I wrote the review for the album, Meaninfulmuzic by Formulla a few days back and the woman who gave me the link for the album is also giving it to you apparently so check out the album for free and also check out Formulla's second album, New Direction, which I'll also hopefully get around to reviewing someday as well. Rachael from More Fire Management says:
"GREAT WRITE UP MUCH BLESSINGS GIVE THANKS AND PROPS TO ACHIS REGGAE, FOR A LIMITED TIME YOUR READERS CAN DOWNLOAD FORMULLAS ALBUMS BELOW
Free Download FORMULLA-A NEW DIRECTION -ALBUM http://www.sendspace.com/file/awcl7e
Free Download FORMULLA 'meaningful muzic' http://www.sendspace.com/file/ib430w
RACHAEL (MORE FIRE MANAGEMENT)
http://morefiremanagement.moonfruit.com"
Monday, May 24, 2010
Check Out My Friends
Yow! Don't really feel like writing today (even though I have three pieces to post, which you get pretty soon (like tomorrow, and like Wednesday, and like Friday), I just don't feel like posting TODAY!
So, I thought I'd direct yo to compelling stuff going on elsewhere to add to your daily (weekly with most of these people) (if you're lucky) internet destinations. Like these:
So, I thought I'd direct yo to compelling stuff going on elsewhere to add to your daily (weekly with most of these people) (if you're lucky) internet destinations. Like these:
- Jahsh Concurz - I don't read JC's stuff enough (and he doesn't post enough anyway), but I recently started following the man and he's an INCREDIBLE poet, writing poetry from just head top and just clearing things out. So definitely go and check him out, check out the archives, the man has been blogging since 1943 and yeah, tell him Achis sent you.
- Nico Reggae - Nico is probably in his prime these days, he's getting on wicked a few times a week. Hopefully someday he finishes that Black Uhuru post, but in the meantime check him out, EXCELLENT writer and hear he's a genius at Math also.
- Dale Cooper - I have no idea what Dale Cooper's up to these days, probably somewhere watching a Clint Eastwood movie, but go see his very colourful and random blog anyway.
- United Reggae - I say I don't feel like writing today, but should you go over there today and see something that I wrote, know that I wrote it a couple of days ago (but check out the Jaguar Riddim still). Big things here, biggup Camille everytime and everybody else.
- Flava McGregor - Slowly but surely the man is making his entire catalogue available on his site so go and sift through it and if you don't pick up SOMETHING, then SOMETHING is wrong with you (or you just have everything already).
- Bass Culture - Shouldn't have to tell you about Zalemmmmmmm these days, but if you don't know then go and check Frenchie and mixes anyway.
- Reggae Unite - And lastly is another Frenchie whose name I don't know, but we just found him, maybe last week and I think he's subscribed to me also. This guy talks a lot about new releases, has a lot of cool interviews as well (of course it's all in French, so if you can't read French or you just don't want to then . . . Yeah, shouldn't have to tell you about Google) and I think he might even write for United Reggae too.
Yep, it's a song from NiyoRah. Yeah. No reason why I posted that one in particular . . . Yep.
BALANCE
BALANCE
Sunday, May 23, 2010
What A Beautiful Tune 13!
Yep, you know what it is! Send suggestions to AchisReggae@hotmail.com - No long talking, let's go:
Okay, I told this man I would give him the first spot because his suggestion was just so strong and I was happy that I'd finally push up some random Adrian Xavier. This tune comes on the recommendation of Josef from out of Portland, Oregon in the States. Probably I've been vibing Xavier's music for around a year or so now, I still haven't REALLY gotten into it, but hopefully he can drop a next album pretty soon and I can deal with it. This tune, 'Mother Nature', is excellent and you can find it on his 2004 set R. Nature. And, I don't know what the man is up to, so just generally keep an eye out for Mr. Xavier. Big artist and big tune Josef yeah.
Next is a suggestion from Carl from out St. John who apparently just vibes Rashani day and night and not too surprisingly suggests a tune from his past, 'Can't Blame The Youths'. Very nice message, very nice tune and I'd also like to add that Rashani (who is from Grenada and now apparently lives in the States) has a brand new album out by the name of Victims Of The System, so if this tune is REALLY hitting you, definitely check that one out. I haven't heard it myself, but I may grab it up someday, you can also get it digitally, so run over to Amazon or CD Baby and have a listen yeah and biggup yourself Carl.
