'Time Has Come': A Review of "Reggae Music" by Ossie Dellimore

I suppose that in a more perfect world that I probably wouldn’t get as excited in dealing with a piece like this because it wouldn’t be such a bountiful opportunity to tell the masses about yet another very powerful and crucial artist who just hasn’t gotten the level of respect his quality would dictate in my opinion. No. More and more people would know this artist and while I most certainly would love the vibes, the actual process of getting REALLY excited would almost surely be diminished for me. In that case I guess I should be grateful that the world is still somewhat of a mess and not only does it provide a wonderful artist like this with some of the material to fuel his brilliant works, but it, like it has doing for years and continues to in 2010, provides me with an opportunity to tell the part of the world who hasn’t been paying close attention just how STRONG of a musician Mr. Ossie Dellimore is. The St. Vincy born singer, for the past few years has been in a very unusual group of artists which includes the likes of Prince Theo, Ras Mac Bean, Malika Madremana and maybe one or two others (the divine Queen Omega was also once in this group, but fortunately everyone caught on in her case) who all just make outstanding music and are artists who I feel are either very close to, or already well within the technical portion of their primes as musicians and singers, but incredibly frustratingly just can’t seem to get the attention their skills obviously deserve. More than that, but what is also fairly annoying in regards to artists like these is the fact that, even amongst the hardcore Reggae fans to a large degree, WE don’t seem to pay them a proper attention in my opinion and while many of these artists may not help themselves by not being more active, when they are, they’re usually doing something well worth the time in hearing. Dellimore’s case is definitely apart of such a phenomenon as well and of that lot that I mentioned, his name may very well be the least well known because chances are pretty good that it’s been quite some time since listeners who haven’t been fortunate enough to catch a performance (myself included) have even heard a tune from him. Thankfully, I have good news - Not only do you have an opportunity to catch up on an artist who just may be one of the more talented in the game today, I also have an opportunity to continue telling you about as the planets and stars have seemingly aligned and the ‘time has come’ that the world start hearing Ossie Dellimore once again.

Why now? The obvious answer is that Dellimore has finally released his sophomore album, but there’s more to it than that. Going back, we get to the year 2000 (yes, a decade ago), when the singer’s debut album, ”Freedom’s Journal” originally dropped for AB Records. It would be subsequently re-released through Skank Productions (more on them in a minute) several years on and that is now the copy that most people who know this artist are well acquainted with, I’m sure. The very first release, however, contained a version of a song called ‘Time Has Come’ which was so DEVASTATING that it remains, today, perhaps one of the strongest tunes that I’ve ever heard in my entire life and it, to some degree, has helped to propel my interest in the artist ever since (there was also a re-recorded version on Skank’s version of the album which was also very good). But, like I said, that was getting on quite some time ago and from then while solid rumours stirred about a followup and I paid a somewhat ‘drifting’ level of attention to what Dellimore and Skank Productions were up to, I never saw it actually coming to fruition, so the result is that whatever next album Ossie Dellimore did, whenever it reached, I would have been waiting on it, LITERALLY, for years! Well, that wait is over as I did catch wind that the project was on its way and this time, unlike the years of others, I actually saw a cover, then a back cover, then a tracklist and - Yes! It’s Ossie Dellimore’s new album ”Reggae Music”. I probably should’ve gotten my mind wrapped around the wonderful notion that the album might’ve been actually dropping soon as, within the past year or so there was also a new video or two from Dellimore and, musically speaking, they were very big hints that the vibes that had attracted me on the first album were still very well intact and that even Dellimore had seemingly become aware that his status wasn’t as high as it should’ve been, so through the videos he was certainly going to be raising his profile (which is very important when you’re going to releasing an album, of course). He was also going to be ‘tipping his hand’ to an extent and although many times you kind of see Reggae albums shrouded in mystery to some degree (as the genre, as a whole, is often criticized as having albums which are almost always compilations on some level), with Dellimore, releasing tunes a full year before the album actually reaches most likely wasn’t going to be a problem. The reason why comes in something as simple as the title of the new album - ”Reggae Music”. Ossie Dellimore’s brand of music, through the first album, is VERY straight forward. The man is a Roots Reggae artist and he rarely is going to stray from that path, if ever at all and while normally we may look at this title and think that it lacks a bit of flare or creativity, it comes through PERFECTLY for an artist like Dellimore because you almost know that it is EXACTLY what is going to convey the proper directions of the album (and it will probably convey the proper directions of the next album he makes) (and the next one after that). That being said, however, Dellimore does mix in a few different styles and colours to his music this time around. But, by the time things are said and done on his ”Reggae Music”, once again you’ll walk away thinking you’ve just been in the musical presence of a genuine master of his craft.

