We ready. As is the norm on these features, we begin with what is likely Bunji Garlin's most recognizable tune to date, the now, ridiculously, over a dozen years old, 'Differentology'. This tune was all-conquering in its day and though I don't even think that I would rank it amongst the top five or so (maybe I would) of songs that you'll find on this list, it has a certain BRUTALLY infectious vibe to it which makes the attraction it garnered not the biggest surprise in the world. Produced by Keron Thompson, the song would also head what is, arguably [PROBABLY], Garlin's most well known album to date named after it and has aged particularly well, still being one of the genre's most popular records altogether.
2. 'Snake Oil'
In charge. Good luck to you getting the first entrant on this list, 'Snake Oil', out of your head anytime soon.... I've been working, unsuccessfully, for the better part of a couple of decades or so. 'Snake Oil' was seriously infectious and it's gone on to hold on to this delightful position within his catalogue. For those who've known it for any kind of time, it is revered not as this ALL TIME CLASSIC, but a sharpened and COOL song which, because of its kind of pulsing pace, is one of a kind from Garlin and an EXQUISITELY put together track.
3. 'Brave'
Fraid nuthin. Sometimes YOU must be the spark. That was the idea behind the explosive fifteen year old smash that was 'Brave'. It had a [VERY] specific core to Carnival and Soca but this one has big long legs. You could apply the sentiment behind 'Brave' to almost anything. It was about having courage and not being afraid to take a risk and not being afraid of failure and it was wrapped up in this high-powered package which remains some of Garlin's most impactful work ever in my opinion.
4. 'The Islands' featuring Patrice Roberts
EVERYDAY! I wish you all the luck in the world shaking this mess out of your head anytime soon (it's not going to happen for you. It just isn't). Prior to creating absolute carnage alongside Machel Montano and family (the single best tune of which was 'Rolling' and I dare you to disagree with me!) and striking gold with the CLASSIC 'Sugar Boy', Patrice Roberts would begin her push to prominence with this CANDY-like Mastamind produced tune alongside her Soca Daimyo cousin, Bunji Garlin (never used that word before, it was time to pull it out).
5. 'Fiery'
BURNING, BURNING, BURNING! Back in 2008, Garlin would have a lot of fans 'in their feels ' (do people still say that?), when he dropped his big tune of the season, 'Fiery', in honour of fallen Calypsonian, Maestro. I have always had something of a "love hate" relationship with this tune because, although it was sensational (and it still is) what tends to stand out most vividly about it is Garlin would use it to BLATANTLY STEAL Soca Monarch from his own wife who would deliver one of the greatest performances anyone has ever laid eyes on with 'Get On', and still be denied by 'Fiery'! Yes. It still pisses me off on some level, but that doesn't take away from what 'Fiery' was. It was genius and, HOPEFULLY, somewhere Maestro was listening and he was appreciative.
6. 'No Super Hero'
High demand.
"Well I'm no super hero
I'm not demon
Di gyal dem have wi in high demand
Mi doh know if you agree man
Mi gyal named Fay-Ann Lyons
So I am she man"
It was the ultra fun Soca Strings Riddim sitting behind Garlin's lyrically enthused 'No Super Hero' which headed his album by the name of "Global" from back in 2007. The tune, like several you'll find here, is a PRIME example of some supremely high level wordplay in the midst of absolute chaos. 'No Super Hero' was underrated genius and it was the type of song that you only come across in Soca.
7. 'Yuh Mad Or Wah'
LAVA! Though, to be perfectly honest, its quality probably doesn't earn it its spot on its list, the PRESENCE and IMPACT of 'Yuh Mad Or Wah' DEFINITELY puts it on such a collection coming from me. The tune was a shot at the curator of lava ground, I Wayne, who had once referred to Soca as "devil music". To the surprise of absolutely no one, Bunji Garlin stood up for the genre and did it in a way which was both kind of brutal also very sensible. He spoke about all of the people that, FRANKLY, Soca music feeds. How it puts money into the pockets of people who might otherwise just not have it or not have it in a peaceful way and the large role it plays in Trinidad. Like I said, 'Yuh Mad Or Wah', from a strictly musical point of view, is no where near Garlin at his best, but when Soca required someone to stand up for it against a... very odd foe, it was Garlin who took up the mantle and dealt with it, as you'd expect him to.