And lastly from the masses today is the apparently increasingly prominent Kenny B, who is from Holland (and I THINK by way of Suriname), with 'Bosie Mel'. Reader Patrice from out of Holland says he (or she) could be a big artist in the future and he (or she) actually sent me this a few weeks back and I'm just getting to it (so you can stop talking me down) (in your horrible English). Anyway, Kenny B has also done work for new Achis Reggae favourite, Not Easy At All Productions for whom he has a big tune out now, 'Africa', alongside Luciano. So another strong recommendation here.
Excellent choices this week boys and girls. Anddddd. . . I don't know which song I'm going to push, I actually feel like I should grab Kenny B & Luciano. Oh, maybe I'll do a double. Okay this first tune is the one I just told you about, 'Africa' from Kenny B and Luciano via Not Easy At All Productions and it's available digitally as a single right now, so grab it up yeah (and apparently, there's an album out which you can almost certainly grab up on Dutchie iTunes, should you feel like sifting through that hell hole. Like The tune I just told you about, the album is called Bosie Mie) (And upon further research, the album, which features both of these songs is available on many versions of iTunes so now you have no excuses, go check it out and biggup Kenny B and Not Easy At All).
Okay and second will beeeeeeeee. . . Uhmmmm, maybe some Soca? Nope, going with some Natural Black, tired of waiting for a next album from Black, so I'm hitting the vault and coming back with the best tune from his '07 release, the very nice Cool Nuh Black album, 'High Grade'. See you next Sunday and link me definitely, if you have something on the mind.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Coming Soon Vol. 17.5
Coming Soon
Nice Vibes Riddim [Burton Records]Just saw this one pop up and thought that I'd run it through as well. You may not know Burton Records too well, I believe it's a Danish company and I recognize them for the simple fact that I can remember hauling through Amazon and pages last year and seeing their very simple covers (which were just different colours of what you see here) for a couple of releases and those pieces (the Strike Back and Uprising riddims, respectively) were pretty nice. They both were just a few songs or so on the riddim, but they featured very nice artists and the same is going to be said for the Nice Vibes Riddim as well. This piece features Zareb, Chezidek and Lutan Fyah as well as an artist I first heard of on the Uprising Riddim (I THINK), the very solid Mystic MC also from out of Denmark. Of course with names like that I'm interested and you might be as well so definitely give this one a listen when it drops.
Potential Rating: 4.25/5
Releases on June 11 (digital)
In Stores Now
Smiley - Lively Road [Love & Unity Music]And of course, I had to reiterate this release which I mentioned a few weeks back, because it's now been released. The burgeoning young Smiley from out of The Netherlands by way of Aruba brings forth his debut EP, Lively Road. We were, of course, hoping to get a full album and we're definitely still keeping an eye out for that, but this SOLID piece figures to keep the interests in this WICKED young artist very high. So, definitely if you're looking for something nice and cool, but powerful as well, pick up Lively Road from Smiley who is about to be a REALLY big deal in my opinion.
Coming Soon Vol. 17
Coming Soon
NiyoRah - Feel Your Presence [Denkenesh Records/I Grade Records/Zojak Worldwide]
Uh ohhhhhhh! It had to be sometime in the early part of last year when I caught wind of the fact that the ridiculously talented singer/chanter from out of the Star Lion Family from St. Thomas by way of Dominica, NiyoRah, was back in the studio working on bringing forth his third official album to date (there was also Stolen Scrolls, a very strong and official mixtape). Well, we had to just about half of the next year to get it, but now it’s well loaded and Feel Your Presence is on its way and I CANNOT WAIT to get my hands on it. Reportedly, the album was largely produced in Jamaica and it just so happens to feature two potentially HUGE combinations - One alongside the legendary Sugar Minott and the other featuring none other than Jah Mason. I Grade is also back on board (and they helmed both of Niyo’s first two releases) so you know there is going to be some BIG ‘vintage’ NiyoRah as well. Hate to put on so much pressure, but I definitely have to say that I’m expecting the world from this thing (particularly following his last release, Purification Session, which will probably be declared a ‘modern classic’ before the end of 2010) and if it isn’t absolutely spectacular in every way, I’ll be THOROUGHLY disappointed. But I’m thinking it’ll come through.
