'Distinguished Gentleman': A Review of "Teach Them Right" by Apple Gabriel

How exactly does one go about attaining respect and reverence in the scope of Reggae music? Popularity is something which I feel is far more arbitrary and can, at times, come down to a matter of simply ‘being in the right place at the right time’, but to actually earn someone’s RESPECT is something which is earned through a process and maintained through another. Of course, the add-on in that case, however, is that popularity in ANY case of music, has its peak and after that peak, things well begin to change. If we are to look at some of the most respected and revered names in Reggae music, I think the initial thought is to look at the elders. I do so avoid discussing Bob Marley, but in speaking of reverence in regards to Reggae, it’s fairly impossible to do so accurately and thoroughly without mentioning its clearly most revered name. Marley is most interesting because, as the face of the genre (even still), despite the fact that he’s physically been gone for nearly thirty years at this point, it almost seems like, occasionally, he’s still making ‘progress’. And there’re others such as Peter Tosh and, one which is extremely interesting, Garnet Silk, who just when spoken of are held in such a fantastic regard in Reggae music that it’s very difficult to ignore them, even casually, when dealing with the genre. In all of those cases, however, these artists (even Marley) can play no direct role in extending or diminishing their legacies. What gets REALLY interesting is when you begin to discuss similarly tenured artists who are not only still living, but still recording. Names like Burning Spear, Toots & The Maytals, Bunny Wailer and the always controversial (and far younger) Buju Banton come to mind in this instance as well established and downright LEGENDARY names in Reggae music, who still are (selectively in each case) active to some degree, well enjoying the fruits of their labour as musicians. Within that very same well esteemed group resides undeniably one of the most well regarded Reggae acts of all time, Israel Vibration. I’m pretty convinced that I could walk up to a person who, ostensibly, knows nothing at all about Reggae music and while they could probably name neither song, nor any member, nor distinguishing characteristic about the group, if I mentioned “Israel Vibration”, it would elicit some sort of response along the lines of ‘oh, don’t they play Reggae?’. EVERYTHING about the group, including its name, holds MASSIVE weight in the worldwide music community and just as a said, one of the greatest things about them, of course, is the fact that they’re still around and spreading their name to those who have still yet to hear of them.

They’re doing this as a unit and as the collective members of the group, at least in my opinion. As members, the one, obviously, sticking out is former member Albert Craig, bka Apple Gabriel. Gabriel remains well connected, in the general sense, to the legendary group in spite of the fact that he left it almost a decade and a half ago and has been out on his own as a solo artist from since then. His first BIG statement as such came wayyyyy back in the year 1999 with the well received ”Another Moses” from the once mighty RAS Records, but ever since then . . . Things had REALLY changed. The last time I’d heard about Apple Gabriel it was very unfortunate. He was reportedly living in the States and near destitute and seriously ill at the time. Obviously, also, he wasn’t making music and this is terrible for anyone, much less someone who is bonafide Reggae royalty (and this is also considering the fact that his former group was and remains pretty active and remains so in the international sense) and REIGNING Reggae royalty at that. It was just all very sad news and I’m sure so many people counted him out and did so, on so many levels. Well, hopefully so many of those “so many” will be downright overjoyed to know that they were wrong and that Apple Gabriel was, at the very least, on his way to returning to musical form and doing so under some of the most interesting set of circumstances. Earlier this year, an amalgam of a couple of labels from out of The Netherlands, JahSolidRock (a label with the greatest current slogan in all of Reggae music, ‘MUSIC FROM THE HIGHEST REGION’) and Not Easy At All Productions, formed to released what is still one of the year’s finest projects, ”Judgement Time” by Chezidek. The music that they made for the singer (from out of St. Ann!) was VERY HEAVY Roots Reggae music and a nice bit of the material I read on it (besides my own) centered on the fact that the vibes of the album were absolutely top notch. SO, how fitting would it be if such a unit helmed the return of Apple Gabriel to prominence - This once and potentially still DOMINANT figure of Roots Reggae music - back again over what he made his name on originally, hard hitting and no-nonsense music. That is exactly what is to be found on the first solo album from Apple Gabriel in more than a decade (!) ”Teach Them Right”. The album comes via the mentioned Dutch duo of labels and it is one which is pretty much a ‘can’t-miss’. If you have traditionally loved the music of Apple Gabriel and/or Israel Vibration, there’s almost no way in the world that you will not like this album. What it does is bring forth that same, tried and proven, methodology of making vibes and just dusts it off and pushes it again in this very new and refreshing way. Also, the album is going to provide more than just a few new fans the opportunity to catch on and see what the ‘fuss’ (for the past thirty years) has been about because it is very strong and hopefully it does pull in a great number of new fans. What said new fans will find on ”Teach Them Right” is pretty much a master at work as Apple Gabriel returns from such bad conditions to thrill us once again.

Besides himelf being one of the most distinguished of names we have in Reggae music, the singer also happens to have one of the most recognizable voices in the genre as well. So, despite the fact that I don’t consider myself to be amongst the most frenzied of Israel Vibration fans (and the artist seemingly has yet to have the opportunity to create such a fervent following for himself as a solo artist), I do admit that the very first drop on the album was a sound for sore ears for me. That first sound to be heard on ”Teach Them Right”, Apple Gabriel’s new album courtesy of Jahsolidrock and Not Easy At All Productions is a very nice opener and one of the album’s finest of moments, ‘Mr. Conman'. This tune is, effectively, a sufferer’s anthem, but it is one which aims itself at those who’ve cause the Sufferation in the first place.

