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. ~ Jo-Ann Greene