Its interesting that throughout most of the history of Reggae music there is a specific make up of a unit which is currently not present on the scene very much, if at all. The concept of vocal groups and just vocal units in general have all but abandoned the scene despite being so popular in the ages of yesteryear and, in my opinion, the absence of these groups, in part, is what SO obvious and noticeable that it has led man to proclaim the modern era SO far less than those of old. Of course, they’re not all gone, instead they seem to have flooded, in whatever mode they may exist, almost exclusively to the Dancehall side (and it is and has been my point that no one would can say that so many of those, both talented and not very, wouldn’t have been Dancehall acts had that genre been available (and profitable) during their time). Thus, when you say GROUPS in Reggae music, probably the most obvious two names which come up are T.O.K and Ward 2. You also have others like the now defunct Innocent Kru and of course Scare Dem, Dutty Cup and Monster Shack/Hempire in the not too distant past. However, between T.O.K and the Ward those two as UNITS specifically have made such great strides in doing what they do that they have become (unlike either Scare Dem or Monster Shack or Innocent Kru to a lesser degree or even L.U.S.T. thus far) recognizable as the groups and not as singular artists. You reading this right now, can you name, right off the top your head, the members of T.O.K? Its to the point where when one of the members of the group went Japanese and released a compilation album which he produced, Bombrush Hour, on the cover of his album he was billed as “Bay-C from T.O.K. presents Bombrush Hour; as if to explain who this guy was and what qualifications he had to being presenting such a thing (incidentally the main group T.O.K also just released their own album, Our World, in the Japanese market and it’s scheduled to reach the West in August). Also on Ward 21’s recent album, Genesis, did you have to hesitate in figuring out which member was AWOL, if you figured it out at all? I did. Now that’s strictly on the Dancehall side (not counting things like The Alliance and the Empire and such as they are STRICTLY combinations of solo artists), on the Roots side of things, things are far more anorexic in terms of groups as, unless I’m missing one I can’t particularly think of a single group which is active on any type of considerable. Of course there’s Turbulence’s once promising Higher Trod which simply hasn’t worked out as Prince Javed, Jumbo Ras’ and whoever else is there, have yet to catch on with the masses to any real degree. The same situation exists with Sizzla’s Judgment Yard, although Joseph Shepherd and Congo Judah show potential, they do so a solo artists largely as does Capleton’s ever present David House of Jah Thunder and family. None of them really stick out as GROUPS like greats of yesteryear, The Abyssinians, The Paragons, The Royals, The Itals, Israel Vibration and COUNTLESS others who stood as SUCCESSFUL Roots Reggae groups/bands throughout the years.
But the Roots Reggae group is not COMPLETELY gone. If you travel outside of Jamaica two relatively successful acts are ongoing as groups and one of which is the PERFECT example of what I mean. The first is the now famed Star Lion Family out of St. Thomas, which includes the likes of stars Pressure Busspipe and NiyoRah as well as Ickarus, Kimbe Don and other talented members. The SLF isn’t EXACTLY what I had in mind but I mention them as a testament to that same dynamic as they came up as a group, releasing an album (From The Heart) and an EP (Brighter Days) in the process. Going south, however, you stumble across a group which, unless I’m forgetting someone immensely (and I might be), in my opinion stands as the CLEAR best Roots Reggae group in the game right now as Guyana’s MIGHTY five man group, First Born, has been doing big things making music for His Majesty from even before the turn of the century. First Born is aligned with THE name in Reggae music in Guyana, Walter Fraser, and signed to his label, Vizion Sounds Records (not to be confused with Batch’s extremely similar titled Sound V.I.Zion imprint out of St. Croix). Fraser has quietly become one of the most experienced and well regarded names in the game as he has worked alongside so many popular names including Fantan Mojah (for whom he produced the VERY NICE Uplift Yourself, a combination with First Born, on his debut album, Hail The King in 2005), Luciano (for whom he produced a full album, Gideon, also in 2005, which featured another combination alongside the group) and a whole heap of others, including the man himself, Dennis Emmanuel Brown and Gregory Isaacs also. Fraser and Vizion Sounds also worked with Guyanese Reggae star Natural Black in producing and releasing his 2006 album Cool Nuh Black. Under the guidance of Fraser, the group has made major impacts all along the way including actually making a name for themselves and even voicing in Jamaica. After a 2005 in which he worked with both Mojah and The Messenjah, the next year Fraser and Vizion Sounds would release First Born’s latest and probably BEST album to date, Irits, which was also definitely their most high profile release. If I recall correctly the very first time I remember hearing about the Irits album it was on radio where it spun a few times which was definitely a big thing for the group. The album was, by my count, their fourth album as it followed the very nice debut Exodus 13, Verse 2 way back in 1999; then there was Confident 2003 which was VERY good and like the first, was recorded a great deal in Jamaica and helped by the legendary head of Xterminator, Philip ‘Fattis’ Burrell and the third was Wake Up Call, also recorded in Jamaica which was another very good drop in their catalogue and a double disc bit at that. Irits, in my opinion, more than lived up to the expectations of the prior albums and even more. If I had to recommend you to buy a single First Born album, luckily it would be their most accessible as Irits is REALLY solid modern Roots Reggae throughout.