“What goes around will come around
Same man you pass on your way up
Same man you pass on your way down”

Gabriel also goes on to make the connection with himself and empathizing with the situation of being impoverished and coming from his far and recent background, you know it’s a tune which strikes the singer on a very personal level. Next in is a tune in ‘No Equality’ which is absolutely STERLING to my ears. Building on some of the same concepts to be found in the opener, the song again speaks to the ‘powers that be’ who have created this oppressive and VIOLENT system which generates so much destabilization and unruly behaviour amongst the masses. I look at this song as one of the strongest lyrical efforts, first of all, on the album, but it just SOUNDS so nice and it isn’t very much of a ‘flaring’ tune, it’s very straight-forward and just goes about doing what it was obviously intended to do. The next tune to be found on ”Teach Them Right” is my absolute favourite track on the entire album, ‘In The Jungle’. I probably spun through this tune about twenty times or so before I realized that I was listening to something pretty special which would go on to provide what is, for me, the lasting sentiment of the album.

“Purify my soul, Oh Jah
Wash me clean and I will be clean
Purify my soul Oh Jah
Wash me clean and I will be clean”

That statement is made at the pinnacle of this OUTSTANDING song which grows to this moment, after speaking of so much corruption and hate and general negativity in the world - It seems like Apple Gabriel is ready to leave it all behind and wash his hands of it . . . Well so am I. MASSIVE!

One thing that really caught me by a nice surprise on ”Teach Them Right” (and thus doing what the title indicates, I suppose), is the very rich and a very varied nature of the lyrical direction of the album. The very first three selections, despite being similar in terms of where they ultimately go, take very unique steps to get there and the balance of the album covers a wide variety of subjectry. A tune whose words I HOPE gets a great amount of attention is ‘Give Them Love’, which finds Apple Gabriel throwing LOVE to all corners of the world.

“A new days has begun
Another battle to be won
Now the weak must be strong
Don‘t you fight the gays and the lesbians
Don’t you fight the church and the Christians
Give love for love to go to Zion”

I’m not going to go FULLY to the point of opening up that discussion, but for a subject which is and has been more than one in passing in our genre for the pass decade or so, here we have such a respected artist giving his uncategorized and unconditional thought on the subject (and I happen to agree with him by the way) so hopefully those who come constantly seeking the negatives will just as aggressively find the positives and celebrate Gabriel for it (and, incidentally, that tune has the same sublime riddim as Chezidek‘s tune ‘Live & Learn‘). There’s also ‘Gifted Ones’ which finds Gabriel conversing with and giving honours to some of the finest that music, as a whole, has to offer. It is probably the lyrical changeup of the album and it does very well.

The second half of tunes, while maybe lacking the star power of the first, is arguably just as interesting. Speaking of “interesting”, the riddim on the tune ’Hypocrites’ may be my favourite on the album (more on that in a minute) and the tune itself delivers a nice message, somewhat reminiscent of those of the opening batch of selections (the entire song is lovely). I had no good thoughts or high expectations at all going into the song ‘We Are The World’ because I was pretty sure that it was going to be just kind of slopped together clichés and well covered topics, but it wasn’t and the tune turns out to be a very nice surprise by its end. On the other hand, there was no surprise to be found on ‘Praise Jehovah’ - I figured it would do big things and it did! What I like here most is how the song has the face of being a praising tune, but it also makes a tangible connection, which is something that you don’t always see and it takes the song away from being one which only appeals to a certain few (who believe as you do) and turns it into something which EVERY decent person can follow.

“We’ve got to share this planet together
So why they fight and kill each other???”

The sweet natured ‘She’s My Comforter’ becomes the album’s love song. It is pretty much what you’d expect form such a tune from Apple Gabriel, but it isn’t harmful at all and actually has one of the better melodies here and the riddim really opens itself up (especially when the saxophone kicks in). Finally, Gabriel ends ”Teach Them Right” on another biblical note as he speaks of the ‘Tower of Babel’. Here is another tune which makes the increasingly NECESSARY connection of the spiritual and the tangible (“increasingly necessary” in my opinion, of course). A song really takes on an entire new meaning when an artist can make that leap and for someone with the experience of Apple Gabriel; it isn’t really a challenge at all.

SO! That’s it, nothing else! Just like ”Another Moses”, ”Teach Them Right” has ten vocal tracks . . . Oh! There are also seven dubs included as well, just as there were many on the ”Judgement Time” album (and apparently it is a practise which is going to be continued by the labels, from what I gather, and I like it). My favourite two, unsurprisingly, come from the tune ‘Hypocrites’ [‘Hypocrites Version’] which is a very powerful piece and definitely ‘In The Jungle’ [‘Jungle Version’]. But also be sure to have a listen to (all of them) the dynamic ‘Gifted Version’ as well as the ‘Holy Version’ from ‘Praise Jehovah’ (which I’m listening to now and is very very good).

Overall . . ., yeah! Like I said, this one pretty much couldn’t miss with its intended audience and after such people have come through the elation of having the first album from Apple Gabriel since the first number in their age (provided they have two digits) was one less than it is now (and probably the second one also). While I based this review on the concept of RESPECTED figures in Reggae music, what I found to be an interesting concept while going through the album is one which I’ve addressed before and it is the concept of NATURAL TALENTS. Despite all that Apple Gabriel has been through over the past decade, the fact that he can just kind of ‘appear’ and make such a powerful album is VERY interesting and it is one which certainly suggests that, through all of his bad times, he kept writing and singing music and perhaps it is at least part of the reason why he has achieved such a level of respect in his career as well. If it is so, Apple Gabriel and his talents are on FULL and VIBRANT display throughout ”Teach Them Right” and hopefully he doesn’t make us wait so long for a followup. Welcome back.