8. 'Carnival Tabanca'
I have it. A rather hypnotic backing, courtesy of Sheriff, played a perfect dancemate with Garlin on 'Carnival Tabanca', which would prove to be a sizable hit for all involved. All the trucks have been packed up and the road has been cleared. Carnival is gone. What you're left with is a feeling similar to losing a good friend and although this friend will be back next year (whether or not you're still here remains to be seen), you still miss them. 'Carnival Tabanca', in a delightfully CHILLED way, perfectly covered that sentiment and, perhaps, has aged as well as any other tune you will find here.
Jumping up together. Along with being a legit hit which would not only net Bunji Garlin his first Road March victory ever AND see Skinny Fabulous secure a very rare Road March for a non Trini artist (and he'd only previously won once in his homeland, St. Vincent), 'Famalay' was still, in a very enthused genre such as Power Soca music, a MIGHTY kick in the ass. On top of that, it had substance of unity to go along with its jump and wave and has already gone down as some of the best work either three have ever done in all of their storied careers.
10. 'Follow Me'
Know me when you see me! 'Follow Me' is in the discussion for being my single favourite song by Garlin ever. It's one of the best songs that he's ever made and, though it isn't respected on that level and never has been, from the very first time I laid ears on this thing, I was hooked! There is something powerfully and aggressively GRIMEY about 'Follow Me'. It is Power Soca of a most intoxicating blend and one of THE greatest of its kind that I have ever heard.
11. 'Carnival Contract'
Hard like nail.
"ME AND CARNIVAL HAVE A CONTRACT
EVERY YEAR WE GO HARD LIKE NAIL
I ON THE ROAD WITH TRUCK BIGGA THAN HUMP-BACK WHALE"
The ridiculous KNOCK of the Banx & Ranx produced riddim named after it was a MASSIVE part of my interest in 'Carnival Contract', but still only half. Atop it, Bunji Garlin GLOWED (why isn't "glew" a word???) with an idea that he was CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED to Carnival, each and every year. WHAT! In 2024, Garlin would fulfill that obligation via one of the most hard to shake songs that he has ever done. 'Carnival Contract' was simply somewhere else. It was absolutely dazzling, it still is and, although Michael Teja would have other ideas imprinted on his DNA (biggup Michael Teja), for me 'Carnival Contract' was the runaway winner for the 2024 season.
12. 'King's Arrival'
I am viking. Quite possibly THE SINGLE COOLEST song that Bunji Garlin has ever done, the woefully under-remembered 'King's Arrival' from J-Vibe was both a lyrical and musical masterpiece on a very THICK vibe. It pillaged and plundered and looted its way into my favourites and did so in a way that, though I wholly doubt you'd see it present on many other lists like such, 'King's Arrival' was one of the very first tunes I had in mind when I began putting this thing together. It was spotless.
13. 'Hard Fete'
On a hill. I have been listening to this song, pretty much nonstop, for over two years. That is the biggest compliment that I can possibly pay to 'Hard Fete' which would net Garlin his first (and to date, only) solo Road March title in 2023. Though the competition is fierce, I would probably call it my absolute favourite tune that he has done, ever. 'Hard Fete' is an intoxicant. It is a drug. It is an addictive substance and all that good stuff. With a HARSHNESS and.... downright ABUSIVE vibe to it, 'Hard Fete' does not care about your feelings. You can hate it. You can love it. That is unimportant to 'Hard Fete'. It will treat you rudely and you will not do a damn thing about it.
14. 'Clear De Road'
IT BLOCKED. Finally, we end things on the road, drenched in sweat and rain, courtesy of the chaotic 'Clear De Road'. I had this tune and another ('Hold A Burn') in my mind and, intentionally, wanted to force myself to choose between the two. I landed on 'Clear De Road' because there is something entirely UNCOMFORTABLE about it and I mean that in a good way. You cannot sit still while listening to this tune. It is, fittingly, disturbing and aggravating and it would have made for a PERFECT Road March tune had Mrs. Garlin not met his father-in-law that same season.
Okay so, just wanted to bring to your attention a pair of recently released BEAUTIFUL tunes from an old favourite of ours, the well talented Jah Defender from out of Trinidad. Just last week he delivered a big set and, again, on TODAY, he's once again bringing the fire.
First up is a song that comes courtesy of D Rebell Productions, also from Trinidad, the GOLDEN 'So Long'.
