Roots Archives Forum

does anyone know these bands french i think around early 80's groups are called

apartheid not and gunsmoke and if anyone knows which albums were there best ones

I found Apartheid not last time in a shop but did not buy it, I don't really like the vibe, a bit strange. Gunsmoke is better in my opinion but nothing to see with UK or JA bands. If you're in Paris, check out "Chez Yuri" in the 2 arrondissement, he used to have both not expansive.
I personnaly never heard a good french roots band from this early period. At least there was an excellent french musician from the late 70' : philippe Quilichini, don't how how he get there, but he's the man on the bass on the amazing Congos' album "Congo Ashanti".

i have the 2 albums of gunsmoke & also Apartheid not "single rescue" .
it is nice reggae music for apartheid not & Strong reggae music for gunsmoke for this band all songs are in English & it looks like strong UK style with songs like "Move" "under the gun" "salvation" or the heavy roots killer "stop that game "pt1 & pt 2 they IMO nothing to envy to UK based bands ...it is Underground roots very powerful believe me

I have one song of Gunsmoke and it kill.

hey collieman down to do a trade pm if you intrested

hi colieman
sorry to catch up late with this frech reggae thread.i came across this lp of gunsmoke you are talking about some years ago"move""it's a cold night"by arlequin,bruno alpha gueye and co."move"is my favourite.
besides i would like to know whether you have the 3 serge gainsbourg lp with "word sound and power"the firs one"aux armes etc...""mauvaises nouvelles des etoiles""live au palace"you seem to be very knowledgeable about french reggae.
fadel

if you want to listen to this Heavy tune of Gunsmoke:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/mjub6c

& if you want to see a review of the album with lead vocal & guitarist comments it s here:
http://www.reggae-vibes.fr/viewtopic.php?p=50559#50559

Just tell me how you feel this tune !!!Called "Move"

hi collieman
i used to have it on ana udio tape along with"it"s a cold night".actually the singer in this track(which is so far my favourite)was sung by the keyboardist who is called bruno alpha gueye and whose father must be from senegal,judjing by the last name.indeed,the mixing was heavy and it seems to me that one of the singers and guitarists,somebody by the name harlequin,has made his way into production,if iam not mistaken
on a different note iam also looking for an lp of one bro.yakhya called"no false prophet" released on a less label called zam zam does such a name sound a bell in you?.i think the lp came aroun 1983 anyway in the early 80's
fadel

This song confirms my first vibe about their music.. For me, there is no possible comparison with the UK sounds. Listen to some good Matumbi or Black Slate or Black roots or else and then put this tune from Gunsmoke, I think it would sound quite flat. I also like to discover roots from the golden era that was made in other countries than JA or UK and I enjoy for instance the roots from Africa of the late 70' and early 80, but I never heard a french band from this period that had a real sound and word to spread, including Gunsmoke and others. Of course this is my opinion, and I'm glad roots lovers appreciate those bands, particularly as I'm French myself... but I personnaly don't have a true interest in this music.
Respect,

sure Benj it hard to compare with Bands like Matumbi or black roots or blackslate , but flat i think it s hard to say for this great tune.

For me in roots music from france it s the heaviest band & album you can find .& i respect your opinion .
Any other opinion on tis tune from US UK or Eur or Afr roots lovers?