Rated: 4.45/5
Jahsolidrock/Not Easy At All Productions & Heartbeat
2010
CD & Digital

Apple Gabriel @ Myspace

{Releases on November 15}

Coming Soon Vol. 24

Coming Soon

Strictly The Best Vols. 42 & 43 [VP Records]

Okay, first up this week is something I wanted to hit just briefly because it’s still more than a month down the line from now, but it’s time for “the longest running series in Reggae music”, Strictly The Best from VP Records. Last year, I have to say that I was quite pleased with the results and hopefully they maintain the good vibes for 2010’s double installment. As is the norm, the even numbered edition is the Lover’s Rock/Roots Reggae version, while the odd focuses more on the Dancehall/Hip-Hop. #42 features BIG tunes from the likes of Alaine, Gramps Morgan, Courtney John, Stevie Face, Romain Virgo, Tarrus Riley, of course Gyptian and Ed Robinson (yes - ‘Our Heroes’ is on this album), while #43 pushes tunes from Beenie Man, Kartel, Busy Signal, a double shot of I-Octane, Agent Sasco, a few big combinations and more. You Can’t really vex too much here can you?

Potential Rating In Full: 4.5/5
Releases December 7
CD & Digital

The Billie Jean Riddim [Irie Ites]

Mighty Frenchie label, Irie Ites, must have inside information that the world is coming to an end or something like that because I’m pretty damn sure that they JUST released their Party Time/Take A Lick riddims album like an hour ago and ALREADY they’re back with a relick of the big and bad Billie Jean Riddim, which is a turn-around which is absolutely ridiculous in every way. That being said, however, pretty much every time they bother to do something it turns into a big deal and with the likes of Sizzla Kalonji (on a HUGE tune), Lutan Fyah, Mark Wonder (more on him in a bit), Daddy Rings and more on board, this one figures to be another excellent release from the label as well.

Potential Rating: 4.25/5
Releases Soon
CD & Digital [Coming In December, Vinyl “coming soon”]

Apple Gabriel - “Teach Them Right” [Jahsolidrock]

Jahsolidrock, the same group that brought us one of the most LOVELY efforts of the year thus far, ”Judgement Time” by Chezidek is back at work and back at work with an equally LOVELY artist, the venerable Apple Gabriel. Formerly of Israel Vibration (where he coincidentally once sang ‘On Jah Solid Rock’), Gabriel has managed to remain in spotlight of the genre as one of its most respect of elders and certainly he’s going to be creeping back into the light with ”Teach Them Right”. If Chezidek’s album was any indication (and it was), we know that Jahsolidrock’s style is to go HEAVY with the powerful (and slightly old school) Roots Reggae and having already perused the album, I can also tell you that they’ve, again, thrown in a number of wonderful dubs as well. I actually already have this one and cannot wait to dig in.

Potential Rating: 4.5/5
Releases November 15
CD & Digital
{Review coming soon}

Mighty Mystic - “Wake Up The World” [Mighty Mystic]

It seems like YEARS that I’ve now been hearing of the US based (I THINK) Jamaican born chanter, Mighty Mystic. He’s kind of been this underground star for quite sometime and because of that, largely, I was DAMN surprised to see that he actually hadn’t made it to a full album release just yet, despite having (at least) a couple of EP releases (including one for this album). Well, he’s finally made his way and is delivering his much anticipated debut release, ”Wake Up The World”. Despite the fact that it’s been quite some time from since I have first heard his name, I admit that I don’t know a ton about Mystic and perhaps this album is the right time to become acquainted and, as if to give me more of an incentive, there’s a tune by the name of ‘Rems Up’ which happens to include Achis Reggae favourite Lutan Fyah (it’s on Juno, have a listen).

Potential Rating: ???
Releases November 23
Digital

The Red Alert Riddim [Uhuru Boys Productions]

Ultimately the Red Alert Riddim from Uhuru Boys Productions is probably just a bit too Hip-Hoppish for me, but with a lineup like that, I’m damn sure going to give it a listen. Lutan Fyah, Warrior King, Jah Mason, Norris Man, Chuck Fenda, Richie Spice, Black Uhuru, NiyoRah AND Ras Attitude??? REALLY??? Yeah. You can count me in. This piece will probably be familiar as it featured on both Lutan Fyah’s ”African Be Proud” album (tune called ‘Ghetto Youths’) and the phantom ”Keep Yah Head Up” from Jah Mason (’Wings of Wind‘) (both from Rastar and I know the riddim as a Rastar release, so maybe Rastar and Uhuru Boys are the same thing).

Potential Rating: 4/5
Releases November 8
Digital

“Flame of Life: One Riddim” [Angry Stuff Records]

I finished this entire post and had to come back because I’d forgotten to mention this potentially sublime piece of Frenchie Reggae, the Flame of Life Riddim from someone called Angry Stuff Records. The riddim is a very nice one-drop which has a lot of colour surrounding it, at times, but even at its most straight forward, it is a nice piece. What caught my attention, however, wasn’t what I heard, it was what I saw. Looking at the cover you can see three big artists - Lyricson (with a tune which is apparently absent from his forthcoming ”Messages” album), Takana Zion and Straïka D. I also recognize the names Brahim, Natwal, Colonel Reyel and Sista Rosta (who apparently is an official artist for Angry Stuff Records). And there’re also more than a few names who I’m looking to get to know better, so I just may pick up this 18 track set when it reaches.

