The Congos

• Genre: Roots Reggae

About

The tag team combination of Cedric Myton's sweet, smooth falsetto and Roydel 'Ashanti' Johnson's powerful tenor have made the Congos a shining example of how good Jamaican vocals can be. The Heart of the Congos is simply one of the best reggae albums ever made, and possibly the best that Lee 'Scratch' Perry ever produced. Calming harmonies from a crowd of accomplished backing singers and a percussively dense bed of fluctuating roots rhythms are nearly enough on their own, before the slow, heart wrenching vocals of Myton and Johnson hypnotize with biblical tales and Rastafarian chants. Support by greats Sly Dunbar, Ernest Ranglin and Gregory Isaacs never hurts, especially when twisted in an erratic, Perry-produced session. Different combinations of the Congos continue to record and perform, recalling the glory of their '70s success.

- Jessy Terry