I was once told by someone in rebuff to something someone else had said, as I found myself a sudden and unwilling moderator of a debate, that “the real home for Reggae music is not in Jamaica but instead is wherever there are people who have ears to listen to it”. Now this is, of course, profound material and as someone who quite loves to overanalyze things, it is a VAST reservoir of possible discussion points but with the current expansion of Reggae music (still on course to take over the entire world by 2030) such a statement definitely becomes more powerful and takes on a nicely tangible scope. When Reggae does eventually grow over the entire world, given the current state of things, it may very well start in Europe and maybe even The United States, however, one need not take it entirely literally so as to forget the Caribbean where the solid foundation was laid. And not only the ’Caribbean’ in full but certain places currently being overlooked. With Trinidad, Guyana, the French West Indies and ESPECIALLY the Virgin Islands becoming hotspots for the music outside of Jamaica, its often rather easy to look at those places for the next up and coming potential superstars. And while those places are TEEMING with new names and older names we may not have heard from on any real levels just yet, there are other islands as well who have names of big substance that often go overlooked. Names like Mykal Somer from out of St. Kitts, the SPARKLING Ossie Dellimore of St. Vincy and Harry Mo from Dominica make up some of my lesser known favourites currently from some of the seemingly forgotten islands who definitely are beginning to build their statuses in terms of making Reggae music and this, despite the fact that many of them (ESPECIALLY St. Vincy) have other musical interests which dominate more so, namely Soca in the English speaking places. But that’s just the start. One of the most popular and well regarded Roots Reggae artists in the entire world, Nasio, is also one of these artists and, in retrospect, its quite odd that he didn’t open the floodgates of attention (not artists, mission accomplished on that front Nasio) more than he has as the level of attention he tends to generate is downright amazing at times. The Dominica born superstar also migrated to my beloved St. Maarten where he actually honed his musical skills and where he is also very popular (and don’t even get me started on people like Rosan Maccow and AMBASSADOR JUNIOR LION). And of course there are literally countless others from all over the place (like Bermuda) who don’t even register with most hardcore Reggae heads as the goings are seemingly just a bit slow where they are from.
So what do they do? They move! As I mentioned, the greatness destined Nasio Fontaine even had to leave his native Dominica to begin his journey in Reggae music as did two of his famed neighbours, the aforementioned Harry Mo and, of course, NiyoRah, both of whom headed to the Virgin Islands (St. Croix and St. Thomas, respectively). Dellimore also headed abroad, settling in New York to further his career and so many others, even some you’ve probably heard more of (like Midnite and Batch and Ras Attitude), all have had to go overseas either to actually LIVE or to get things going for themselves musically. New York would also be a stopping ground for the artist in question here, Mr. Jahmings Maccow who apparently spent quite a few of his younger years there after having been birthed on Anguilla and island which DEFINITELY hasn’t really distinguished itself in terms of Reggae music, yet as is the case with literally EVERY locale in the Caribbean to some degree, there are at least one or two artists who have made their name and represented on the Reggae scene. In the case of Anguilla, unless I’m missing someone, the only prominent artist I can think of (outside of Maccow) would be the pioneering VETERAN (he has been around literally FOREVER) Bankie Banx, who is quietly probably one of the better known artists in all of the world actually and has, in recent years, turned promoter, bringing some of the finest talents in Reggae from all over the globe to Anguilla. So, if you thought Reggae in Anguilla began and ended with Bankie Banx, perhaps you were wrong as Jahmings Maccow also represents ‘Tranquility Wrapped In Blue”. Unlike Banx, whose style is VERY accessible and some even know him as something other than a Reggae artist (Jazz, R&B and Pop), Jahmings Maccow is unabashedly PURE Roots Reggae. It is very much in the same style of the stereotypical Virgin Islands Reggae sound and its not too much of a surprise at all due greatly to the fact that the final stop in Maccow’s Reggae journey (as of right now) is California where he is supposedly very popular alongside the many artists who head to the state from all over the world. Should you be looking for a current example of exactly why Jahmings Maccow is so popular then definitely give an eye and two ears to his latest creation, Man Redemption from his very own Letmegoo imprint. Man Redemption isn’t Maccow’s first album by my research, however it does appear to be his very first on his own account as previous efforts (New Day and Shanty Town Rock, which was an EP) both featured the chanter alongside his bands at the time (and the band featured on the New Day album, E-Rif is apparently still with him). Thus, based on circumstances alone were one looking to line up the most personal and introspective account of Jahmings Maccow as an artist, you would probably draw for Man Redemption. I myself haven’t had too much experience with Maccow but the name has been around quite awhile and when I saw the album was released, although I didn’t know a great deal about him, the name was definitely familiar. Man Redemption proves to be quite the MOVING album as it features some SERIOUSLY deep vibes with the emphasis seemingly built upon the spiritual aspect of the music and that comes across SO nicely throughout the album. Maccow also (figuratively) draws comparisons between himself and some very popular and prominent company through his music on the album, which is a very good thing in this case.
