Back catalogue: Classics/Ska

Review: The image of a reggae singer "floating around in the sun" is a peculiar one. Are we orbiting the sun, or are we *inside* said seething sphere? Perhaps only the Invaders crew could could keep their cool in such heat. An elusive Jamaican reggae band active from 1967 - and not to be confused with an early avatar of the band Madness - this four-year retrospective compilation spans the bulk of the Invaders' best work between 1970-74, in which time they made some of their most brilliant records, in the estimation of label collaborators DKR. Having managed to license a portion of the band's output for reissue (as well as their other incarnations as Splenders and Stepping Stones), and hearing anecdotes about the band from this or that person, DKR never managed to track them down directly, despite this reissue. Of course, it doesn't help that one of the front cover images really does resemble a composite missing persons sketch! Sleuthing efforts reveal untimely deaths by members, but luckily founding Invader Delroy "Bongo Pat" Forde is still around - and as 'Conquering Lion' intones, "he will return as a conquering lion, and rule...". The record is seemly, tinged with gospel, and seesaws between religious tones ('Holy Mountain') and an instrumental, cartoon charm ('African Safari').