Potential Rating: 10/5
Releases on June 15 (Digital, CD coming soon)
{note: Full review coming next week}
Romain Virgo [VP Records]
Romain Virgo. I don’t think I caught on very early in terms of Virgo’s talents. I think that, coming from his background (I.e. winning a recording contract on a television program, “Digicel Rising Stars”, back in 2007), I may’ve unfairly written him off as just a ‘TV artist’. But it was a year or two ago that you take a listen to what he was doing and . . . The youth (from out of ST. ANN!) CLEARLY has a MAJOR talent. Apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought so as VP Records (I believe his contract was originally with Greensleeves, which is now VP) caught on and began to push the youth towards his own debut long player which they’re now bringing forth. The album features tunes that Virgo made his name on the strength of such as (of course) ‘Mi Caan Sleep’, the HUGE ‘Who Feels It Knows It‘, ‘Love Doctor’ and ‘Wanna Go Home’ (biggup Penthouse) as well as new tunes that you should well pay attention to such as a big tune with Virgo going DJ on the riddim, ‘Customer Care’. Having extensively vibed this album, if you’re kind of leery about picking up, I should definitely tell you that to even my critical ear, it’s better than you think as VP has apparently just found ‘the new Sanchez’ in outstanding young singer, Romain Virgo (and I may even slap a review on it).
Potential Rating: 4.25/5
Releases on June 8 (CD & Digital)
Chezidek Singles [Kinyama Sounds]
Man of the moment right now, the BLAZING Chezidek (from out of ST. ANN!) is back with another pair of tunes to continue the hype following his MASSIVE new album Judgement Time. The two tracks, ‘Right Track’ and ‘Free Up The Music’ come via solid Swiss label Kinyama Sounds and are simply two more very strong pieces from the artist. The ROLLING ‘Free Up The Music’, in particular’ has caught my attention and I can’t wait to take the full song for a spin and hopefully we’ll see more releases like this from Kinyama, they’ve been around for a minute now and although I haven’t paid them the greatest of mind, hereto forth, I’ll definitely be watching (and listening).
Potential Rating (in full): 4.25/5
Both Release on June 14 (Digital)
Digital Acoustics [Necessary Mayhem/Zojak Worldwide]
Curtis Lynch Jr. and his Necessary Mayhem imprint continue to carve their path of destruction in the UK with crazy artists, crazy riddims, crazy remakes and just big tunes in general as one of the hottest labels in the world today regardless of regions. Having packed up with quite a few riddim releases, they now bring forth a hot general compilation in Digital Acoustics. Don’t let the title fool you into thinking that this is a stripped down compilation of some of their previous releases (although that would be cool as hell), what you’re getting here are the versions you’re certain to know. Making appearances are the usual ’who’s who’ from Necessary Mayhem, such as Mr. Williamz (and you’re going to get the MASSIVE ’Real General’ tune from him which may be a first I believe, the tune is HUGE), YT (who checks in with the delightfully old school ’Write Some Lyrics’, Million Stylez and of course Ziggi. And you’ll also grab up different artists like veteran Little John, the blazing Maikal X and even Brinsley Forde from Aswad. This thing is EXCELLENT (I already have it) (biggup Zojak) and I’d be surprised to see it not ranking amongst the compilations of the year come December.
Rated: 4.75/5
Releases Soon (Digital)
Corner Boy Riddim [Red Rose/Zojak Worldwide]
You just HAVE TO love this ‘whole digital thing’ which can just resurrect just . . . Just like anything at any time. The latest thing to have to caught my ears comes courtesy of Anthony Red Rose (and the beautiful people at Zojak Worldwide), the old Corner Boy Riddim. This thing wasn’t amazing and if I recall correctly it didn’t birth tunes which exactly lit up the charts, but it was BIG to my ears. None was bigger than the riddim’s title track which comes courtesy of Tanya Stephens, but joining Vivienne were the likes of Anthony B, Harry Toddler (alongside Red Rose), Mega Banton with Tanto Metro and Devonte, Zebra & Anthony Malvo, Kippo and Lexxus (big tune, ’Real Age’) and even Frisco Kid. Again, you probably won’t find anything here that’s going to necessary ‘blow your mind’, but what you will find over this crazy ‘dramatic’ riddim is straight forward dazzling Dancehall deejaying and that’s something which is becoming rarer and rarer these days unfortunately.
Rated: 4/5
Releases Soon (Digital)
In Stores Now
Jah Cure - Unconditional Love featuring Phyllisia [Danger Zone/Sobe Entertainment/Zojak Worldwide]
‘Unconditional Love’ is a song which made its rounds earlier this year and now finally hit’s the digital side (courtesy of Zojak Worldwide). The song took quite awhile to grow on me quite honestly and I’d just put it down after awhile only to pick it back up when I saw that it’d ran out digitally. It’s a VERY nice song. The Cure is joined by his label mate (I THINK), the increasingly cute Phyllisia (whose name is hard as hell to remember how to spell) who adds to the vibes and . . . I like it!