A couple of interesting things about First Born’s actual style: First, it is to my knowledge that they previously and initially existed as a strictly vocal group. Which means that you won’t hear any baritone voiced DJ à la T.O.K or Ward 21, all of First Born’s members are singers. Also it is worth mentioning that they ALWAYS keep a Roots edge, you won’t find many party songs or anything and that’s a good thing for them. Getting things started on their album Irits is another good thing with the bubbling Another Child’s Tear. The tune is one which is actually kind of rough but still really nice as it warns all that when we do something to push corruption it is not only US that suffer but sometimes those who can’t care for themselves also. Big vibes and in a small package there. Next up is the SWEET chant that is Only Love that, in my opinion really shows a nice diverse talent from First Born and is definitely one of my favourite tunes on the album. It very much has that stereotypical Afrikan chanting style and cadence and it works here so well as the group reminds us that, indeed, only love can set us free. As far as the opening few tunes go, Only Love is only topped by the nearly MASSIVE Lift Up Mine Eyes. This one could have been big given proper promotion I have no doubt as it is worked to be absolutely the finest tune that it could be and having been listening to it and spinning it for any and everyone who would listen for quite awhile now, I have to say that it really reaches a nerve that maybe even the two tunes on the album which I regard as definitively ‘better’ (whatever that means), cannot. Lift Up Mine Eyes is a very inspirational vibes and it can help you through quite a bit should you have certain things going on and I’m definitely the one to ask about that. REALLY big tune that could have been much better publicly given that opportunity like I said but you should pick it up and make it that big for you PERSONALLY.
As soon as the opening of the Irits becomes memory (good memory) the two BIGGEST tunes of the album roll in . The first has to be one of the most CREATIVE pieces I’ve ever heard as First Born makes a lyrical connection to society in the metaphor of a football match! Never once drifting into the corny category (which was very possible), the song is absolute MAGIC and not to be missed (across a lick of Gregory Isaacs Number One riddim). Players Play is only topped on Irits the album by Irits the song, which is MASSIVE! The tune follows such an interesting story style of vibes lyrically and is curiously backed by a cut of the Three Blind Mice riddim. This one is another inspirational vibes but of an EPIC degree as First Born get into territory where the song just makes you feel so good and you can call it whatever you like but as for me, when a tune can do that, to the core, it’s a Masterclass piece and that is exactly what Irits is (and is the second best tune I’ve heard from them, you’ll have to track down PRINCE OF PIECE on their debut to hear their best). Of course that level isn’t matched on the album but that doesn’t mean that the vibes dip at all because they really don’t. Immediately up next is the bouncing Why Should A Man, which I’m sure I know from somewhere and First Born uses quite well (incidentally, I’ve always said one of the members sounds a lot like alien voiced Jamaican singer Ghost and its clearly evident as he pervades on Why Should A Man). The anti-violence piece Rudy Gun Laddie is another fantastic vibes and its particularly crucial as it ‘aims’ itself as largely a message to the youths and those who more susceptible to living (and falling) by the gun, no matter the material rewards. First Born and Fraser also tap Gregory Isaacs vast hoard of compositions on the obligatory tune for the ladies, Special Queen as the tune comes across the immortal Night Nurse riddim. Of course, the guys don’t do the riddim what Isaacs did to it but their effort on the tune, which honestly isn’t amongst my favourites, is definitely respectable. Black Struggle is another tune which strides in a similar levels as those attained by Lift Up Mine Eyes as it sounds downright ROYAL and throws itself in the direction of those who have harmed the children of Afrikan along the way. And the tune is LOVELY but I’ll briefly mention it because I know you’re wondering, Frustration Part 2 is the ‘sequel’ to a tune on the Confident album (the first version is slightly better in my opinion). The aforementioned Luciano makes the only guest appearance on Irits as the same tune which appears on his Gideon album is present on Irits as well, Cut & Go Through. You have to be REALLY bad to make a bad combination with Luciano and thankfully First Born and Fraser aren’t that AT ALL and Cut & Go Through, from every possible angle of scrutiny and analysis is one of my favourites on the album. Also be sure to let that one grow on you a bit, its not such an ‘immediate’ tune in my opinion. As Irits winds down it keeps STOCKING big vibes. Check the BIG tune praising His Imperial Majesty, Vision Or Sight which is SO BIG and definitely one of the highlights here. It goes off on those who are blinded to His Majesty (by choice) and blinded to righteousness in general and definitely be sure to pay attention to the lyrics on that one. Nazarite is BEAUTIFUL with another big old school spiritual vibes (any time I see a tune with the word Nazarite, my eyes light up because I remember an old tune from Chrisinti name Land Of The Nazarite, definitely check that one on his Comfort My People album) which just work so well here. And ending matters on Irits from First Born is another HUGE spiritual tune, Know HIM. This one is literally SPARKLING at times and is one of the more subtle tunes on the album as well. This one got me really close a few times as the vibes are just so strong and nearly overwhelming at times. EXCELLENT way to end things with one of the best on the album.
Overall (and YOU KNOW I just dug up that Chrisinti tune), Irits and all of First Born’s catalogue get a rather easy seal of recommendation from me. I think you could have very well took them to any era of Reggae music and had them be so successful (and probably more so) as the music is just so nice and I love Walter Fraser’s production in terms of putting them with largely older and older sounding compositions on which to work their magic. It should also be said that they aren’t exactly too young anymore with my research saying that the youngest of the five was born in 1980 and the second-youngest being back in ‘75 so definitely they are in their musical prime in terms of the type of music they make. Irits, in my opinion, is the best they sound in a complete album form and I was so happy to see it made available digitally and hopefully Fraser and Vizion Sounds will do the same with the rest of their music as well. What you have here is a literal and figurative statement of the power of modern Reggae. No. There aren’t so many GREAT or so many in general vocal groups but with material like Irits, I’d put First Born as the best such group to come around in quite awhile (and hopefully they give us a new album this year!).
Rated 4.5/5 stars
Vizion Sounds Records
2006
CD + Digital
Very nicely written article
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