"It's been so long Rastafari calling
So long King Selassie I been calling
SO long Mama Africa been calling
No one seems to be listening
Well everyone so b usy doing dem owna thing
No one's listening to the children
You see, they don't like the world that dem living in
And dem waiting on us to do something
You see we can't sit around and play
Man haffi work for a brighter day
Strength on to strength I saw
NO MORE DELAY"
You know what? 'So Long' is probably one of the best songs that I've heard from anyone in this young year so far. It has such an easy and comfortable vibes to it that it immediately caught my attention and, when I actually started to dig into it, the ideas behind it were high and provided a nice foundation to what my ears were enjoying on a very basic level. Take a listen for yourself.
"You keep on doing wrong
And think he gonna get away forever
You think you big and strong
Feel dem so wise and clever
A day will come-
When Jah Jah gonna change up dem weather
This is a judgment sound!
Fire!
FROM YOU WICKED
You ahgo feel it!
GRUDGEFUL?
Ahgo feel it!
ENVIOUS?
Ahgo feel it!
CARNAL MIND AHGO FEEL IT
Too much hypocrisy, too much corrupt
Everyone si di bullshit and not speaking up
Dem love susu pon yuh name
Mi nah play dem funny game
Outta fire and flames
Man a lion, caan tame
Caan hold mi wid dem chains
King Selassie lives and reign
High grade up inna mi brain
Righteousness must maintain
Fire burning red
Babylon dem coulda neva get away"
And just today (unless it takes me four hours to get this posted), Jah Defender links with the esteemed Austrian imprint, House of Riddim on the also top notch and SCATHING 'Feel It'. This one almost comes off as an anthem (stop reading this and go listen to that chorus) and it is a fiery one as the Defender takes aim at all sorts of negativity and the results border on brilliant. Jah Defender is someone who I probably should write about more frequently. I have dealt with his work a couple of times or so sense we came back from hiatus, but it's been relatively thin from when we took a look at his debut album, "Rastaman Rise", a dozen years ago. He's an extremely gifted individual and, so far, his 2025 musical campaign is looking extremely bright. Take a moment and get acquainted with Jah Defender if you have not already or become reacquainted... just thought I'd let you know.
"One Degree Hotter" by Machel Montano [Monk Music - 2025]
First up today (as I write this on, literally, THE morning of Carnival Monday), is Trini Soca superstar, Machel Montano, who returns with a brand new album for 2025, "One Degree Hotter" (very clever title because Montano received his degree last year). Anytime Montano reaches with... pretty much anything there is going to be a big response and, at least as far as albums go, I've been very happy to see the early attention being paid to "One Degree Hotter" has been very heavy. As usual, the project contains virtually Montano's entire season with maybe a song or two that either you haven't heard at all or that didn't get much run this year. All of his biggest efforts are here such as 'Home Is Where The Heart Is' with Bunji Garlin and Mical Teja, 'Bet Meh', 'Pepper Vine' alongside Drupatee & Lady Lava and Jus Now & DJ Private Ryan which netted Chutney Soca Monarch 2025 just last night (and is EXCELLENT), personal favourites 'Wave It' and 'Fallen Fetters' with Skinny Fabulous and Road March contender (and I may just wait a couple of days to post this, and come back to change this to RM Winner), 'Pardy' (YEP! He won). We got big names making Soca albums last year like Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons and Kes but 2025 figures to be a slow year with, EASILY, "One Degree Hotter" being the biggest shot thus far.
"Reggae Frequency" by Tiwony [7 Seals/Evidence Music - 2025]
A couple of years ago, longtime favourite of ours, Gwada fire breather, Tiwony, returned with what seemed like his first new album in an eternity, "Frequency" and now, seemingly to make up for lost time, the man is back with its nearly immediate followup, "Reggae Frequency". As the title would suggest, the new album focuses more on straight Roots Reggae music where its predecessor was more varied and you definitely appreciate the effort to make such a LARGE project, spanning a couple of years. The second half is FUN, featuring helping hands from the likes of Chezidek, King Kalabash, Bobby Hustle and others with standouts including the likes of the remix of 'Long Road' (with Chezi), 'The Plug' (with Bobby Hustle and Yung Tripp), 'Chrysantémes', the mad closer, 'Dread [Reggae Frequency]b and 'Lévé' with BadSam and Jahlia.
