'Like Clockwork': A Most Interesting Preview of "Cornerstone" by Lloyd Brown

So! I’m pretty sure that the month of November has some type of social and cultural relevance for various reasons for people all around the world. For us, amongst other things, it’s . . . Well it isn’t much of anything besides a few dates, here and there. OH! There is that album from that British guy.

Each and every November, for the last 236 years, UK Reggae Legend Mr. Lloyd Brown has released an album and the most wonderful of practices now continues for 2010, as Brown and co. at Riddimworks Productions, in association with something called JMG Inc, are soon to deliver his latest certain masterpiece, ”Cornerstone”. Earlier this year, we (and by “we” I mean, “me”) speculated on what Brown may title the new album and, while certainly we were nowhere near accurate (although I’m having a very difficult time, still, imagining why he wouldn’t fancy ”Consider Silver Brownies”), ”Cornerstone” is definitely a nice title for a new album from Lloyd Brown. The album follows a stretch of four or five releases which I consider to makeup the latest stage of Brown’s career - 2006’s ”Said & Done”, 2007’s master class "Silver” (which is my personal favourite LB album ever), the ‘different’ ”Brownie Points“ album of 2008 and most recently, of course, there was ”For Your Consideration” just last year.

Interestingly enough, all of those albums (ALL of them), were released by the once mighty Cousins Records who have now apparently moved on (GONE). Besides the occasional digital release, I haven’t noticed the label doing much of anything (and I haven’t seen said “occasional digital release” in quite some time either) and now Lloyd Brown has obviously taken matters into his own hands and is releasing ”Cornerstone” on his own terms . . . in November.

I still don’t know what is going to be on ”Cornerstone”, however, I do now have an indication of who is going to be on the album alongside Brown. MOST interestingly is the fact that there is apparently a single song which features BOTH legendary UK chatter, Macka B, the mystical and wonderful UK based St. Lucian singer, Nereus Joseph who destroyed everything in site last year with his HUGE album, ”Real Rebels Can’t Die” AND (as if that weren’t enough) (and it were) both General Levy and Top Cat, two very solid UK veterans. I don’t know much about said tune, but I think it’s very safe to say that the quartet isn’t linking up to voice a remake of the classic ‘Yo Mama’s On Crack Rock’.

Not my Mama indeed

Also on board is some guy named Rodney P., another fellow (actually that could be a girl) by the name of Kjah, Hunt (don’t ask), Baby Boom (still don’t) and there’s the very interesting Hip-Hopper, Krytykal: The’ Problem who is clearly WICKED because he has both a colon AND an apostrophe in his name.

Also on board is the delightful Adele Harley who my readers will be most familiar with because we recently covered her solid debut album, ”Come Into My Life”, for Mafia & Fluxy.

And, speaking of producers, while Mafia & Fluxy aren't on the album (at least I don't think they are) I was happy to see that the lineup of maestros included the name Necessary Mayhem and Curtis ‘Da Grynch’ Lynch Jr. I don’t know which tune (or which riddim) the very strong label did for Lloyd Brown, but I do so much like the kind of combining of the two generations of UK Reggae - Lloyd Brown being a part of the ‘cornerstone’ and Lynch and co. definitely being the new kids in town. Also working here is Rootdown Records, which almost certainly ensures that ‘She Nah Easy’, Lloyd Brown’s healthy cut of the dazzling Ska-ish Kokoo Riddim, will be featured on the album. Lloyd Campbell of the venerable US based Lover’s Rock powerhouse, Joe Fraser Records, also does production on ”Cornerstone” as does, at least presumably, Lloyd Brown himself.

Yes. Now we know your secrets Mr. Brown . . . well, some of them

So with the album apparently good and finished, titled and covered. The only thing left is to have a listen to “Cornerstone” from Mr. Lloyd Brown, which you will join me in doing . . . in November. It isn’t like you have anything better to do.