Over the years, the artist who I’ve come to closest compare Ossie Dellimore to, vocally, is Peter Tosh. Dellimore has this some unusual (in the sense that it isn’t used very much, but it’s not unusual in its sound) LOUD affect to his vocals which is probably the first thing you’ll notice. But also I think I hear maybe a bit of Bushman as well and in also the way they both seem to carry themselves with this very humble type of attitude which also demands respect. Both the legendary ‘Stepping Razor’ and Mr. Dwight Duncan would certainly approve of ‘The Secret To Success’, which opens Ossie Dellimore’s brand new album from Skank Records. First of all, the riddim on this tune is absolutely KNOCKING! It is gorgeous. This was one of the songs for which Dellimore dropped a video last year and while I didn’t respond to the tune, as a whole, very greatly, these days things have changed and it is well one of the highlights on the album for me, no question. The next tune in, the title track, also had a video (although it was much more of just a recording of the song be vibed I believe) and it didn’t have much room to grow on me at all, because from the very first time I heard the tune, I thought it to be outstanding actually. The song is the first of two combinations on the album - It features veteran US based (I believe) artist Ruff Scott and it is just a beautiful selection celebrating the music itself. Dellimore actually speaks of the music almost as if it’s a positive addiction of his and certainly YOU and I know the feeling. It’s a very relatable song and I like how the vibes are nice and easy, but if you really listen closely you’ll notice that the song is deceptively powerful (and complicated) as well. Next in, Dellimore goes in and poses the question ‘How Come?’ on what is, arguably, the strongest tune, lyrically, on the entire album.

“How come the herb is illegal
When it is only a plant
That was here from the start
Drugs are not made like that”

“How come we have third world nations
When is one world we live on
A human is a human
All children, Woman and Man”

At its core the tune the song is one MIGHTY piece of social commentary and it clearly ranks at the top levels of the album and one of my new personal favourites from Ossie Dellimore in general.

On ”Reggae Music”, I found three tunes that REALLY grabbed my attention for one reason or another and, at least for me, these songs made up the class of the album. The first of this powerful lot is the WICKED ‘Hold On Tight’. I can’t quite pinpoint where I know this riddim from, but I pretty sure I am familiar with it and it is lovely. The song kind of caught me off-guard to a degree because it starts off pedestrian enough and if you don’t focus in on it, you won’t be able to realize how strong of a praising vibes it is (kind of like Dellimore himself), so definitely tune in on that one and you may have to deal with a few times to really dig out the message, just as I did, so be patient. There’s also the big tune ’Keep The Faith’, which is the second combination and it features the venerable Mikey Jarrett (who, I believe, also has a new album out). This song is SPECTACULAR - Almost everything about it just screams of being on a different level of similar songs. It almost sounds like the singer and Jarrett have just been exhausted and deliver with so much emotion that it really latches onto the listener and does so without deviation! Very very powerful vibes. And the third tune here, and my personal favourite on the entire album is ‘Caribbean & American’, which comes in with this big and head-knocking riddim which Dellimore uses to push a message of the Afrikan Diaspora and it speaks to the inherent unity about the groups of people who went to the Caribbean and those who had gone to the States.

“Caribbean and American
Taken from the Motherland
For the same old reason
Just to slave inna babylon”

“Colonial invasion
To bruk up wi nation
Is their whole intention
Tru dem neva love wi tradtions”

“READ YOUR BOOKS AND YOU WILL SEE”

I absolutely love pieces like this because it so clearly comes from a place of education, but not one of educated ARROGANCE. Ossie Dellimore is simply passing the knowledge on and doing so in probably the most attention grabbing method possible.