'Future' by Sizzla & Bushman [Lockecity Music/Kalonji Music Production - 2025]
Apparently, we're not too long away from the next album release from Reggae legend, Sizzla Kalonji. Over the past few years or so, that hasn't been a very attractive thing to say as Kalonji has put out his fair share of substandard sets but if ever there were a reason to be intrigued by the forthcoming "Scrolls Of Kalonji" (besides the title being REALLY COOL), there's this first single and, on paper, MASSIVE combination 'Future'. The tune actually has the nerve to pair Sizzla with big voiced veteran singer, Bushman which, I THINK, is a first for them and comes courtesy of Lockecity. Just that, alone, well had my attention well before I laid ears on the tune and, as it turned out, the results were pretty strong as well as the two team up to push a vibe uplifting the young people of the world. If this is any indication (and DAMN, I HOPE IT IS), "Scrolls Of Kalonji" just may have a good chance to reverse recent course which would be great because I could really go for a GOOD SIzzla Kalonji album in 2025.
The Middle East Riddim [Greatest Friends/Evidence Music - 2025]
Biggup Greatest Friends Records from out of France (a label I'm most familiar with for their work with Queen Omega over the years) for their latest release, a cut of the Middle East Riddim, featuring a VERY interesting trio of singers. Last year, GFR would drop "Holding On", a solid set from King Lorenzo (who, suddenly, seems to be VERY popular these days and good for him!), which carried a tune by the name of 'Let Them Try' ["It's a rock road when you ah exalt Jah name. Heavy load, but wi nah go shame"], his tune on the Middle East. Joining Lorenzo are the mighty Chezidek and the woefully under-recorded Zareb (just wish we heard more from him), with 'It's No Crime' and 'Can't Fight Me', respectively. All three are at least very solid pieces of work, with Chezidek taking top honours in my opinion with a SWEET herbalist anthem.
"Meditation" by The Nazarenes [I Grade Records - 2012]
You can definitely owe this one to "Strength & Resilience", the latest GOLDEN album release from Lutan Fyah, I Grade Records and the Zion I Kings. In doing some backgrounding (yep, that's a verb now too) for that review, I started going back through the relationship of artist and label and got back to this somewhat forgotten GEM of an album, the baker's dozen year old, "Meditation" by Eritrean bros. The Nazarenes. Lutan Fyah would feature on 'It's Too Late' (Akae Beka also makes an appearance), during an album which is just best described these days as SOLID. There wasn't a creaking plank to be found anywhere amongst the fourteen with the biggest winners being the likes of 'Mamy Blues'... I say there wasn't a weak tune on the album and then I start naming songs. Nope! The entire album was, basically, a highlight and I'm of the thinking that YOU may've missed this one. Be that the case, go and do something about that right now because I'm done writing for the day.
Bonded. You know that feeling that you get when you meet someone that you REALLY vibe with. You come into contact with a person and their line of thinking melds so perfectly with yours - there's a certain level of excitement that you get in thinking of the possibilities of what you two can do with one another, going forward. This can apply in just about any (hopefully positive) situation, be it in meeting a potential partner or even someone with whom you are going to be working... and you see where this is going. From the standpoint of strictly a fan looking forward to hearing great music, there're very few things more appealing than being able to observe such a relationship begin and develop. Examples are all over the place. If I were to tell you that, somewhere, there existed long lost recordings of Sizzla Kalonji made by Bobby Digital and you had even the slightest bit of knowledge of what that relationship has produced, you are interested. The argument could be made that together, Digital and Kalonji have come up with two of the greatest albums in the history of the genre (not to mention "Good Ways"). Clearly, they worked well together and got the absolute best out of one another, which just so happened to be some of the best music that anyone has ever heard. Sizzla would also find riches recording with 'homebase', Xterminator consistently (particularly early in his career), and we've also seen other very fruitful artist/producer relationships as well. Most fittingly, a very interesting one to look at would be Akae Beka & I Grade Records. Much like Kalonji, the notoriously [over]active Vaughn Benjamin recorded with a very large group of maestros but the chanter would register, consistently, with maybe three or four, with the work he did alongside IGR being some of the most obvious standouts (Fifth Son Records would also be in that discussion, in my opinion). Furthermore, while some of Akae Beka's albums would be out for a bit while being difficult to find and virtually un-promoted, the sets that came from I Grade Records were readily available and fans knew of their arrival weeks (if not more, on occasion) ahead of release date. We could also get into other links such as those between, of course, Anthony B and the once mighty Star Trail, back in da day, with Mark Wonder & Oneness being an extremely fine more current one as examples of duos who've made sweet music together... sorry, I could not resist.