Potential Rating: 4.5/5
Releases November 26
Digital

Mikey General - “Born To Rule” [Qabalah]

Well look what we have here! Was it just a couple of weeks ago we mined the vault for a review of the excellent ”Spiritual Revolution” album from the EXCELLENT Mikey General? Well, just a couple of weeks on and we receive word that the venerable singer has a brand new album forthcoming from Qabalah, the label he runs with the legendary Luciano, ”Born To Rule”. Yes - I am VERY excited about this one. Looking over the tracklist, I recognize a few tunes, most notably there is ‘Father God Almighty’ from the Chi Chi Bud Riddim and the Deville produced ‘Joy & Laughter’. Definitely looking forward to getting my hands on this release and, even though there is some BIG BIG material here, in terms of things I haven’t heard yet, there’s no more of a ‘can’t miss’ than Mikey General’s ”Born To Rule”.

Potential Rating: 4.5/5
Releases on November 22
CD & Digital

“True Stories of Mark Wonder & Friends” [Irie Vibrations/org. Al.Ta.Fa.An]

Last year (apparently two days before my birthday), I wrote a review for an album entitled ”True Stories of Mark Wonder & Friends”. To absolutely no surprise whatsoever, my review was (and probably still is) the only type of relatively decent literature to be found online about the album and that was really a damn shame because with names joining an already top notch singer in Mark Wonder like, Sizzla & Gentleman, Luciano, Lutan Fyah, Fantan Mojah, Chezidek, Anthony B and even Ziggi Recado, you’d think it’d be something which would gain a lot more eyes than it did. Well for the rest of you (shame!) Wonder and big Austrian label Irie Vibrations are giving you another shot as they’re re-releasing the album. To sweeten it, they’ve added a couple of tracks featuring I Wayne & Fire Star and Gentleman & Daddy Rings, respectively and I believe they’re also doing it on CD! So, you’ve been warned! Don’t fuck up in 2010 like you did last year, this is a album and it’s only gotten bigger.

Potential Rating: 4.5/5
Releases on November 26
CD & Digital
See Original Review

Vizion Sounds Records Catalogue [Vizion Sounds/Zojak Worldwide]

Leave it to the BEAUTIFUL girls and boys at the most magical place on earth, Zojak Worldwide, to just uncover this dazzling ball of goodness as they take digital the vaults of one of the lesser known GEMS of a label, Walter Fraser’s Vizion Sounds from out of Guyana. Over the years, they’ve done some really big work, including material from the likes of Buju Banton and Gregory Isaacs. Perhaps the most popular of their work, however, came with two releases: 2004’s ”Gideon” by Luciano and Natural Black’s ”Cool Nuh Black” from three years later (both pictured). There was also some other material in there which struck me and my collection on a grand scale and I’ll tell you about that in a few days, but while you’re waiting definitely have a look as some of this material is GOLD.

Potential Rating In Full: 5/5
Releases Soon
Hard to find CD & Digital

In Stores Now

Tiken Jah Fakoly - “African Revolution” [Universal]

I probably could’ve gotten to this one a couple of weeks ago, but it was listed as ‘coming soon’ for quite some time (at least every time that I checked on it), so I’d kind of forgotten about it to some degree. But now the ”African Revolution” from Afrikan Reggae star, Tiken Jah Fakoly, has begun and I’ve already a nice bit of response from it and even a few interviews with the artist as well. I don’t know too much about this album, so I’ll refrain from going in on too deep (at least for now), but this is one of the biggest and most popular artists that we have today (whether you realize it or not) and whatever he does is a big deal and I’m WELL looking forward to getting my hands on it and having a listen.

CD & Digital

“Classics From The Vault” [Star Trail/Zojak Worldwide]

Okay, I tried to tell you about this one a few weeks back, but I didn’t get it right so here it is again and it’s still a pretty big deal. Of course if you’re reading this, you’re probably well familiar with the Star Trail label and Richard ‘Bello’ Bell. And you may also be familiar with the fact that around a decade ago they released a four disc set by the name of ”Total Ragga” which you can probably still find copies of floating around online somewhere (as a matter of fact apparently Ernie B has it right now). Anyway, the ”Classics From The Vault” series is that release. There’re four installments of it and the first has recently pushed up and the remaining three are expected shortly to my knowledge. If you don’t like ALL of this stuff (and you won’t) (I don’t), going digital is the best way to get it, because you can now pick and choose FIFTY-SIX tunes from Anthony B, Garnet Silk, Everton Blender, Norris Man, Capleton, Sizzla Kalonji, Determine, Louie Culture, Junior Reid, Spanner Banner, Prezident Brown, Iyashanti, Josie Mel, Luciano, Military Man, Mykal Rose, Roundhead, Kulcha Knox, Jack Radics, Josey Wales, The Tamlins, Courtney Melody . . . WHAT! Jah Mason, Buju Banton, Paul Elliot, Ghost . . . You get the point. THERE IS SOMETHING HERE YOU WANT!

