A Vibe! Powerful Dread by Kenny Smyth

"Powerful Dread" by Kenny Smyth [JahSolidRock]

Okay so, if you hadn't noticed we kinda/sorta took a little break from writing consistently to kind of refresh things. I always have things that I'm working on (it's therapeutic for me after all of these years, even if we don't post them), but I was really looking for something that hit me to the point where I simply needed to tell all you wonderful people about what I was listening to. What I really needed was a VIBE. Do you know what a VIBE is? I mean REALLY??? A vibe, in this context, is motivation. It's a spark! It's something that not only creates an idea in your head but it also sees that idea to fruition (which you are currently looking at now); and to find this particular vibe, we would have to head to the highest region.

A few years ago I heard a SWEET tune by the name of 'Vibe' from an impressive younger singer by the name of Kenny Smyth, the 'Breadbasket Singer'. It was just a really fun and BRIGHT song and one which well registered and stayed with me and though I had come across Smyth's work prior to that, 'Vibe' was the track that established a bit of 'property' for the vocalist in my memory and I was delighted when we received a message from our friends at JahSolidRock (really, really nice people who I probably first linked with well over a decade ago now) saying that they had worked out a full project with Smyth and thought that I might be interested in it, "Powerful Dread"... they were correct. When I first laid ears on this set I heard just a touch of something truly special within a pair of selections in particular, but throughout the entire release, Kenny Smyth shows himself to familiars and new fans alike that his is a talent of immense consideration; powerful indeed. The way "Powerful Dread" is constructed is that there are six original tunes with each one being followed by its dubbed out counterpart. So, I thought that I'd give it the ole quick track-by-track rundown and, clearly, you have nothing better to do with yourself, so let's take a listen! 

'Stronger' featuring Earl Sixteen & 'Stronger Dub'

Kenny Smyth taps a legend and a frequent name around JSR circles to get things going as 'Stronger' features the venerable Earl Sixteen and the results, as you might expect, border on the spectacular. Though it has a very concentrated and focused type of vibes, there is also something quite OPEN about 'Stronger' (more on that in just a second) in its sound to my ears. 'Stronger', at least for me, is about self-improvement and self-esteem and how important it is to establish and maintain both, despite how difficult doing so may be made by outside forces ["Don't let them tell you seh you losing when you're winning"]. There's also a high attention to detail and CLASS paid to this one... but you knew that already when you saw "featuring Earl Sixteen"... and we could have done with a bit more of the immortal singer as well. As for the dub, it lays a significant claim to being THE single finest on the whole of "Powerful Dread". As I alluded to, though you'll never mistake its core sound for exactly what it is -- straight up Roots Reggae music -- the vibes on this one effortlessly lead it in so many different directions with a delightful electricity that bubbles throughout.

'Pagan Land' & 'Pagan Land Dub'

'Pagan Land' was the initial single from "Powerful Dread" and though my heart may favour another selection here, in every registerable and semi-measurable category, 'Pagan Land' is THE signature moment from this release and it is no surprise that it was chosen as a the first featured tune. How good is it? There is a feeling you get which is very hard to describe (if you've hung out around these parts for any length of time then you routinely have seen me say "BOOM". That's the word I generally use for it.... less is more) when you're listening to a tune that has the 'air' of being special and whatever that feeling is and whatever descriptor you choose to give to it they are CLEARLY applicable to 'Pagan Land'. The song comes through as a more broad call for change and social action (as well as ACCOUNTABILITY) and the message is wrapped up in this absolutely GOLDEN package. The sound on the track pretty much ends where it began without veering away from that point very much, if at all; but I guarantee you, you will not find a damn thing worth complaining about within that limited route.

You also won't have any problem with its dub as 'Pagan Land Dub' also doesn't detour from the course, but there is a section when this thing has warmed up at.... about a minute and a half in where these beautiful vocal echoes begin to shine that 'Pagan Land Dub' hits a level SO high that it threatens to even surpass the original vocalized version as far as demonstrating a purely PLEASING sound. YEP!

