Released by Gold Dust / Live Up Records
One has to tip their hat to Zion I’s
Amp Live for his fearless experimentation and the enthusiasm with which he approaches new genres. On Atomic Clock, Amp fuses conscious indie rap aesthetics with the world of dub and in doing so concocts Zion I’s strongest outing since True & Livin. The use of live instrumentation creates an organic core from which the 13 tracks sprout. And while the production on the new record is solid enough to justify releasing an instrumental version, Zumbi melds effortlessly with the beats as uplifting manifestos seem to spill from his pores. The positive vibes of Atomic Clock take the listener back to the days of the Native Tongues and contain a warm essence we can all relate to on our best days and would like to relate to on our worst.
While many have played the reggae-rap game and fallen flat on their face, Zumbi makes it feel like a natural extension of his flow that the beats at hand just so happened to bring out of him. Adopting a Jamaican patois is a risky endeavor that leads many careening down the path of suck paved by the likes of
Snow. Thankfully Zumbi was wise enough to keep this vocal stylee subtle throughout Atomic Clock. The only cracks in the polished veneer of the record come via a couple stale choruses such as “The Sealing” and “4U.” All told it’s a minor glitch on a brilliantly-produced, introspective and soulful album.
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