CD & Digital now

Malkijah - “Sa Pou Zot” [Discorama]

You had to know this was going to make the list. After FINALLY grabbing up Malkijah’s much talked about ”Eruption” album last year, I well figured that it’d be a nice spot of time before we heard from her on any type of ‘official’ form, but we look up and see that she’s essentially done what the Frenchies call a ‘street album’ (everyone else calls it a 'mixtape'), ”Sa Pou Zot” and now I want it and I’m going to get it shortly. You should get it as well, because listening through the clips (and it’s on Juno, so by “clips” I mean the entire thing, of course) and I’m impressed. There’re a few familiar moments and that’s fine, but I’m simply loving such an obscure artist get such a nice exposure (and is it just me or does Malkijah look a little like an elf on the cover???) (a cute elf).

Digital . . . Maybe CD

The Eyes On My Purpose Riddim [Ghetto Scorp Productions]

I mentioned the Billie Jean Riddim from Irie Ites in this very same post, coincidentally, and I’m almost sure that Irie Ites have SOMETHING to do with Ghetto Scorp Productions, who drops what I believe to be their first effort, the Eyes On My Purpose Riddim and with only four tunes on the piece, they’ve already managed to grab some attentions. Lutan Fyah , Sena and Black Warrior take turns on the riddim, but SMASHING it into bolivion (biggup Mike Tyson) is Spectacular who once again proves that when he is on top of things, he can be DEVASTATING. His tune, ‘I Wish’ is an absolute master-class of a song.

Digital

The Operation Riddim [Rippa Blaxxx]

Virtually at the same time the label makes it big arrival, courtesy of Natural Black’s big recent release ”Mortima Hardly”, Rippa Blaxxx also is throwing in a couple of riddim albums as well. The first was the AK-47 Riddim which (I THINK) I told you about last week, but more crucial is this destructive composition, the Operation Riddim. Okay . . . Hmmm. Okay the riddim ITSELF is madness! I can remember going through this knowing that I knew it from somewhere before being reminded where and even though THERE isn’t HERE - What is here is impressive material from Sizzla, Mavado, Wayne Marshall (yes, I like Wayne Marshall’s tune), Munga Honourable and Shane-O (MAD!).

Digital

The Christopher Columbus Riddim [Street Rockaz Family]

There isn’t much here, but what is here is awfully impressive I have to say. I correctly guessed that the Street Rockaz Family, of whom I’d never heard, was a French label (because everyone else is) and they are and they also are pushing a very nice composition, the Christopher Columbus Riddim. The piece features just four selections, from the FLAMING Chezidek, Prezident Brown and Malanikenda (don’t ask) and also a clean version of the riddim. So, as if we needed more Reggae music from France - Here it is and I’m not complaining.

Digital

Elephant Man - ‘Vampires & Informers’ (single) [Subatomic Sound]

And finally because I am exhausted is Elephant Man . . . As if Ele needed any help getting weirder, the boys and girls at Subatomic Sound figured that they’d help him anyway and they were successful to say the least with his tune, 'Vampires & Informers'. I call this release a “single” despite the fact that the digital release comes with EIGHT TRACKS. In typical Subatomic style, there is mix after mix and dub after dub. Some are pretty good (my favourite is “Dubblestandart’s Transylvania roots mix”), but of course, I’m going to have to say that you’ll likely find the most joy in this project if you REALLY like this song and REALLY like Ele and I’m sure there’re a lot of people in both cases.

Digital

BONUS
Luciano - "Write My Name" [Footprintz Music Group]

Most unusually, while finishing up this post (for the second time) and while talking to Bredz on the phone, he told me that he'd just found a new Luciano album! The album, "Write My Name", comes via the US based Footprintz Music Group (who sounds kind of familiar to me actually, for some reason, but I can't think of anything else they've done) and they look legit so this is a BIG deal now isn't it. Aside from that, Luciano AND Mikey General dropping albums this month, a few hours apart and suddenly this dried up November just got a lot more delicious.

Potential Rating: 4.75/5
Releases November 23
CD [Apparently it has a DVD too!]

'I Hear You': A Review of "Mi Deh Yah" by Clinton Fearon

Everyone should know what they do well. I, for instance, have figured out that one of the things that I do really well, at least in my opinion, is to write about people who have discovered that they, themselves, have a musical talent. I love to do it, obviously, and it’s just my ‘thing’. In particular, what I really enjoy doing is writing about people who don’t get written about very much. Call me afraid of ‘competition’ or what have you, but the fact that there’re x-amount of reviews on this blog which simply have NEVER and will NEVER be covered to any significant degree anywhere else is one of which I am particularly fond. Of course, however, for every review of an album from the Meshachs, Lion Ds and Empress Roberthas of the world, there’s a seemingly (and wonderfully) never ending line of others from the Buju Bantons, Lady Saws and Spragga Benzes and while that certainly is fine - I’m writing them just the same - I do so enjoy being the first (and only) to pierce an album in the literary sense. When that isn’t the case, there does happen to exist this . . . Very unusual type of a project which is certainly not the most well known or popular in almost any respect, but it has so much fanfare surrounding it, particularly on the Internet, that if you are paying attention (and “paying attention” is what I do), you almost cannot avoid at least dealing with it in some cases. In retrospect, I’d place a couple of albums from last year in this category - Ras Zacharri’s ”Herbs Man” and ”2 Sides of My Heart” by Gramps Morgan. Maybe not at the time when I wrote about them (or maybe), but those two albums, the former more curiously than the latter definitely, just gained so much steam in online that I STILL find myself going back and having spins of both when I hear someone mention a particular tune and how impacting or just GOOD they found it to be. What is even nicer, from a completely selfish point of view, is when I think I have a part in creating said “steam” and I definitely did that last year in the case of Lion D and also did this year with Naptali - Yes, I am proud. Sometimes it does take me awhile to really catch on, in spite of this, but I eventually get around to it and now what I’m getting around to, in response to several very well written articles and reviews and more than a few messages from readers and colleagues alike is the brand new album from a Reggae veteran amongst Reggae veterans, Clinton Fearon, ”Mi Deh Yah”.