Apparently Man Redemption was re-released in 2009 as I believe it originally popped up on our radars last year sometime but I didn’t pay it a great deal of a critical attention but definitely found some things, here and there which I enjoyed. I will say that even before the music also, Jahmings style is BRUTALLY simple which is a good thing also, his vocal style actually reminds me a bit of Ziggy Marley. Well it is Jahmings Maccow an album Ziggy’s famed father would well be proud of the title track which is clearly one of the strongest tunes on the album. Speaking of Reggae’s first family, the title track here has a baseline reminiscent of Bob’s LEGENDARY Natural Mystic and Maccow well does it justice. The tune is very well written also as what it does is, instead of naming “man” (presumably, on paper, Maccow himself) it speaks of MAN as a whole, as in mankind and by extension expands wonderfully on the fact that we all are seeking redemption on some level. Big opening with a SWEET vibes! Up next is another sweetly vibed tune, Let Dem Grow. I would have figured the tune was one for the children but really it caught a hold of me as well (and I’m a grown ass man). It relays a very interesting story about taking to heart the words of His Majesty and it reaches you on so many levels! Another nice tune. On Set Me Free which closes the beginning of the album, we get introduced to a concept I hadn’t noticed missing on the previous two tunes, BACKUP SINGERS! Besides them (they do a good job) the tune is decent although not as strong as the previous two in my opinion. What I do love on Set Me Free, however, is the fact that WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHATSOEVER, the lyrics stop and it just breaks into a nice musical vibe which goes on for quite awhile right in the middle of the tune. Very impressive vibes and definitely elevated the tune in my opinion (and the final verse doesn’t hurt the quality either). A Nice opening and considering that they’re only twelve tunes here, a quarter of the album, very solid.
Jahmings has CLEARLY been inspired by Bob Marley (DUH!) so it reflects itself in his music (I even think its in his vocal approach as well) and I think the King would have been well proud with a great deal of this material. The tune which probably would have made Nesta the proudest (which his my cool way of saying the album’s best tune) is DEFINITELY the MIGHTY song Dread. I was listening for something to REALLY jump out and basically explode and that’s not Maccow’s style AT ALL but what he does is build a vibes instead. There isn’t a vibe on Man Redemption which builds like Dread which sounds like two or three tunes wrapped into one by its end! BIG BIG song and the best you’ll hear on the album. Another nice one which probably explodes immediately as big as any other after Dread is the simply EXCELLENTLY executed How Ya Gwaan Crucify which speaks of the consistent ILLS performed by the hands of corrupt society. And it does so in a way which is so familiar sounding (again, maybe a Marley thing) as Maccow simply declares “Babylon, Babylonian, I said your time is done!”, in the strongest stretch on the track (and that riddim is LUSH!). Free The Pain, by contrast to the tune preceding it, sounds probably more laid back than it actually is but as it progresses it definitely finds a niche of its own. This one you’ll have to listen to quite a few times through to get its REAL power (more on that in a minute) but when/if it does get to that point with you, then you, like me, will definitely recognize it as possibly the most moving tune on Man Redemption altogether. Put You Down is a song I didn’t like very much to be honest but my wife calls it the best tune on the album. Take from that, what you will. Whatever missed me on Put You Down is quickly remedied on the very nicely titled Didn’t You Hear. The song is one of the, if not THEE, finest written tune on the album as what it does is (and I’ll expand on this in a bit) is speak to those who may not know and who may not even realize of the blessings they are already receiving. When I FIRST heard the chorus I thought it was kind of corny but you REALLY have to pay attention and about midway through it (even on the first spin) it shows itself in full. See Dem Fighting is a tune shouting out (at its core) against the violence in society and it does so on a multifaceted level. Instead of going with the stereotypical “put the guns down” or something similar, Maccow goes after pretty much every aspect of society and those contributing to it. He IMMEDIATELY equates the powers that be with the “streetwalkers” proclaiming both to be just as guilty. Jah Jah Say, like Didn’t You Hear really ‘challenges’ Dread as my favourite tune on Man Redemption because it carries both that heavy message and is just so appealing as well. It proves to be just a nice and inspirational vibe at its end. When you get to Boys & Girls and hear the first note sang by Maccow and the subsequent chorus, do yourself a favour and resist the urge to skip it (I had the same thing) because the song does get better. It doesn’t get to the CLASS of Man Redemption but as you’ll find with almost everything he does, the tune DEFINITELY gets better after awhile. And attempting to keep that vibe set nice and high is the album’s closer, Cry For Tomorrow, which has that stereotypical VI Reggae sound (Jamaica,circa 1973) and its NICE. Cry Tomorrow goes about things on a nearly biblical level and its very clever how it ties things together (DUH!) but the real attraction is that vibe that it pulls. It never changes really too much in intensity or in any way but it, alone, is NICE and a just as nice way to end things on Jahmings Maccow’s Man Redemption.
Overall, I have to say that you simply will not be able to appreciate ANYTHING on Man Redemption AT ALL if you are not A- a rather large fan of PURE Roots Reggae music and B- PATIENT. Nothing here comes easy and for a couple of reasons: Maccow’s overall approach is one which can slow things down to a CRAWL and something other than a Reggae head probably won’t be able to appreciate that crawl (me, myself, I’m quite fond of it) and his lyrical style! Maccow NEVER approaches things straight on (lyrically speaking). He uses so many metaphors which aren’t really metaphors and simple sayings which are really metaphors that it takes a few spins to REALLY get it and for me, again as someone who likes to overanalyze things, that’s POWERFULLY VAST material. And in retrospect, the fact that there are only twelve songs here isn’t a probably at all. It actually feels like about sixteen or so. Jahmings Maccow’s album Man Redemption is recommended for the more MATURE and indoctrinated Reggae fans who have the ear and the patience to go over Jamaica, and Trinidad etc. and find a needle named Jahmings Maccow in a haystack named Anguilla.
Rated 4/5 stars
Letmegoo Records
2008, 2009
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