Assagai Vinyl & CDs

Review: Described by SOTU as a slice of "obscure 70s one away roots", this rare 7" reissue of Glendon Taylor's 'Vanity/Social Version' is an impressive musing on vaingloriousness and vice from a nearly unknown artist. It's nearly impossible to find any good info on who Glendon Taylor was, nor is it easy to apprehend the history of his original label Assagai Recording co., so we'll have to go by our ears here: 'Vanity' is a parping, glissando-laden lollop through ratchety, janky roots reggae, with Taylor lamenting the hollow promises of one Mr. Brown, who says he will help the singer but does not. The weightier 'Social Version' functions as the instrumental, and is impressive in its use of echoed fills.