2005
I'm thinking it may just be time to add another pair of names to this list as, TECHNICALLY, we now have the third display of an extremely high level of proficiency. Literally twenty years ago, a label by the name of Lustre Kings Productions released an album by the name of "Time & Place" by an artist by the name of Lutan Fyah from a place by the name of Spanish Town. The album was fantastic. It was one of the best.... fifty or so that I've ever heard and has been declared a Modern Classic on these pages. Lutan Fyah had also worked with LKP from as far back as 2002 when he appeared on the oft-mentioned around these parts, "Culture Dem" compilation, and he would also be present on both the second and third installments of "Culture Dem" in 2007 and 2009, respectively. Want more?? In 2008, LKP released "Know The Road", a very nice album from Norris Man which contained 'Nah Pollute Your Faith', an excellent combination featuring Lutan Fyah ["All dem bad vibes - leave it alone. ONLY A CLEAN HEART TAKE YOU TO MOUNT ZION ZONE"]; and I could keep going but I have two more of these to do but, just in case you're interested, in 2015, the Fyah would also pop up on 'Cold War' a tune on the LKP released "Order Of Distinction" by Jahdan Blakkamoore (which I should probably do a vault review of sometime this year). Another label, Zion High Productions, was also involved in the production of "Time & Place" (I have the disc, it's sitting right next to me. Their logo is on the back cover) and, since then, Lutan Fyah has also worked on a considerable amount of their output as well. Including, but not limited to, "Jah Golden Throne", a WONDERFUL compilation from ZHP in 2012 and "Therapeutic", two years on, an overlooked but WICKED album from Ziggi Recado (his appearance there, 'Guide Ova', was MAMMOTH). So he's had a very long and distinguished history of recording with the "Zion" and the "Kings", has Lutan Fyah.
2017
He's also got the "I" covered as well. As far as I can tell (which means I'm completely wrong) one of the first times the aforementioned I Grade Records directly crossed paths with Lutan Fyah was on what may just be THE single greatest compilation that I've ever heard, 2009's "Joyful Noise". I don't know if that album, officially, put things together, but "Joyful Noise" was a full-on production of one of the greatest collectives Reggae has ever seen (and that is the type of thing we need to say NOW, while they are around to appreciate it and not withhold such OBVIOUS acclaim until people start passing away. THEY ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST TO EVER DO IT. PERIOD) the Zion I Kings. Subsequently, the chanter would go on to do a number of musical works with IGR, working on albums for The Nazarenes, Pressure Busspipe ["LET ME OFF NOW!"] and Akae Beka along the way. ALSO, it should be noted that I THINK (pretty confident in this one) Lutan Fyah is one of only a couple or so of artists to have appeared on every single installment of the ZIK's Riddim Series, with the most recent edition being the Full Bloom Riddim from just last year. In early 2017, I Grade Records with the Zion I Kings would make things 'official' with Lutan Fyah by releasing a full album, the much anticipated "Music Never Dies". Again, that album was excellent and, unless I'm forgetting something really special, the Zion I Kings, in one way or another, have been responsible for two out of Lutan Fyah's three best albums to date (of course the other one is "Phantom War", but you already knew that). Or is it four out of five??? A few weeks shy of eight years exactly from the release of "Music Never Dies", the Fyah is back on board with the Tippy, Moon and Bain, the fine folks who make up the ZIK, for yet another sterling piece of work, "Strength & Resilience". I had no clue that this album was in the offering. I hadn't heard anything about it but, in my weekly or so scanning to see what was up and coming (the latest of which revealed something very interesting from these exact same people (that looks like it would be fun to write about) as well as new albums from Alpha Blondy and Glen Washington), I did come across it and a video for its first single came up not too long after that. I did think that it was getting time for a big album from the ZIK, however, and from the very first time I laid eyes on "Strength & Resilience", I knew that it would fit the bill. Even if you were to ignore alllll of that history I gave you (which I would hate for you to do, since I spent so much time on it), it's a new Lutan Fyah album for the Zion I Kings.... c'mon now... stop playing.
