Groundation
Time To Unite/ Rebel
Groundation were a key part of what, with hindsight, was a very special period when homegrown UK bands closed the gap with their Jamaican counterparts, reaching parity in songwriting and musicianship with an added British twist. In addition to reissuing the band's only release ("Juggernaut / Fa Ward"), we've taken the opportunity to go through their tape archive and make more of their music available. This time it's another double A-sided release, but on the reggae favourite format of a 10" single. "Time To Unite" and "Rebel" were recorded during the same session more than four decades ago, but the tape had sat in the vaults until we retrieved it. "Times To Unite" is a previously unheard roots vocal from the band's peak years. Just under six minutes long, it calls for unity in "Babylon" whilst name-checking some of Jamaica's national heroes. We previously included "Rebel" on "The Midlands Roots Explosion Volume Two"; now it gets the single release that it's always deserved. With a slow, sparse build-up, the vocals use military imagery to reinforce the song's call to stand up and fight for what is right.