Some of you may not even know who this local legend is. He is arguably Bermuda's greatest ever dance hall deejay.

He is the man who put `Pirate Population' onto New York's top ten reggae chart back in the late eighties. He is the man who produced, arranged and designed Bermuda's first ever all local dance hall album (Our Time Now Volume One featuring Troyan, Little Corvan, Daddy Runksie, Super Sean and Junior C) back in 1989.

He is the man who made Dub City International (records and sound system) a household name on "the rock''.

And he is the man who recently released a maxi-single that is tearing up radio station play lists throughout Europe and Central Africa (where it has reached top five status).

This project is called `Reggae Ambassador' and it is brilliant ya'll! It is just a five-song disc, and two of the songs are mixes of the title track, but the quality of these recordings will make reggae lovers worldwide salivate in anticipation of a full length LP from the Vibe Tribe crew (no doubt!).

Now the first song is the original mix of the title track and the bass is kinda thick on this one (just the way we like it!). It is so thick in fact, that a reviewer from Blackhole.com had the gall to say that the rhythm drowns out Runksie's lyrics.

I beg to differ...see this is just a bass fiend's dream (that is all) and most Reggae fans are bass fiends by nature. Besides, I can hear the lyrics just fine... my favourite is the one where he says "me are no Beenie/Bounty Killa neither Ninja Kid/a ragamuffin deejay from down a Flatts Bridge...'' That means that he is from the Flatts Bridge area for those who cannot interpret deejay-speak. This song is tight! The second piece is a conscious anthem by Clinarke and featuring Runksie.

Actually the three songs that are not `Reggae Ambassador' are all Clinarke songs for some reason. Not that the songs are not good (they are), but we want to hear more Runksie don't we people? And we thought this was his album when we saw it on the shelf...oh well.

`One Love, One Heart, One Destiny' is an excellent tune which features poignant lyrics by Clinarke supported by Runksie's always on time flow.

The rhythms are expertly handled throughout by the Jahstice Reggae Movement and the arrangements are crisp, clean and always impressive. Track two should be a hit for a long, long time.

Clinarke and Runksie prove that they make a very potent duo on track three, when they tackle the pain involved in leaving love behind with the beautiful `Can't Let Go'. Clinarke's voice pleads for understanding on this one, while Runksie emphasises the hurt with lines like "me love you ten times more than since we first met/on my mind time after time/I'm have been wondering why you left...'' Yeah, we feel you fellas. This is a tuff tune people. Please check it out.

Track four is an up-beat conscious tune that is quite reminiscent of something the great Garnett Silk once did. But this is an original recording written by Clinarke Dill and backed by the Jahstice band. It is called `Give Thanks & Praises' and that is what it is about. This one is an old-fashioned "praise Jah'' reggae song and it is a solid piece of work too. And the vibes do not stop.

This brings us back to the title song again (the "Bass Bridge Mix'' this time though)... HOT! Check those scorching horns and the snare loop (it gets you every time -- trust me).

The bass is deep and rhythmic as ever and this mix immediately goes onto my list of the five greatest dance hall tunes ever produced in Bermuda...full stop! This is an entirely locally produced project. All songs are written by Clinarke Dill and Philando Hill Jr (Runksie) respectively and all rhythms are played by the Jahstice Reggae Movement.

The harmonies are handled by Dwight Jones, Stanford Jackson and Andrew Packwood throughout and even the photos are taken by Arthur Bean.

This project is impressive to say the least and the only possible complaint I can come up with is that it is too short! I do hope the Vibe Tribe crew has something in its vaults for the upcoming year, cuz we fittin' ta celebrate Bermudian art on an international level this year. See, if you ain't heard...it is our time NOW! Check this disc out people. It is only $12 and it is available at record stores throughout the island, or you can check Runksie at vibetribe(at)northrock.bm. Pick it up! ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINERS ENT MUSIC REVIEW REV