There is something TRULY RIDICULOUS at the head of Lutan Fyah's brand new album with the ZIon I Kings, "Strength & Resilience". It took me a minute to figure it out (actually took a lot of minutes) but when I finally was able to put it together, I was absolutely shocked. The first tune here is called 'Warning Dem' and it is, for all intent and purposes, PERFECT. There is NOTHING at all wrong with 'Warning Dem'. From the second it really picks with those beautiful and ever so slightly understated horns and remaining throughout, in being nearly word-perfect from the Fyah: 'Warning Dem' is IMMACULATE. It's one of the best done tunes that I've heard in a while and a GEM! The "truly ridiculous" thing about it, however, is that 'Warning Dem' is not the best song on this album and it isn't the second best either! I had crowned it and made a note that it would be the top ranker here, but let's see how this goes (and I would change my mind). I do HAVE to mention a particularly SWEET portion of the opener, from about 2:50 in through about 3:15. They just let those horns take over and it is delightful as Lutan Fyah uses to moment to tell all that things are not as bright as they may seem. You just listen to the riddim on the obligatory mama tune from "Strength & Resilience", 'Listen Mama', and you're well aware that something special is going on and that's even before we get into the words. On that end, it is what is expected, but Lutan Fyah has stretches where he dazzles in showing his supreme appreciation for the most powerful being to walk the earth. Next in is the MAMMOTH 'Leader Before Me' where Lutan Fyah FIRMLY plants his feet on the ground and delivers a praising tune of the highest caliber
"Held by grace and Jah gave I wings - HE saved me
The mission is on: No failure in it
It's a difficult time
This is it! This is it!
Have your own tactics and watch out fi di trick
AND BE WISE TO GET RID OF BADMINE PSYCHOSIS
Right there - stop, take a look inna di mirror
Find out you coulda paint a million picture
Most High say lead - I will follow"
There is a beautifully addictive BOUNCE that comes along with 'Leader Before Me' and I won't sit on this point too much (at least now for now, I MOST CERTAINLY WILL later) but it just so DAMN FUN to listen to. It is a very... full musical experience of a track.
It seems as if Lutan Fyah and the ZIK came to the conclusion that if you're going to add guest artists, that you should reach as high as you possibly can when it came to building "Strength & Resilience". There are only three of them but they are three huge names and all three show up in a major way [DUH!]. The first is the immortal Akae Beka, frequent spar of Lutan Fyah, who joins 'Just The Time'. I'll save you me verbally salivating all over this riddim (again, at least for now), even though it deserves it, and instead I'll focus on what I took away from this gorgeous tune. There's the idea of 'living in the moment' and dealing with what you have to deal with in life and, although it sounds simple as all hell, it's not actually something you hear sang about very often. It's always one side or the other - negative or positive. Here, Lutan Fyah & Vaughn Benjamin come together and, essentially, say that IT IS WHAT IT IS. No one is perfect, we all have problems and we have our good points as well. I am also contractually obligated to observe the moment when Benjamin LEVELS UP 'Just The Time':
"BUT I CAN FEEL IT NOW
MUSIC EFFECTING I CAUSE
AN UPFUL SPIRIT INNA HEART
STRIVING FOR BETTERMENT"
I mean.... what do you do with something like that. 'Just The Time' is spectacular. The second combination on "Strength & Resilience" is a bit 'tricky' (and I mean that in a good way), as the featuring artist wasn't named and I've even seen him billed as a "surprise special guest". When I first heard clips of 'Freedom Sound', I was certain it was Chronixx I was hearing and, for ONCE, I was correct. "LUTAN FYAH & CHRONIXX" -- on paper -- is golden. It's an incredibly attractive pairing and the two do not disappoint with one of the SWEETEST vibes on the whole of this album. There is a very free and open nature to this one (a typical strength of Chronixx') with the core of 'Freedom Sound' being precisely what its title says: That vibe! It is spiritually and mentally uplifting SOUND that resonates all throughout this set. I'm still wondering WHY they chose to have Chronixx go unnamed -- I would think "featuring Chronixx" would look very well attracted to "Strength & Resilience" -- but it's hard to question when the results come out sounding like this [and were you paying attention when Lutan Fyah said, "I took a selfie with Selassie and paste it on my wall"???!]. Finally (besides the other seven songs I have to tell you about, of course) is something by the name 'Days After Summer'. Hmmm. What to say about 'Days After Su- IT FEATURES QUEEN OMEGA! WHAT! As if need more of a reason to grab my attention, "Strength & Resilience" brings together a pair of my personal looooooooooongtime favourites and does so in a MAJESTIC way. The eco-friendly selection carries a theme of respecting Mother Nature and how important it is to treat the environment, because failure to do so can be disastrous (it isn't like we have a backup plan). There's a point here where Queen Omega really pushes her vocals. It's thrilling, it always is, and out of all the pairings that I have wished for over the years, here's one that I probably wasn't expecting anytime soon and I am so happy that the ZIK brought together. Also, and I could be wrong, but I don't think the ZIK has ever FULLY put their weight behind a project for a female artist and, while the brilliant Reemah would probably seem a more likely candidate (and I wouldn't complain about that), I think the Queen would be a PERFECT choice.