'Roots Girl' & 'Roots Girl Dub'

"I wanna know what you did to my mind"

You've been there (and if you haven't, I'm sorry for you). No matter if it's a brand new one or a relationship whose exact beginnings have begun to fade from your memory (whether you want to admit it or not), you hit a point when you're around someone who you TRULY are infatuated that literally leaves you in awe of that person. It doesn't have to be a big moment like when you're marrying them or when one of you is giving birth, but it could be something as simple as the visuals brought out by by the lovely 'Roots Girl' where Smyth talks sitting in the kitchen watching his woman COOK [!] when her favourite song comes on the radio. This woman has his complete attention and it sounds as if the singer wouldn't have it any other way if he could on a tune which is probably quite a bit stronger than I was expecting, honestly.

The dub here also comes as somewhat of a surprise as well as its sound is quite versatile. The riddim on 'Roots Girl' is quite big, actually and I was thinking that the dub would go onto to draw out that vibe especially and while it does, it doesn't remain there very long. Instead, 'Roots Girl Dub' seemingly comes through in an attempt to highlight every single one of the tune's finest details and, by its end, it does precisely that. 

'Feel It' & 'Feel It Dub'

When I heard the direction 'Feel It' took it made me so eager to hear its dub because it fits so wonderfully into the way "Powerful Dread" is built. They give you the tune and, at least from my (perhaps [SURELY]) overthinking perspective, they go on to CELEBRATE the music with the dub and what's even better than that is a dub celebrating a song that is.... celebrating music already! 

"Mi seh di message gonna turn up nicer than di pastry that you eat up with the gluten

Reggae reach up inna Russia Mr. Putin"

The horns also stood out prominently and I was, again, damn interested to hear what became of them on the dub. What is found on 'Feel It Dub' is fairly close to what I expected to find with this oft-downright TRIUMPHANT sound. Not only are we treated to a hefty dosage of horns, but the drums SOAR as well,  dominating portions of the instrumental. I'm probably going to call 'Feel It Dub' the album's finest dub altogether and even if you disagree, I'm sure you'll find it close to whatever you do feel is the best. This thing is gorgeous.... entirely too short, but gorgeous. 

'Roots' & 'Roots Dub'

Though not a musical celebration (at least not directly the very jovial 'Roots' is very much within the same spectrum as the tune it chases here and you could very well make the case that it is a celebration of sorts. This one, at least for me, is a observance of FEELING GOOD and confidence and motivation! Though done in a more specific manner (as you would expect), what I hear from 'Roots' can apply to anyone!

"But I don't wanna be nobody else

I'm comfortable being myself 

Seh I don't, I don't see you for your wealth

I'M COMFORTABLE WITH MYSELF"

Going into the dub, I think about how, right near its middle, 'Roots' seems to take a hypnotic step ahead in its pace (it literally sounds FASTER at one point and if, like me, you're a giant nerd, you will find yourself listening to that part over and over again) and I hear not the same thing but an equivalent in the dub (check how things change between eighty and one hundred seconds in) which is just as attention-grabbing.... and now, if you'll excuse me, I have to reconsider my choice of favourite dub on "Powerful Dread".

'Can't Say I Didn't Tell You' & 'Can't Say I Didn't Tell You Dub'

Smyth and JSR save one of their mightiest turns for the closer as 'Can't Say I Didn't Tell You' is MAMMOTH! It comes through with a fully ROYAL sound which tones down throughout the tune, but never actually relents even slightly. The song may just be the finest lyrical effort on the whole of "Powerful Dread" as well and words & sound combine to produce THUNDER! I was actually thinking that 'Can't Say I Didn't Tell You Dub' would be more vocal-heavy than it  turns out to be, but what they did come up with is nearly spectacular (and does include the better part of a verse). There's a slight touch of an organ here (at least that's what I think it is) that catches my attention and though I wish there were more of it, the fact that they don't overdo it probably helps the vibe altogether. You will not find a more powerful pair on "Powerful Dread" as a whole than these two which link to send us out in a dazzling way.

"Powerful Dread" is probably best recommended for more familiar fans of Roots Reggae but I can't close it off entirely. If you are a new fan, I think you're also likely to appreciate the pure sonic appeal of the set as well because the musicianship is of very high quality and if you've paid any attention to the work of JahSolidRock throughout the years, that should come as no surprise to you at all. So let's fix that! IF YOU LIKE.... IF YOU LIKE GOOD MUSIC, then I suggest you check out "Powerful Dread" by Kenny Smyth; just thought I'd let you know.