‘Achis, have you heard that new Clinton Fearon album? What do you think?’ That was a very popular topic of discourse in my email box for a month or two just awhile back as Fearon had dropped the apparently well regarded and very popular brand new album. Fearon, like Ras Midas earlier this year and Pablo Moses and a few others make up a group of artists (coincidentally, all of whom, I THINK, are most popular in the western US these days) (and Fearon even lives there, in Washington) (biggup Adrian Xavier), who are older and active names, but not THE most popular (such as a Burning Spear or a Culture), to whom I simply wished that I paid more attention to. In Fearon’s case, there were his days with The Gladiators which essentially ended before I was born and/or mature enough to REALLY get the messages in his vibes (the man has been making Reggae music for more than FORTY years at this point) and although I certainly paid attention to his subsequent solo efforts, particularly as I’ve gotten older, I just never really went and dug in and LISTENED how I listen to music. Well, given the fact that everyone and everyone’s Grannie wanted to know exactly what I did think this time around (and I don’t know why. I’m still trying to piece together how and why exactly this album got this popular in seemingly as short amount of time that it has, but regardless of why, it’s definitely something to be proud of in terms of the genre as a whole) (my ‘suspicions’ is that Fearon’s fan base is a lot larger than I think it is and it probably has been for quite some time) I thought that, just like with Ras Midas’ ”Fire Up” album from earlier this year, that there was no better time to catch on than now and I definitely made it a point to check out the fittingly titled ”Mi Deh Yah”, no matter how long it took. It ended up taking three or four months or so, but I finally got around to it and what I found most striking is a quality which I’ve certainly noticed in my brief spins of Fearon’s music over the years. What he is able to do, which is quite rare and VERY attractive musically, is to ‘liven’ up the standard Roots Reggae music. The genre itself is one which is often (mistakenly, in my opinion) kind of pigeonholed as being of the very ‘template’ or ‘cookie cutter’ variety, meaning that you’ll find so much of it sounding like itself, but you’d be hard-pressed to listen to this album and come away with the same thought, at least in my opinion. While the album is CLEARLY Roots Reggae of the modern era, but with a decidedly old-school twist (the “twist”, of course, being the artist himself), it sounds so FRESH and NEW, which is something that isn’t a problem or so rare for people like you and I, but is certainly one for the overall appeal of the genre, so hopefully some of those people who think that so much of this wonderful music sounds stale and drawn out have stumbled upon this very nice album. And the album definitely is ‘very nice’. Again, I’m not exactly an expert on Clinton Fearon’s output, but given the initial response this one has gotten and then subsequently listening to it myself, I don’t think that I’m stretching the boundaries of my brain too much by saying that it probably ranks amongst his greatest creations as a solo artist. So, to allllllllllllll of you beautiful people who spent so much time asking me to give this one a listen (biggup Camille) okay - You were right.

The album was produced by the artist, himself, for what is apparently his very own label, Boogie Brown Productions (and it’s also the name of his band), from out of his adopted home of Seattle, Washington in the States and it is distributed by the hard working boys and girls at Makasound/Makafresh in Europe. Getting us up and going on Clinton Fearon’s new presence announcing and affirming album, ”Mi Deh Yah” (even though ‘im “deh yah” from loooooooooooong time), is what is my second favourite tune on the entire album, the delectable ‘Life Is A Journey’. This song is one which is apparently very personal for Fearon, but it’s written in such a ‘broadening’ way, just as the title would indicate, that I’m also thinking that it cold be a tune about the Afrikan Diaspora as a whole. IF IT IS then the song becomes even that much more brilliant (and even more so if it is about both), but regardless, I do so enjoy when a writer leaves something to the listener’s interpretations, but still maintains a course which is what happens on this outstanding opener. The next tune in, ‘Rock And A Hard Place’, speaks to just staying the course and holding firm when facing struggle and resistance to what you want to accomplish. This tune has such a nice vibes to its sound that I’m almost tempted to call it more entertainment than education and, as I alluded to, it doesn’t at all step outside of the ‘normal’ realms of what is considered Roots Reggae, but it is very distinct as well. And finally, from the opening few tunes, is the album’s literal changeup, ‘[Um Lar Longe] De Casa [‘Home Away From Home’]’. This tune was clearly written either during or just in reference to one of Fearon’s trips to Brazil, to which he feels such a great and obvious connection to label it ‘a home away from home’ for him. The tune is probably going to mash up Brazil, but for the rest of us, it’s very nice as well and just like the tune preceding it, it is very dynamic is one of the tune’s here certain to get heads knocking.

Going back to the vibes heard on ”Mi Deh Yah” and how they are conforming and nonconforming to the genre at the same time, some of the album’s most interesting moments occur on such tunes. First I’d direct your attention to something which doesn’t do what I just mentioned, but is arguably the most interesting set on the whole of the album, ‘Focus’. This one is . . . Just a very random, but GORGEOUS instrumental. More and more these days we see artists throwing in dubs of tunes from the album on the album, but this is just a very nice, horn driven and bouncing piece - Just because! And I have absolutely no problem with that. It is really later on in the album when we see more different things begin to happen musically and you can listen to a tune such as ‘Jamaica’, with its very Jazzy intro and the song following it, the ‘funky’ ‘Tell The World’ (which happens to be one of the best written tunes here as well) as examples. And, again, they certainly aren’t large stretches, but THE most elastic of them all just so proved to be my absolute favourite tune on the album, because the intense ‘Feeling Blue’ is absolutely MASSIVE! I can remember listening to the song for the very first time and being so captivated by what I heard and then suddenly this BEAUTIFUL Asian sounding violin kicks in and I got LOST! The vibes on the song are nearly perfect and the tune itself, a call for the masses to get off our asses and do something, is just a winner in every way (oh and had Fearon wanted to include an instrumental of this song, I wouldn’t have complained at all and it almost threatens to be just that as it is the longest tune to be found on the album, by more than half a minute).

