming producer Lawes certainly knew this scene, launching such superstar DJs as Eek-A-Mouse, Yellowman, and Barrington Levy straight into the charts, while also doing excellent work with such noted vocalists as John Holt and the Wailing Souls. In theory, Lawes seemed a perfect match for the Vibes, as his productions were built on hefty roots rhythms, expertly delivered by bassist Flabba Holt's Hi Times band. Thus Why You So Craven sounds spectacular -- the booming beats slowly stomp along like a two-tone metronome and the rest of the band balances the sound with breezy flashes of melody, while Holt's bass thrumps along. No wonder Lawes was the legend of the dancehalls. And yet...and yet...somehow amidst all these marvels, the producer manages to showcase the Vibes in the worst possible light, inadvertently spotlighting their weaknesses instead of playing to their many strengths. It soon becomes evident that the Vibes are floundering, and only on "Universal Father" and "Highway Robbery" do they reach their previous heights. The trio members knew they were in trouble, and walked out of the sessions in frustration. Lawes then brought in the Tamlins to fill in the gaps, which they do with great finesse. In the end, though, one is left ruing that they didn't cut their own album for the producer. As for the Vibes -- well, they tried their best, but really it was a lost cause, and while Craven certainly has its moments, it ranks lowest among their entire canon.

Review by Jo-Ann Greene