As far as I know, the album's beautiful title track is its official first single and you won't get very far into listening to it, AT ALL, before realizing exactly why that is the case. This thing has wings. It SOARS! Way up there with whatever else is up there is 'Strength and Resilience'. Somewhat broad on some level, the song is one not too different from the previously mentioned 'Just The Time', although this one is more about the struggles faced in life (but it isn't necessarily completely bleak ["I TURN MY WOUNDS INTO WISDOM"]) and how to progress in spite of them ["PUSH ON! PUSH ON!"]. There's also a certain serenity about this one. It's very chilled and, though there is emotion to it, the calm nature of 'Strength and Resilience' definitely prevails. While 'Strength and Resilience' isn't bleak, the tune which follows it, 'Pieces of Broken Soul' could certainly be labeled as such. Fortunately "bleak" doesn't mean bad because 'Pieces of Broken Soul' is sublime. It almost comes off as PERFORMANCE more than a song and what I mean is that, you get Lutan Fyah coming in and saying what he has to say ["There's a lot of hungry mouths to feed. Sleeping on the cold concrete"] and then backing off at one point and allowing the riddim to take the spotlight with him in the background a bit just helping things along the way. I REALLY enjoyed this and i have enjoyed similar stretches on other ZIK produced works. For me, things like that show that both artist and producer had a full confidence in the music they were working with to allow it to be given 100% to the listener and 'Pieces of Broken Soul' is better because of it. Then things go crazy on "Strength & Resilience". The real class of the album comes within a pair of back-to-back tracks in 'African Children' and 'Drain The Swamp'.
"Babylon ah search fi di trouble, worldwide massacre
Move fast - dem ah hustle and wi don't answer
If you cross dem, you end up inna hold dung so
Sometime mi caan bodda kiss mi teeth and say cha
Wah you mean when you seh you coulda cure cancer-
And liberate di poverty weh inna Africa
Just a talk, never mean it
DEM A WARMONGER
Still ah move like a backra master"
The former features Lutan Fyah absolutely blazing right out of the gate as he speaks on the childen of Africa dealing with oppression all around the world and how our persistence is mandatory for reversing things; and he continues burning everything in sight.
"If a brick-by-brick, wi ah build it back strong
No matta what it takes, now wi ah get a chance
Mek wi turn a page, meanwhile wi advance
No time to wait, no time to gallivant
Hey, let's clean up di palce and build railroads and bridges
School to educate and good, clean house to live in
SELASSIE AH DI BRACE WI AH PLACE FI THANKS GIVING
Di rules and di discipline rigid
Whoi, it's been a mess
Now Africa has reached crossraods
This time, wi have to refresh
THE MOTHERLAND NEEDS US NOW!"
Were you listening through this album and waiting for that kind of forceful, fiery moment, you got in the form of 'African Children' and if that need wasn't quite sated, check the absolutely FILTHY 'Drain The Swamp'.
"Too much biting ants, cockroach and mosquitoes
Full time to drain di swamp
See dem narcissist devil, they pack up inna di alligator pool
Drain the swamp!"
