Ooklah The Moc

Reggae played by non-Jamaicans is always a bit of a dicey affair, but Jahwaiian band Ooklah the Moc prove it can be done with class. Breaking with form and embracing dub reggae in the late 1990s, Ooklah the Moc's success -- and indeed very existence -- reflect a growing solidarity between the island cultures of Hawaii and Jamaica. The group formed in 1997, gigging around the islands until they released their debut in 2001. In 2004 they released an impressive follow-up, which, if not utterly stellar, makes for extremely enjoyable listening.