Listen Carefully: A Review of Timeless by Jahmel

While it is well my believe that the word ‘respect’ is far overused in the world and especially in Jamaica, such a thing as actual RESPECT and by extension ratings can be a very difficult thing to come by in the business of Reggae music. We have such an overabundance of Reggae artists, musicians and producers that a great deal of them, some of whom are actually successful (monetarily speaking) can definitely be lost in the shuffle due to a clogging of the system, often times by artists not as talented or skillful as themselves. On the producer side, I would point to someone right now such as Cordell ‘Skatta’ Burrell who has gone from one of the leading lights as a producer of both Dancehall and straight roots Reggae music, to being somewhat forgotten in the Don Corleone .vs. Big Ship battle, despite UNARGUABLY being just as talented as either outfit and with others such as Daseca, Mario C, Ward 21 and others (biggup Seanizzle) virtually LOCKING the Dancehall every time they drop a new riddim, Scatta, despite being a favourite of so many managers and artists alike (AND IS STILL SCORING HITS) is often forgotten in that same discussion, despite the fact that he uses many of the same artists. In terms of artists, that scale of the underrated drips SO far down however, even when considering these modern times. Currently, even though I think that the trend is changing, it is my belief that THE most underrated Reggae artist in the game today is Assassin. Having replaced (or ‘unseated’) the previous top ranking Baby Cham who finally burst through a couple of years back with his Ghetto Story, Assassin, now at least amongst the hardcore Dancehall heads is a favourite, but an artist of his stature, at least to my well partial opinions these days, deserves even more. I feel that there is a decidedly obvious line, in terms of popularity, drawn between he and some of his peers like Mavado, Busy Signal and, of course, Vybz Kartel, that will be put to its biggest test either this year or 2010 when he releases his next album. Will that release or will it not receive the levels of attention from VP Records (the same label that runs Mavado and Busy) as the others or will it, just as the previous two, Infiltration and Gully Sit’n, somewhat come and go, despite being LARGE pieces of brilliance of the most part. There are also the likes of Tyrical, Round Head (not these days) and historically Tanya Stephens in the Dancehall who I don’t feel get their just due. In the roots arena, things are even more crowded amongst the underrated with lines and lines of artist virtually unknown but WELL SKILLED. Mark Wonder, Prince Theo, Elijah Prophet, and at the top of the line is Junior Kelly all of whom may never reach the superstar levels which their respective talents so clearly deserve.

Sometimes being underrated can be a process as well. In this case, especially given the set of circumstances by which we may know an artist (I.e. coming to fruition in one of the most successful record labels in the business) its just downright ODD. Check it. Don’t you find it find it unusual that one of the most successful Reggae labels in the entire world, Penthouse Studios, has produced/bust/established the names of three ULTRA skilled roots Reggae singers, Jahmali, Ras Shiloh and, most importantly today, Jahmel and all of them are DEFINITELY underrated. This despite the fact that many of the other artists, not roots singers, like Buju Banton and Wayne Wonder, haven’t had the same problems. ALSO, the label bust producers Stephen ‘Lenky’ Marsden and the incomparable Dave Kelly both of whom have gone on to outstanding careers, still well in motion. Isn’t that so strange? While some may argue that the entire genre of roots Reggae, in terms of singers, is underrated, but one would think that at least one of them, given the set of very FORTUNATE circumstances in which they developed with Penthouse, would have taken that next step and remained there CONSISTENTLY for a vast period of time. Of the three, Jahmel is without a doubt the least well known given the fact that Jahmali once scored with El Shaddai, one of the most well respected modern roots albums and the slightly younger Ras Shiloh is still well in his prime, churning out some of the best roots gems of tunes (and albums definitely), albeit very very quietly. Jahmel, unlike Jahmali (and Ras Shiloh at times) has remained at least somewhat active over the past few years, although Jahmali is supposedly pushing a project out in 2009 as well, and consistent. If you have been paying attention to the singer over the past few years, then you probably noticed that in 2006 he dropped the EXCELLENT Now & Then album and now the Kingston native returns with his new album, the very nice follow-up, Timeless. Despite the fact that if you know the name Jahmel you probably learned it through his work at Penthouse, the singer was actually discovered and largely developed in the States with one Roydale ‘Andy’ Anderson who you’ll NEVER hear anything about besides the fact that he works with Jahmel. Fortunately for Andy (and Jahmel) (and anyone who buys this album) (like me) their’s is a combination which continues to work and work thoroughly. This is an album that I didn’t hear much about, save for a story or two near the end of 2008, but one which I was DEFINITELY looking forward to hearing as, although he may not be amongst my favourite singers (nor is Jahmali for that matter although Ras Shiloh is) the SKILL which Jahmel possesses is rather easily in the same class of far more well known artists such as Luciano, Everton Blender, Bushman and the likes, although, as I said, his name doesn’t exactly resonate in the same circles as those more popular artists. Timeless proves that, while it may not be TIMELESS as the title indicates (but then again, it just might be), Jahmali remains one of the genre’s most gifted and so unfortunately overlooked artists and ANYONE who tracks it down will almost certainly be rating the singer even higher.

