CD REVIEW
Zion I
Atomic Clock
Gold Dust
Considering that the roots of hip-hop music go all the way back to the vintage reggae/dub scene of ’60s Jamaica (trust us—look it up), it’s very fitting that Zion I, the Oakland-based rap duo who have never shied away from exploring different genres and styles, has opted to show their love and admiration for the sonic territory mined years ago by the likes of Lee “Scratch” Perry, The Congos and even second-gen dub master Adrian Sherwood. This approach is what gives the group’s latest release, Atomic Clock, such depth and emotion. While producer Amp Live is still the man behind the deft beats, live musicians were also tapped for the new album to convey a more organic vibe to the recording. With MC Zumbi’s deeply introspective rhymes seamlessly dovetailing into the album’s cavernous echoes, soulful keyboards (“4U”), heavy guitars (“Always”) and cameo appearances by Rebelution (the aptly named “Many Styles”), Atomic proves that Zion I is as much concerned about giving respect to the past as it is chasing their musical future. (Matt Tapia)