“Everyone’s got a heart
And every heart’s got a right to beat
State your claim, know your destiny
Talk is cheap, it’s death without works”

The successes of ”Mi Deh Yah” continue with even the more straight forward material as well. Check the very strong title track which is so EASY that it seems as if Fearon wrote, produced and recorded it while lying in his bed (might also explain the fact that it is frustratingly short as well). The tune is just a nice and inspirational vibes and if you listen to it going straight through, it definitely sets a nice stage for the song which follows it, ‘What A World’. That tune probably has the single most identifiable (SIGNATURE) chorus of the album and the rest of the song brings in this very full and vibrant sound so it has absolutely no troubles becoming one of my favourites. Lyrically, the tune ‘Better Days’ leaves a bit to be desired, but musically it is one of the best songs on the album and I like how, in more than one instance, it’s allowed to ’breathe’ a little, just letting the music take over. What is said on the next tune, ‘The Best’, is far more crucial, albeit on somewhat of an odd cadence, but eventually I started to really enjoy this one as well. ‘Are You Ready’ had no such growing pains with me. For some reason I’m hearing a teeny tiny bit of Everton Blender inflections on this tune, which I LOVE it, of course. The tune, like the opener, is one which lends itself to many different directions in terms of how the listener perceives its actual intent and with my entirely overactive brain, that’s definitely a good thing.

And as ”Mi Deh Yah” winds down we get two more very strong and colourful pieces in ‘John Jones’ and the closer, ‘Working For The Man’. The latter is probably the stronger of the two to my opinion, but both rank near the very top of songs for the album and go to really round out what is my prevailing sentiment from this release - It is just very SOLID. I would have liked to see maybe a combination or two (I think a female’s voice just mixed in somewhere would have done big things), but you can’t really gripe with what Clinton Fearon has done with this ultimately very well-rounded project.

Overall, I have the very rare position on this one of being, basically, a ‘new’ listener to Clinton Fearon’s music and as I always use this segment of the review to recommend or warn off a certain type of listener, I can now say, as someone who has gone through the experience - If this is your first time REALLY listening to Fearon’s music (provided that you have experience in the genre), you’re really going to like it. Like I said, he does things which keeps the elasticity of his sound intact, but it never destroys the typical boundaries of the style, so if you are a fan of the music who just hasn’t made your way to Clinton Fearon, join me in making the first trip at ”Mi Deh Yah” - You can’t really go wrong.

Rated: 4.25/5
Makasound/Makafresh
2010
CD & Digital



Clinton Fearon

"KING"

For today, I thought that I’d briefly relay a . . . CHARMING moment (at least to me) which happened probably back in April or so, instead of trying to write some not-so intelligent article in an hour or two.

My Daughter is one of the quietest kids that I’ve ever seen in my entire life. When I was a child the only thing that could keep from running my mouth was if my mouth were completely full and, my Wife, although a pretty smart kid (so she says), was reportedly a never-ending talker as well. It fit’s the young one’s general disposition as well - She’s pretty observant and just doesn’t make a great deal of noise. To make the point even greater, of course Grand Parents love Grand Children and after meeting my Daughter for the very first time (she was less than a month old at that point) my most wonderful Mother-In-Law, stuck in a conversation with me for five minutes or so about nothing in particular, caught herself by saying something, in reference to the baby, along the lines of, “Oh. I forgot she was even here”.

Generally, the only thing that will get a rise out of her is Daddy doing something stupid, food of course and Soca OR the prospect of Soca. “Car ride” is a phrase she’s come to equate with Soca and I can write this thing forever, but to be perfectly honest, I have NEVER heard ANY song even remotely as captivating and intoxicating as this little girl’s laugh and appropriated general delirium. It is the light of my physical life.

So! On this particular day in April, while going through the ‘other room’, which holds the a great deal of my music collection and . . . About four years worth of failed attempts of new hobbies of my Wife’s, I was thumbing through posters of my Wife’s and showing the short one and got to a rather nice one of His Imperial Majesty. I haven’t talked to her about these things and, like I said, she isn’t the most vocally inquisitive of people which made it all the more surprising when, without any provocation whatsoever, and without any discernible emotion or inflection in her voice, my Daughter puts her hand on the side of the picture and says, “King”.

Today we give thanks and honours in the name of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I. Crowned King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of The Tribe of Judah, Elect of God and Might of The Trinity 80 years ago today.

Stuff: Almost There

Yow!
It’s November if you haven’t noticed (and be honest, you haven’t, have you???) which means that in less than two month’s time, the whole of 2010 will be but a memory and we shall enter the final 7 months and 13 days of my twenties known as 2011 - Thank you for your condolences. But first, we turn our attention to remembering October 2010 and we do so, mainly, in memory of three names the Reggae/Caribbean Music/Caribbean community lost.

