FRKWYS Vol. 9 is, as expected, an effort drenched in an irrevocably dub impression. For its conception Stallones and Geddes Gengras relocated to St. Catherines, Jamaica, a southeastern parish of the island forty-odd kilometres outside of Kingston where they 'ate, slept, and smoked' with the revered vocal group. The result is a perfectly collaborative infusion of freeform electronics and tightly harnessed harmonies: from the glitchy rhythmic clutter and welcomingly repetitive drones of Happy Song to the bleary slink of Food Clothing and Shelter, the record feels loose, free and liberating both in effect and impact. The hazy slump of Sunshine could, if awarded the right sort of exposure, dim the acclaim around Peaking Lights whilst the tribal bongos and baritone burbles of Jungle recall much of what made the Studio One Ska compilations quite so memorable. Incidentally, Cedric Myton's warming falsetto sounds simian enough to have been snipped out of Laika Come Home thus accentuating the Albarn comparison, albeit had the Spacemonkeyz rework record rolled down the gentle inclines of an overwhelmingly religious slant. "Get together; get together: and praise alright" for FRKWYS Vol. 9 is laudably estimable. And as the cosmic waft of Thanks and Praise drifts up, up and away into nothing we're left to thank "Jah" for this most holy of matrimonies.
