Released at the end of a period of heavy touring that brought
Culture
to Europe and the United States,
Wings of a Dove
found the vocal trio of
Joseph Hill
,
Kenneth Dayes
, and
Albert Walker
returning to a roots style. Because of this, many have believed that the recordings may actually pre-date those for the 1991,
dancehall
-flavored
Three Sides to My Story
. Produced by group frontman
Hill
is still informed by the slicker production sensibilities of the 1990s: the soft, glimmering keyboard work of
Clive Hunt
Tony Brisset
Winston Wright
matching the glossy sound of
Dwight Pickney
's (
Zap Pow
) rhythm guitar. The album's success is due largely to the lyrics of
, whose Rastafarian concerns and reality themes are present in the same undiluted form they always had been. A handful of the rhythms are strong enough to elevate the material to the plateau
were still so capable of reaching.
"Marriage in Canaan"
focuses on an exquisite harmony performance, the trio riding a rhythm with a relaxed, nyahbingi feel, while a similarly rich, traditional percussion style drives the excellent
"Pass On."
At least one track,
"Freedom Time,"
harks back to the raw feel of late-'70s roots with an excellent, choppy guitar skank from
Pickney
. Elsewhere, the infectious backing of
"Too Much Pressure"
made it an obvious choice for a single. Album closer
"English Fireplace,"
however, with its hollow synth washes, will no doubt leave a bitter taste in the mouths of
roots
fans. Not an essential
set,
nonetheless contains some powerful music from a group 15 years into its career. ~ Nathan Bush