Apparently in the matter of just three days we lost the legendary singer, Gregory Isaacs [59] and sitting prime minister of Barbados [49], David Thompson to cancer - Isaacs to a cancer of the lungs and Thompson to pancreatic cancer. Also and so tragically, on the 22nd of the month, Soca singer Blazer Dan was shot and killed in his yard. I have to admit that (at least so I thought) I hadn’t been paying much attention to Blazer’s music over the past few seasons, but when I actually looked him up, he’d sang quite a few tunes that I liked, such as ‘Waistline’, ’Be Mine Tonight’ and a personal favourite ‘Stages’ from a few seasons back.

So big all of them up immensely. I think it’s always so important to CELEBRATE people when they past because I never really meet a nice person who wants people to be sad when they’re gone, so, particularly in the case of Isaacs and Blazer, they’ve left us with so much to be celebrate with so, at least in our case, we’re definitely celebrating them today and going forward. Rest easy our friends.

Aside from that, my quest for October was to have a good time and I didn't do everything I wanted, but we definitely had a good time. Went to a few nice parties as well.

My personal highlight was the review for Jalena’s ”The Jam Sessions” album, because I didn’t even know it was around at that time and we did it anyway and from since then, it’s been traveling quite nicely and I even had the opportunity to listen a nice interview with her as well. There was also the Ifficial Riddim, Buju’s new album, Adele Harley and TWO vault reviews for my people who say I never touch them and hopefully I can pull another this month also had a nice list and hopefully have another fairly soon on that as well and just niceness. I’m not going to kiss my own ass (because it is physically impossible and even if it weren’t I wouldn’t do it), but I wrote WELL in October and the response has been so nice, so thank everyone.

So that’s that - November you say??? Don’t know! But let’s see.

• I was looking forward to an Etana album this month, but it’s not going to happen (and apparently isn’t going to until next year). What you can expect, however, are reviews for albums from the likes of Apple Gabriel, Lyricson, the ”Hi-Grade Ganja Anthems 3” album and . . . Yeah. You see that’s all I have from the top of my head, so I may use November to go back and do some stuff I’ve been meaning to write for a few months such as the Major & Minor Riddim album and even wayyyyyy back for Clinton Fearon. And who knows what else jumps up - I could see Bambu Station doing their release this month and . . . Yeah. And potential drops from the vault include a Sizzla review (DAMNNNNNNN) as well as Kulcha Knox.
  
• Tomorrow is the 80th anniversary of the Coronation of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie I and while I absolutely atrocious with dates, I have remembered this year and will act (HOPEFULLY) appropriately. However, I don’t know what it is yet, so don’t expect anything too elabourate or colourful and hopefully not too corny either.
• Still have a few things left in the offering in terms of . . . Talking to people, but I don’t know when I’m going to get that done, but thankfully I have the options now. OH! And I (fucked up) didn’t do it in October, but we will be doing artist of the month in November.
  
• This month, we’re mixing fun and sensibilities. December I THINK I’m going to grind down and start writing serious pieces and such, so if you have anything ridiculous on the mind (especially lists), let me know and, of course, send those and send big (and obscure) tunes to AchisReggae@Hotmail.com.

Biggup everyone. I just talked about you a few days ago, so I won’t this time - But biggup everybody else, like Dale Cooper and everybody at Zojak (hey Zoe!) . . . (Yeah forgot about the Zojak bag, something REALLY nice they’re doing I’ll have to tell you about, probably on Thursday) and Lion Zeal and Linya and blah blah blah blah. Let’s have a good time this month yeah. Biggup yourself John B.

Tune! I had a good one when I started, but I forgot it. So check this one instead (whatever it turns out to be dammit).

Pictured - The Conquering Lion

Shall Break Every

Chain

Beautiful Tunes #34

. . . Yep. Tomorrow is the first of the month so . . . That means STUFF. So I won't say much here. Big tunes, Sunday, You and Me, right now. And if not YOU, then make it you next week, with big tunes to AchisReggae@hotmail.com.

Okay. So I was supposed to mention this one last week, I think - Longtime reader and participant here, Jah Callax from out of the VI pushes his first non VI Reggae tune - It's Aswad with the big instrumental, 'Warrior Charge'. Callax had some kind of story which included the mention of Dizee Rascal, which immediately made me uncomfortable, of course, so I won't mention it here and instead I'll just say excellent choice and I'm wonderful human being for remembering it (so what if I had to be reminded).

Next we have a very familiar name, Allen, but from a different source. This Allen is a newibie from out of Hawaii (biggup Sahra Indio) and he had about twenty tunes from J-Boog in his brain and basically invited me to pick one. So I didn't pick the best, but I picked the most interesting! It's J-Bood remaking Marlon Asher's MAMMOTH 'Ganja Farmer' and if you're like me (and you probably are), after you hear this tune you'll need to hear the original. J-Boog big artist still and I will actually pick a good tune from Allen's list next week . . . If I can remember to.

And lastly it is Ziggi Recado alongside the legendary Marcia Griffiths on 'You' - which comes via recommendation of our good friend Linya, who made her suggestion live and in person. This tune is from Ziggi's EP "Same Difference" from earlier this year and I remember not liking it too much, so maybe I'll go back and have a next listen before 2011 hurries in. And DEFINITLEY biggup Linya everytime.

I'm easy this week. HUUUUUUUUUUUUGE tune courtesy of Ras Shiloh, the biggest tune from the "Coming Home" album (probably a future modern classic). It's 'Volume Of The Book' under a cool meditation while the WHOLE EARTH SHOOK!