'Let's uproot corruption
No freaks tainting my soul
Let's set things straight, because wi need options, tell dem brave and bold
Mi nah feel safe inna babylon system
Mi nah join dem mind-control
WHEN DEM COME VIOLATE MY RIGHTS, OVERBOARD MI HAFFI THROW DEM
Kick di cover, full-time mi haffi expose dem
Nah stop, til di underbelly come down
Can take another day
Bun di fyah and dun
Cah dem love talk hard an dem ah tell wi untruth
Babylon yah foot too big for yah shoes
And you can keep yah brainwash in yuh schools
Cah mi no waan fi si none ah fi yuh daily news
Di people tired and they need something new"
Lutan Fyah gets grimy on this one! Getting into all of the nasty, dirty secrets of brutal society (even suggesting that people start checking ourselves as well) (your closet is most certainly NOT clean and neither is mine!) and bringing them to light. I'm not even going to mention how 'Drain The Swamp' ends, although I'm sure you can guess at this point, making for another magical point and, at least in my opinion, the single finest effort on the whole of "Strength & Resilience" (so long as my bias can prevent me from giving that distinction to 'Days After Summer'). While 'Drain The Swamp' finds the chanter exposing the hidden facts of certain members of society, on 'Secrets', he's doing a bit of work on himself. What I took from 'Secrets' (besides it just being a lovely song) is the significance of INDIVIDUALITY, uniqueness and privacy. Lutan Fyah welcomes everything in regards to himself, even his flaws but it's those things which make us different from one another and that, intrinsically, is powerful. It's one of the most powerful things we have because, in the absence of it, we'd all be the exact same, robotting our way through life. I think 'Secrets' may end up being a bit of a 'sleeper' on "Strength & Resilience", it well seems like the type to go a bit overlooked, but if you do give it a bit of extra attention, the reward will be well worth it, I assure you. 'Protect Your Energy' offered a delightful change of pace, stepping things a notch or two, with an infectious track behind it. The piece is a purifier! It's about keeping negativity far away from yourself and, functionally speaking, I think 'Protect Your Energy' is one of the furthest 'travelers' on the whole of the album ["Si no dark energies, mi nah let dem in. ALL NEGATIVITY BANISHED FROM WITHIN"] because I think it's so related. You probably know people who either spend entirely too much damn time complaining or they're just always in a bad mood and never happy for themselves or anyone else. I think THAT is specifically how this piece will hit most people who take it in. We can apply larger, societal/global themes to it but just for yourself, do your best to stay away from that type of a vibe. A VERY powerful tune here. Lastly, another winner in 'Tomorrow From Today' sends us on our way via yet another golden sound which is utilized in a major way as Lutan Fyah gets downright poetic at times during what is, surely, one of the strongest lyrical displays on the album.
"When life seems desolate
Sometimes confused and perplexed
Jah visit men inna dem own craftiness and like di Tower of Babel - men wreck
Searching fi answers and wi never get refreshed
PRESS DI RESTART BUTTON BUT WI STILL DISCONNECT
Caught up inna bottomless mess!
Not amount of saving can replace di things you just can't forget"
I considered 'Tomorrow From Today' as somewhat of an extension of 'Protect Your Energy' in its diretcion. Where that one focused more on preventing negativity, 'Tomorrow From Today' deals with more of what to do when you inevitably do encounter it - both from others and internally as well. The depths that he goes to in order to make the point are amazing and he does it, of course, tactfully as always. 'Tomorrow From Today' is yet another big highlight here and a fantastic way to end "Strength & Resilience".
OKAY! Because I alluded to it several hundreds of times and fought off the urge to do another few dozen or so (I literally just did it on both of the last two songs I talked about, ESPECIALLY on 'Protect Your Energy') (you go and listen to the last eighty seconds of that song!) the level of music/instrumentation... whatever you want to call it - PRODUCTION? ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF is EXTREMELY well done throughout "Strength & Resilience". And maybe that's redundant given that it is a Zion I Kings release and their work is always top notch but I was particularly impressed here, even by their ridiculously high standards . What goes with that, EASILY, is a full recommendation of this album to anyone with ears. If you LOVE the music or if you don't even know what a Roots Reggae is, I'm confident that you will find loads to enjoy on "Strength & Resilience".
Overall, I found a lot of it to enjoy, myself but I knew that would be the case when I learned of its existence a few weeks ago. "Strength & Resilience" is masterful. As I said, it instantly goes near the head of all of the albums that Lutan Fyah has had to date (and it has been billed as number seventeen) and the same goes for the catalogue of the ZIK, in my opinion, which is saying LOADS in both instances. I did also make a quiet connection between the new album and "Music Never Dies" and while the vibes are similar (of course they are), they don't feel like one giant project, they stand apart from one another; an idea which, I would think, the artist revels in. "Music Never Dies" ["Perfect storm. Selassie bring a perfect storm"], like "Time & Place" before it ["There's a fire in the barn!"] has set up these wonderful signature moments in my head that I always find myself going back to whenever they come up and I have no doubt at all -- "I CAN FEEL IT NOW" -- that "Strength & Resilience" is well on its way to doing the same. I've been listening to Lutan Fyah now for the better part of a quarter-century and have known him to vibe well with a number of producers but at this point it is crystal clear that the SOUND he creates with the Zion I Kings is, consistently, is to be rated amongst his very best work as the two mine musical gold, once again, for the first truly great Reggae album of 2025. OUTSTANDING!
