Azizzi Romeo – Survival – Review
Azizzi Romeo Survival Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com.
Roots royalty has entered the Pauzeradio vinyl shop as a 7″ vinyl once again, in the form Of Azizzi Romeo – yes, Max Romeo’s son. As we previously said, that’s quite a legacy for ‘Romeo the Younger’ to live up to – and on his last release he did. So, is it the same this time round? Yes, absolutely.
Survival, released via Two Flames Records, is an inspiring and sumptuous affair that’s both respectful to the history of Roots while also incorporating more progressive musical elements into it.
The title track features the Two Flames Syndicate. Produced and mixed by Ireneu Grosset, it’s a highly dramatic, slick, and engaging affair – which while having its basis in Roots extends much further than that at points.
The essential elements of the composition are Roots’ staples. Keys run a bubble rhythm, while the bass performs a drop-beat riff that’s low down its register and across a melody as opposed to arpeggio (broken) chords (the staple in the pre-Rocksteady era). Drums avoid a standard one drop – instead the kick strikes the down beats, snares concentrate on the ups, and hi hats tinker in between, while a heavily engineering guitar provides a skank.
However, it’s the additional elements that really shine. The influence of Rock/Soul is pronounced – not least in the grandiose opening where an electric guitar screeches a piercing solo riff while an electric organ juts in with inflections. There’s the feel of 80s Synthwave throughout as well – from the use of synth horns that run a rapid-fire rhythm throughout to the pattering drum pads and samples like backspin. All this is complemented by a straighter horn section that evokes more traditional Roots with its call and response setting alongside some well-arranged harmonies.
Dub is clearly present, too – as the second verse feels like a break, where the instrumentation has been stripped back and additional reverb employed across it.
Overall, Survival is a highly well-arranged piece of music that shows variation in styles while still feeling overly Roots. Then, Romeo’s vocal builds on this.
He is masterful in terms of his singjay on the verses. Taking a basic rhythmic stanza, he then embellishes it at a rapid pace of syllables per second – far higher than many artists could achieve – while still maintaining good enunciation. He’s constructed a pleasing melody to go on top of this – but on the choruses, he wheels it back to something of a straighter, slower vocal, which is more strung out and has a catchy tune to boot. Lyrically, his take down of Babylon’s toxic system is engaging – and overall, Romeo shows his prowess across the track.
Side B of the vinyl consists of a Dub version of Survival – which, at the opening, at first seems distinctly similar but then settles into a classic reworking, as Romeo’s vocal is stripped back, Dub engineering like reverb and decay comes in, and the arrangement has been purposefully arranged to give more emphasis to some of the backing lines – like the skanking guitar and synths.
Overall, Survival is a strong and stirring piece of work, not only showcasing Grosset’s skills but also Romeo’s – which, when combined, have delivered in droves.
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Azizzi Romeo Survival Review by Mr Topple / Pauzeradio PR Services.
