The Age Of Reggae – Twinkle Music

Set for 1984, The Age Of Reggae lands in that Twinkle Music pocket where roots reggae still has bite, but the arrangements are tuned for the dance. The set moves between character-led cuts and heavier message tunes: Cookey Monster’s “Space Age Nigger” has that cheeky, sci-fi edge, Elaine Taylor eases into “Have A Good Time, ” and Jah Morris pushes “Black Man Kingdom” with a more serious tone. Phillip Parkinson gets two turns, while the Twinkle Brothers close in strong form with three selections that keep the whole record anchored in their deep, dubby roots style. Norman Grant produced the album, which fits the label’s own militant, harmony-rich approach, and the final stretch is where the project really locks in, especially on “Can’t Change Again” and the steely, self-possessed “I’m No Robot. ”