Falling just outside of those three tunes (and now that I’m listening to it again, I’m seriously thinking of adding another to that trio) is another HUGE tune by the name of ‘Old Time Something’. This chorus may just be the finest altogether on ”Reggae Music” and the balance of the tune definitely doesn’t allow the levels of quality to dip AT ALL on this one and really I’d imagine that this one would draw quite a bit of attention from the fortunate souls who pick up the album. I might also say the same thing about the simply INTELLIGENT ‘Global Warming’. This tune kind of reiterated something that I spotted musically on ‘How Come?’ - Ossie Dellimore can make the style of tune that you may’ve heard dozens of times, if not more. He certainly won’t do anything different in terms of the sound and the riddim, but still, his songs sound SO UNIQUE and original that it doesn’t at all sound stale or ‘run of the mill’. I don’t know exactly how many ‘green’ tunes I’ve heard, but certainly there have been many, but I don’t recall too many of them (NONE) mentioning things like the Greenhouse Effect, Greenpeace and the Kyoto Protocol. And there’s also the very strong ‘Scandal Mongerer’. This one is kind of ‘loose’ sounding and it is aimed at those amongst who, unfortunately, seem to have a very difficult time minding their own business and keeping the names of others out of their mouths. Again, you’ve heard many songs like this one, theoretically, but not one EXACTLY like it anywhere. It is truly an Ossie Dellimore original.

I should also mention the two selections ‘Restless Soul’ and ‘Overstanding’, which take the vibes of the ”Reggae Music” album in just a couple of different directions. The former isn’t very much of a stretch at all - It sounds like some sort of Bluesy/Folk concoction (maybe a bit of traditional Gospel as well) and it is very slow and so laid back that that it doesn’t standout as a changeup, even though it is. And lastly, ‘Overstanding’ actually is even more different. This one sounds like something you might hear at Woodstock or some old time festival like such. This one I REALLY began to like after a few spins because you can, again, see that it isn’t too far outside of his range as his humbly poses questions to The Almighty about the way of the world.

So that’s it? No! Much like one of my favourite albums of 2010 thus far, Chezidek’s “Judgement Time”, Ossie Dellimore’s ”Reggae Music” includes a few dubs as well to go along with the eleven vocal tracks. We have the ‘How Come Dub’, ‘Dub-Ah-Reggae’, ‘Scandal Dub’ and the ‘Success Dub’ (obviously named after certain tunes on the album). All of them are AT LEAST solid, but I do have to say that my favourite of the bunch has to be ‘Scandal Dub’ which sounds absolutely joyous when dubbed out. I’m all in favour of these type of things and we’re seeing more and more of them these days, so hopefully it’s a trend which continues forth.

Overall, while nothing here struck me as hard as ‘Time Has Come’ did, I think clearly ”Reggae Music” is an overall better album than "Freedom’s Journal” and that is saying quite a bit because the first album was very strong as well. What is going to REALLY hit the newer fans here, at least in my opinion, is just how strong the musicianship here is. Ossie Dellimore is obviously someone who takes his craft very seriously and just as it has throughout his career, it is very evident on his new album. I’d also like to remark on the fact that, in terms of taking things seriously, a portion of the proceeds from the sales of this album go to a great foundation, Doctors Without Borders, which seeks to offer health care to those in dire need of it, so if that isn’t a matter of taking things seriously, then I don’t know what it is (it is the very definition of ‘putting your money where your mouth is‘). And YOU seriously need to check out Ossie Dellimore’s new album. If you really enjoy top notch Roots Reggae music (and let’s face it, you wouldn’t have read this entire review if you didn’t), then you’ll be very pleased with this album and personally I’ll just enjoy the fact that I now can begin to once again champion the cause of Ossie Dellimore - One of the most masterful Reggae artists around. Well done.

Rated: 4.60/5
Skank Records
2010
CD + Digital





Ossie Dellimore @ Myspace

Buy "Reggae Music" Here