The Abyssinians Essentials

There are classic Jamaican riddims, and then there's “Satta Massagana”. As voiced by The Abyssinians in 1976, it's a towering achievement of roots reggae that continues to pulse in modern dancehall, its message so profound that the song has since become a Rastafarian hymn. But their relaxed, spiritual sound led them to plenty of other moments of inspiration: Check the bubbling guitars of “Forward Unto Zion,” the sweet, lilting vocal harmonies on “Meditation” or the way their airy voices seem to levitate above the sparse bass throbs of “Good Lord Dub”.

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