In Fine Style (DJ Spooky Presents)

iTunes Review

A guided tour through the history of Jamaican music led by the ever adventurous DJ Spooky, In Fine Style functions as a solid introduction to reggae for those who need to expand their horizons beyond the rote trinity of Marley, Tosh, and Burning Spear, and as an archival treasure trove for those looking to add a few long- sought-after rarities. Spooky’s skills as a selector are formidable, and In Fine Style manages to cover a lot of ground for a double-album set, encompassing classic DJ cuts like Big Youth’s “Screaming Target,” ska foundation tunes like Desmond Dekker’s “Shanty Town,” haunting dub like Augustus Pablo’s “Lama Lava,” and soulful covers like Susan Cadogan’s stirring, Lee Perry- produced take on “Fever.” More focused and listenable than Madlib’s similarly themed Blunted in the Bomb Shelter, In Fine Style imparts the listener with a real understanding of reggae’s breathtaking stylistic diversity and irrepressible capacity for musical invention.