The Vault Reviews: The Book Of Angels by Machel MontanoHD

When I look at the various genres of music I listen to and exactly what I get out of listening to them in terms of enjoyment, I’m rather proud that my tastes seem to go uniformly across the board in terms of appreciating what I feel are the best qualities of a particular style of music. Of course, I could even break this down further and further even in terms of appreciating, and in some cases LOVING, what is the best of a particular artist, producer or label as well. Getting to them specifically: If I were to start with Roots Reggae which is probably at least 50% of what I’m usually listening to these days there are so many different things that I take from that style that I could eve apply to my own daily life. By far the most essential and meaningful of those is the MESSAGE in the music. I cannot even begin to say ( not even with my brilliant ass vocabulary) how WONDERFUL it is when you get an artist (and particularly a new one) making the music who either raises a point that I may have never thought of or a familiar one but in a different way and not just with the words. Several years back now, that’s the exact feeling I got when listening to Lutan Fyah, who just brought (and continues to bring these days) concepts which, although largely familiar, just hadn’t been talked about how he was doing it. I’d also point to someone like I-Wayne, who I find myself listening to more in-depth these days than ever before as he really seems to FORCE a lot of information in a small space and do so, so shamelessly coy (if there is such a thing), that, years later songs which you thought you knew true and through can sound like you’ve never even heard them before when held up to scrutiny. On the Dancehall side, things (as they are in this case) are a bit more playful but just as meaningful. For me, who still considers himself SLIGHTLY more of a Dancehall head than a Roots Reggae fan, there are very few greater musical pleasures than listening to a deejay who TRULY has the command of the mic and has BIG lyrics break something (almost completely regardless of how trivial “something” may or may not be) on a streak of STREAMING words. It is spoken word in truly its most impressive form and when I was a child, I wanted to be that ‘guy’ (and I still do kind of in the back of my old ass jaded mind) who seemingly had an endless command of language and words, as if they worked for him. And there’s also Zouk music which, when done in its best form is probably meant to make you feel as if you want to make love to someone and you know what??? That’s what it does (at least sometimes). They all have wonderful things you can take from them, be it just a feeling and a vibe or something you literally apply to your own life.

And then there’s Soca. Besides the evident ‘after effects’ of a great Zouk tune (**wink wink**), one of the greatest musical ‘lasting impressions’ that I can get is definitely from Soca music. Be it from the absolute MADNESS which ensues when you get into the more POWERFUL style of the music or just the cool ass dance floor fillers from the groovy style, when at its best, Soca always has something for the senses. And, although its not generally thought of in that way, if you REALLY listen and really find the proper artists who almost specialize in the more lyrical aspect, the music can definitely come with meaning as well. NO. It generally won’t speak on messages as intently as Roots Reggae and with the almost unyielding BOUNCE it generates, Soca doesn’t usually provide as much of a rolling and free-flowing opportunity for crazy lyrics as does its cousin, Dancehall music but at certain times with certain artists, veiled behind that bounce if a nice message of unity and anti-violence and respect and a few other prevailing topics you see consistently supported in Soca music. But, as I said, the real attraction there, at least for me, are the VIBES which are amongst the most powerful I’ve ever heard. And when you get into specifics here, DEFINITELY one of the most consistently powerful and impressive Soca artists and arguably THE most of all time (and I’m not making that argument but certainly someone could and many probably already have) is Machel Montano. He has also been one of the most popular and probably THE most popular as of late (definitely the most popular from out of Trinidad for the last few years on the international scene and with names Kevin Lyttle and Rupee notwithstanding, Machel is probably THE most popular name in Soca internationally altogether) and because of that, he is amongst a very select group of core artists who are CONSTANTLY depended upon by fans and Carnival organizers and promoters alike to bring much of the flair and the passion musically for each and every season. Fortunately for Montano (and the fans, more importantly) he also happens to be one of the best and with the stature of his name, it allows Montano to push some of the biggest vibes for the Carnival season (and seasons for other islands outside of Trinidad, he also participates in), year in and year out. Looking back, one of his most impressive in recent memory would have definitely been the 2007 season which saw Montano and company bringing CRAZY vibes including the crowned CRAZIEST of the season altogether which won him his second consecutive Road March crown. Like pretty much every other year before it for a decade or so and the two since, it also brought him a pretty crazy album in the form of the BEAUTIFUL, the SLEEK and the very well done The Book Of Angels. The album, just like the season which supported it, was a very REFINED piece of work and, in my opinion, went kind of a long way in establishing his name even further as it featured a few of VERY unusual combinations with some very high profile artists from all over the world with various base styles. Montano generally has quite a bit of ‘pressure’ on him in terms of his releases and The (WONDERFULLY TITLED) Book Of Angels was definitely no exception and just like the man himself, it managed to live up to those anticipations and do so with room and quality to spare.

