Tuesday 10 February 2009

Film: Babylon 1981


Based in London in the early 80`s, it tells the story of "Blue" played by Aswad founding member Brindsley Forde. Directed by Franco Rosso, Blue is the main man who fronts a reggae sound system based in west London. The movie captures the trials and tribulations of young black youths in troubled London in those days...With the installation of the "Milk Snatcher" at 10 Downing Street, causing fits of gloom around the country, with punk rock starting to make a noisy exit from the music scene to be succeeded by the mod and ska revival of the 2 tone and the contining sounds of disco..


Download Veoh to see the full length

Along comes Babylon, a potent mix of music and social commentary and an instant classic, akin to that other legendary reggae music film, "The Harder They Come" Starring the legendary Jimmy Cliff.
Associated producer and screenwriter Martin Stellman (Quadrophenia 1979) crafted a superb, truthful film that stands the test of time, more than twenty five years later.
The final scene, in which police raid the dancehall while Blue and the sound system defiantly plays on, is both frightening and euphoric!!



Aswad - dub fire (mp3 download)
King Tubby - take 5 dub (mp3 download)

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