By my count, Timeless becomes Jahmel’s fourth album to date, following his debut Watchful Eyes (a loooong time ago) his self titled piece for Penthouse in 2004 and the aforementioned Now & Then of 2006. The vibes on the album are largely old school type of Dancehall, mixed with HEAVY roots as is Mel’s typical style. Getting things started on Jahmel’s new album Timeless, after a very familiar ‘Introlude’, is the SYRUPY SWEET Jamdown What’s Up. This tune comes across a relicking of the Sitting & Watching riddim and is just a nice vibes which finds the singer hoping for a brighter outlook in and about his homeland and is something definitely all Jamaicans and people in general can relate to. Big vibes getting things moving. As Jamdown What’s Up gets things started in the aforementioned old school direction, Real Dance Hall even further continues that vibes and even though I rate the opener just a bit more, this tune is quite nice as well. You’ll recognize the riddim as the very popular Three Blind Mice. The concept of ‘real’ Dancehall in Jahmel’s opinion (and mine alike) is far away from the current war zone/porn audition stage which it has currently become and he longs for a return to the day of yesteryear when it was simply about going to the Dancehall and finding a nice piece of something to wine up against. Indeed, that’s a fine thought and the tune is a nice vibes as well and one on which, during the latter stages at least, Jahmel gets to show off the vocals just a bit more. Concluding the opening of Timeless is a tune which is one of the finest on the album and definitely the best of the first bunch, the WICKED Little Herb. This tune is actually an older Penthouse peace, across the Answer riddim (aka the Never Let Go from the Studio One days) which I have loved for quite a well and consider to be amongst the very best of his catalogue altogether. Definitely one of the real highlights on Timeless and the sticking point of a very nice beginning.

As I said the vibes here really go between old school Dancehall and modern roots, and while the old school pieces outnumber roots tunes greatly, to my opinion it is on three roots tracks where Jahmel mines ABSOLUTE GOLD on the album’s finest. The best tune I found on Timeless altogether is the MASSIVE nyah drum backed Wanty Wanty. The tune also WELL shows off Jahmel’s (also underrated) lyrical ability as he just so easily melds his delivery around the drum, which is a lot easier than it sounds, trust me, I know. The tune just really struck a chord with me and with most modern roots heads I’m sure it’ll do the same, definitely. LOVELY vibes. Then is We R 1 which is nearly just as good and sounds VERY ‘Marley-ish’. the unity vibes literally SPRAY in with the tune and if you want to call it Timeless’ single best tune, you‘ll get no argument here. And staying on that same note, check the closer Africa Awaits (over the same Penthouse refashioning of Niney’s Some Like It Hot riddim which backed the WICKED Youths Well Cold tune from Assassin alongside Freddie McGregor) which I can literally listen to all day long, definitely. Is a very prideful track should you be a person of Afrikan descent (and I am) and all cultural roots fans will love it. Getting back to the Dancehall, I have to say that the one tune here which caught my eyes first, on paper, was Landlard. While certainly not in anyway my favourite tune here (its not very good at all actually, although Jahmel’s voice sounds very good) but I remember it from a few years ago over Steely & Clevie’s BIG Sleepy Dog riddim (Assassin’s As A Man). It is better than when I first remember hearing it, but still not a highlight here. The same cannot be said for the SWEET tune Secret Admirer. To my ears Jahmel invokes the spirit of Tyrone Taylor, sounding like something EXACTLY from the catalogue from the man in the ‘cottage in Negril’. And I also think it may be a remake but I KNOW the tune Love Ballad is a remake of the very popular R&B tune of the same name (Jeffret Osbourne original I believe) which was always a classic and although I’ve pretty much lost my tastes for R&B it is still a nice touch for Timeless’ vibes when you consider where the balance of the album ends up going. I’d also probably put Loving You Is Easy on that level as well, although on the lower scale. This one would be SO MUCH better were you to just happen to catch Jahmel singing it in a small club somewhere but, on form, its still solid. Going back a bit I should mention both Money Gone and R U Xperienced. Money Gone (smartly) follows Lanlard and is an improvement on that tune and it features a mystery man DJ alongside (he has an old school type of pacing but I can’t figure out who it is, frustratingly) and it’s a nice touch, I actually think Timeless might’ve done well with even more combinations. And Jahmel goes Jimmy Hendrix on the funky R U Xperienced. This tune is currently growing on me GREATLY and if I delayed this review about a day or two, it may prove to be one of my favourites on the album altogether. However, as it stands, it’s still a very well done piece, definitely check it out. Winding things down we get the VERY NICE tune Life which is downright dazzling at times. The tune is straight out of the 1970’s Reggae vocal groups dominating era (where Jahmel would have SHINED) and is easily one of the best tunes on the album. And I’d say the same for Get Ready which, like Life, is an old school vibed roots tune and is one of the best WRITTEN tracks on the album to my ears. I love the vibes in that one and REALLY it pushes the vibes even higher to set things up for Africa Awaits which finishes things off nicely.

Overall, I can write whatever I want but until the masses wake up and REALLY take a listen to Jahmel’s vibes, its likely that album such as Timeless will go down as ultimately unnoticed and unappreciated which is very UNfortunate. Timeless, like all of Jahmel’s and most of his tunes, go to show a level of skill and talents which are so near the highest rung in Reggae music that it becomes somewhat confusing as to why he hasn’t has more success than he actually has to date. Of course, in Reggae business, you LIVE on big hits and while that MASSIVE hit has alluded him, he has been solid throughout his career and the latest step in Jahmel’s career, Timeless, is no different. This one is recommended to modern roots fans and old school Dancehall and roots fans alike. While most in the Reggae listening community will FUCK UP and continue to ignore the great talent that is Jahmel, it doesn’t mean you have to make the same mistake. Big vibes throughout.

Rated 4/5stars
Andy's
2008