Track Listing:

1. Hard Wuk
2. Leroy & Roy
3. Stand Up
4. Do Something
5. Ode To Skiffle Bunch
6. Who Will
7. Leroy & Roy - Instrumental
8. Hard Wuk - Instrumental

Black Stalin
Hard Wuk

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Review

Hard Wuk is good work as is to be expected from Stalin with Pelham Goddard and Roy Cape. Expectations are exceeded on Leroy & Roy - both versions, Stand Up and Do Something, the latter, better for its thoughtful advice on improving some aspects of the T&T carnival. The "pan" tune has a nice beat, and on the surface, is a fitting acknowledgment of the Skiffle Bunch triumph.

Ode To Skiffle Bunch is intended as a tribute to the 2000 World Steelband Music Festival winners. But it is an appreciation of pan that does not really recognize pan, in the land of pan, the lyrics notwithstanding. One's expectations are unmet when the "pan" riffs are played on a synthesizer; an unnecessary imitation.

Let's consider that Pelham Goddard is the arranger of the CD's music, and that he is Pelham Goddard of steel band renown, the absence of authentic pan is a real disappointment. It is even more so when one takes into account that there are scores of competent pannists available for a studio gig. Several would have felt it a privilege to be recording with these two men.

Many a pannist would have been at the beck and call in the vicinity of the recording studio in Trinidad. A nominal fee would have been accepted, and for some pannists, probably declined, given the opportunity to bring pan authenticity to the recording. Kitch showed the way in using real pan in his recordings and that element would have made Hard Wuk a superior recording.

My recommendation: Buy it, Hard Wuk brings musical joy and Roy and Leroy are authentic voices. [eCaroh/Ron]