The album which reached the season before The Book Of Angels, B.O.D.Y. (Band Of D Year) was one which closed the chapter on Machel Montano’s career alongside famed group/band Xtatik which made BoA a bit of a coming out party for the artist as it was the very first of three to date billed under the tag ‘Machel Montano HD’ (with Montano having cleverly declared himself to have gone High Definition for the 2007 season and beyond). He has since released the AMAZING Flame On and Heavenly Drum in 2008 and 2009, respectively, also with the name. Getting things started on what was actually Machel Montano HD’s ‘debut’ album, The Book Of Angels, is one of the maddest creations it contains and one of the best tunes you’ll find here and in the recent catalogue of Montano, Higher Than High. In terms of intensity, you’ll find more intense (and more intense on this album actually) but very rarely a tune that is of that hype and as well done as Higher Than High. It also shows off Montano’s WICKED quality of keeping the melodies high with a tune so hype as to conceivably DESTROY all semblance of such a thing. BIG tune and big start. As I said, there were more intense tunes than the opener and such a tune is up next and one which is arguably ‘better’ also than Higher Than High, as the Jumbie jumps in next. This tune would follow Band Of D Year from the previous year to earn Machel his second consecutive Trinidad Road March crown (he shared BODY’s title with Patrice Roberts, more on her in a second) and third altogether (by my count) and with just one listen through you can definitely hear why because Jumbie was INSANITY! I’ve loved the tune (although my appreciation of it has gone up and down through the time) since the very first time I heard it and in every way I think it rather vividly displays the beauty of Carnival and it has become one Montano’s biggest hits which is easy to see why. Completing the opening for The Book Of Angels by Machel Montano HD is what is my opinion the album’s best tune and THE big combination with the aforementioned Patrice Roberts, Light It Up. I ALWAYS love the results when these two get together and while Light It Up didn’t have the hardware as BODY, in my opinion it was even better. The song just takes things to an even higher level to my ears as Roberts can compliment almost anyone perfectly but she is a MASTER at working with Montano and Light It Up was definitely the work of a MASTER. Strong opening!

Besides Patrice Roberts who is the most well known of Machel’s HD Family, Montano taps a very VARIED cache of artists to accompany him on The Book Of Angels. They don’t get much more “varied” than on the cool Hold You Tonight where Montano rolls in with none other than Dancehall bad boy Vybz Kartel on the very nice and rocking effort. On far more familiar terrain is angelic singing Trini Chutney artist Nadia Madoo who comes through on the lively and infectious Like Bollywood. The song is one which has a nice MESSAGE of unity to love and live together and certainly its expressed in such a nice way on the Soca/Chutney hybrid which proves to be one of the best tunes here. Everyone’s favourite Japanese Soca pixie, Minmi, chimes in on the EPIC Sha Na Na [Japanese Wine] and although I know people who cannot stand it, I LOVE this song! It moves along at a pretty ridiculous pace and you can call it bubble-gum Soca but I don’t really care, the song has to awaken something in you as it obviously did as Minmi took it all the way to a performance at 2007 Soca Monarch (and she made the finals and didn’t place last). For me, it was just HUGE, continuing to blur not only genres but countries and lifestyles and cultures and everything else. Definitely not as ‘out there’ or obscure as Minmi but just as strange being present on a Machel Montano tune is Sizzla Kalonji who comes through on the remix of Higher Than High. Perhaps even stranger is that he doesn’t sound HORRIBLE on the tune and is actually almost kind of ‘hidden’ within the inherent madness of the song and actually I (a little) liked his second verse. I think its more a testament to the quality of the tune than to Sizzla as an artist but the remix BASICALLY works! The same, unfortunately, cannot be said for Hip-Hoppers M.O.P. who guest on a remix of the very good One More Time and after pretty much ruining the first half minute of the tune they don’t add too much to the quality of the song (and I HAVE to mention that I’m not a fan of Hip-Hop so you may very well enjoy it) to my ears. Fortunately, a solo version of the original tune, One More Time is also included earlier on in The Book Of Angels and its probably the best (and probably the ONLY, although Hold You Tonight might count to that) pure groovy Soca tune on the album. Montano also nicely goes solo on the very familiar Mud. The song has a bit of a quiet intensity (definitely not to the heights of Jumbie or Higher Than High) but it proves to be a very powerful vibes STRICTLY for the ‘muddies’ as Carnival (who you just have to love). The final solo effort on The Book Of Angels album is the underrated Down D Road. This song has always sounded so unusual to me as it doesn’t get to those levels of Jumbie and the likes and it doesn’t even really get to Mud but its still definitely a POWERFULLY and LOVELY vibed tune and one which would have been damn PERFECT for Road March. I love this song and don’t think that its gotten its proper attention now or when it was new but you pick up The Book Of Angels and you’ll recognize its true power: Kind of like the entire album for that matter.

Overall, I shouldn’t even have to tell you Soca head to pick up Machel Montano HD’s The Book Of Angels album because its two years old and you should already have it at this point but you kind of casual fan of Soca, I’m thinking it would also look pretty good in your collection as well. Reggae fans typically don’t appreciate Soca (What’s my excuse? I’m half-Trini of course) but, as the pace slows a bit after the frenetic opening MAYBE there’s something in here for you as well. The Book Of Angels album is better than both B.O.D.Y. and Heavenly Drum although it’s a step behind the MADNESS that was Flame On but it still goes to show Montano at near his best. The album also shows Soca in all of its wonderful colours and vibes it brings from a SUPERSTAR artist charged with bringing it and tell its ‘story’ worldwide.

Rated 4.5/5 stars

Ruf Rex Productions/JW Productions

2007