Lutan Fyah - Jail [Very Huge Records/Zojak Worldwide]
This one, Lutan Fyah’s ‘Jail’ from Very Huge Records, is a very similar situation to the one I just told you about from Jah Cure. The first (few) time I heard this tune, I honestly didn’t care for it very much and it really hasn’t been until the last couple of DAYS or so (before I actually got the tune, however) (thankfully) that the piece began to really hit me. I still don’t think that it’s one of his finer efforts, but apparently I’m not in the majority with that because it’s doing a big damage. Well, you can now pick it up digitally as well (again, from Zojak) (the similarities are endless) and decide for yourself. Even not at his best, the Fyah at 75-80% is better than what you’re going to get from most artists and judged in that manner, ‘Jail’ is a big tune.
Brighter Day Riddim [149 Records/IkaRoots Muzik]
I actually wrote about this one last one a week or two ago for UnitedReggae.com and have kept my eyes on it ever since, due largely to the fact that the Brighter Day Riddim potentially contained a FUCKING LETHAL tune from Achis Reggae favourite, Queen Omega. Having now successfully gotten my paws on the tune, ‘Last Days’, it is HUGE! This is one of the strongest songs that I’ve heard thus far in 2010 and it is spectacular. The Queen isn’t the only star on the riddim (although she would have more than sufficed), she’s joined by Ras Mac Bean from out of Guyana and his tune, which is the title track for the riddim, is another big one as well. And you can also forward to big pieces from Jah Rain, Jah Reuben Mystic and a mysterious guest in the form of Mary Lou with the ‘special’, ‘Good Bye’.
Vitamin & Highlight Riddims [Akom Records/Zojak Worldwide]
This piece is another lovely one as French label Akom essentially sticks both of its most well known projects, the Vitamin & Highlight Riddims together for one digital release. What they’ve also done is to manage to catch a crazy amount of attention with it from me (and now, if you’re smart, you also). Why? You push one project that has names Lutan Fyah, Natty King (more than once), Pressure Busspipe, Jah Mason (more than once), Black Dillinger, JAH MARNYAH (more than once) (“unda dem blouse and skirt, claim seh dem a big man, find out dem ah big pervert!), Anthony John and Lorenzo? I’m on it! Not only that, but the riddims, when they were originally released (at least digitally), were done basically in EP form, particularly the Vitamin, which just had four tracks. This packed piece checks in at 21 tracks, so there’s definitely something for everyone, so if you don’t like something on this release . . . Yep.
Zabiki - Bless My Soul [Henfield Records/Zojak Worldwide]
There was an album last year from Free Willy (also distributed digitally by Zojak, incidentally), from an artist by the name of Zahair, which was called Jah Instrument and for some reason this very kind of random and largely unknown piece from veteran Zabiki, Bless My Soul, reminds me of that piece so much. And it’s better. This album is by no means spectacular, but I should mention that when I got it in a batch, for some reason it caught my eyes immediately and I spun COMPLETELY through it before I listened to anything else in the lot. You may not be familiar with the nice singing Zabiki, but he’s been around from quite awhile and he’s been voicing a great deal of the old Henfield riddims as well. The result is this album which features him with tunes familiar to me like ‘None Shall Escape’, ‘Go Before Us Jah’ and ‘Zion Gate’ which are all very strong. Again, while it may not be a life changing experience for you, Zaibiki’s Bless My Soul is just a very strong and solid album.
Home Sweet Home Riddim [Swallowbird Productions]
I don’t know a thing about this piece and I haven’t even gotten my hands on it yet, so know that before you read this. You can look at the picture there and see every one who’s voicing on the riddim and you can read the names and everything, but I thought that I’d direct your attention to the center of the pictures to the gentleman in the black shirt. That, of course, Achis Reggae favourite, Prince Theo who voices the Home Sweet Home Riddim from Swallowbird Productions (incidentally, the man in front of him, with the blue shirt and white hat, is Jah Swallow, the producer of the riddim, who also has a tune). I’m always so happy when Prince Theo brings forth a new tune and I’ll definitely be grabbing this one up. Of course if you aren’t as high on the singer as I am . . . Well then just look at the other names, I hear that guy in red is a big artist . . .
Sylem - Soldjah [Disques Durs]
And lastly, consider this one a bonus because I’m still definitely playing with it. Sylem is another artist from out of Martinique and he definitely is well talented as is proven on (I THINK) his debut album Soldjah. To put it simply, everything I’ve heard from this release thus far (and again, I’m still working on it), is VERY impressive. So take a chance on it and who knows you may tune in here one day and see a review for it, because I’m thinking this one is EXCELLENT.
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