Ratigan Era - Era

by Maarten Schiethart

published: 29 / 10 / 2024

Label: Hakuna Kulala
Format: LP

intro

Ugandan ragga with a hiphop touch on vinyl debut album by Ratigan Erra

With his inimitable vocal style, Ratigan Era reminds me of Cutty Ranks, He also likes to mock his own posse, and 'Era' proves to be both soliloquy and cabaret with a couple of sidekicks. It oozes the breeze of busy nightlife in a young metropole where old people like me are hard to find. Transcontinental with dubby euro downbeats, it combines Caribbean riddims and American rap. There are no.Asian and Latin influences, but I'm sure those will follow on his next album. Harpsichord samples, brash synthesizer riffs - in Ratigan Era's world any pairing is possible. My understanding of patois left me here and I hope it is irony when you hear words that a certain Donald T. used to the horror of many women. His vocal gymnastics are in full flow on the single culled off the album, 'Gan Dem'. This is followed by the addictive riddim on 'Drop It Down', an outright whirlwind that'll move you to the dance floor instantly. You'll hear small fragments of popular classical music and synthesizer riffs that float smoothly, whereas some riddims appear to be upset by bumpy hiccups. These days most record stores have abolished genre apartheid in the racks and 'Era' album can fit in any specialist department. My prediction? Commercial success.

Track Listing:-

1 Gorilla Attack
2 Top Strike Force
3 Badman Style
4 Four Corners
5 Gan Dem
6 Drop It Down
7 Pussy
8 Cool & Deadly
9 I Feel Alright
10 Bark
11 On My List
12 Stop