First up on my radar this week is the latest release from veteran singer, Natty King and his WellOWell Production imprint, the Talent Riddim. Early last year, Natty King would deliver a brand new, very well received studio album, "Rebellution", and his flare for delivering big sets in the year's early months continue into 2023. The Talent Riddim, at its core, is a very pleasant and relatively straight-forward composition (though we never do get an actual clean version of it, so.....), but NK and company were sure to place it in the very capable hands of some extremely 'talented' vocalists, who do some very impressive things with the track. Joining 'The Man From the East' are the likes of Ginjah, Warrior King alongside Infa, Lutan Fyah, Turbulence, Chezidek, Perfect Giddmani and longtime Natty King associate (who, I believe, has been something of a mentor to the singer), Trinity who gives both a solo version of 'Fence' and a combination of the tune with U Brown. Though there's nothing here which I would call GREAT, the Talent Riddim is very solid from beginning to end and I think most fans of modern Roots music will thoroughly enjoy it.
"A Breath Of Fresh Air" by Freddie McGregor [Stingray Records - 2023]
Legendary singer and captain of the big ship, Freddie McGregor (who is apparently doing much better these days) is back with a brand new album and he's gone in a very familiar and FITTING direction in order to make it happen. "A Breath Of Fresh Air" finds McGregor linking with Stingray Records from out of the UK. If you know anything at all about Stingray and the McLeod Family who runs it, you know that they largely specialize in a brand of Reggae music which is well rinsed in an old school sound and is heavy on the Lover's Rock as well. So, such an outfit making an album with the 'Born A Winner', comes as a very welcomed union. I'm still going through this one (and may review it next month, actually), but early winners include the likes of 'I'm Going Home' [BOOM!], 'Work' and the closer 'Peace and Love'. When I saw McGregor had a new album about, I was definitely excited to hear it and when I found out who was behind it, it took it to another level and you should definitely take a listen to "A Breath Of Fresh Air".
{Note: Apparently "A Breath Of Fresh Air" has been slow in making its way to various digital sources, so it may/may not be currently available on your favourite, but it is out there}
'Behind The Wall' by Freddie McGregor [Rebelmadiaq Sound System & Records - 2022]
Quickly, also coming from McGregor this week is a HUGE new tune courtesy of Rebelmadiaq from out of Spain, 'Behind The Wall'. This song has ROYAL sound about it and I noticed it while going through "A Breath Of Fresh Air" and, again it's early days still, but it's probably better than anything on that album and it's probably the single best piece of work that I've heard from Freddie McGregor in quite some time.
"Babylon kingdom, yes, it must fall
I catch them behind the wall"
The Blak Karpet Riddim [Blak Karpet Productions - 2022]
It certainly isn't the worst idea one could have when they have a big riddim - to go ahead and name it after themselves to, perhaps, some familiarity going forward in your listener-base and that is precisely what Blak Karpet Productions has done with their latest LOVELY creation, the Blak Karpet Riddim. I'll give you a perfect example of what I mean here: Though I thought I knew the name Blak Karpet, I wasn't entirely sure and a quick search revealed that they had indeed already been behind a few releases, most notably the Miracle Riddim from a couple of years back (which carried Lutan Fyah's GENIUS pandemic-inspired 'It Still Deh Deh') ["Now the vaccination and it still deh deh. Dem seh house-to-house locked and it still deh deh. Six feet social-distance and it still deh deh"]. Now, after the Blak Karpet Riddim, chances are pretty solid that I won't have the same issue going forward anytime soon! While some of their previous drops were a bit thin in terms of number of tunes, that is not an issue with the Blak Karpet Riddim as it is spread out across TWENTY-SIX TRACKS, clocking in at nearly two hours worth of big vibes. As you would expect with so much material, the list of vocalists is all over the place with big names such as Sizzla Kalonji, Capleton, the aforementioned Natty King & Mr. Peppa, I Wayne, Lutan Fyah, Norris Man (more on him in just a second), Perfect, Chezidek and Turbulence all making appearances, as well as names which you may not be as familiar with such as Jerimus, Amejah (who gets two tracks and may actually be an official BKP artist), the wicked Kush Bashan, Peas Head and others who turn in fine efforts. I do have a couple of complaints that I'll register here, one being the fact that, even with THAT many tracks, they couldn't mix in an instrumental and, again, despite so many tunes and wonderful backing singers on several selections, unless I'm forgetting someone, you will not find a lead female vocalist touching the Blak Karpet Riddim, which is remarkable in a bad way. Still, for what it was, it was probably at least in the discussion for Riddim Album of The Year 2022. It was excellent (and in my younger days, I would have salivated all over the prospects of reviewing this LOADED release) (I also hear a little Satta Massagana Riddim on this one, maybe that's just me though).
The Fighters Riddim [ZionProductions Music - 2022]
Next up, we touch down in Costa Rica for a quick stop to pick up the latest from ZionProductions, the Fighters Riddim from late last year. This one caught my attention for a couple of reasons, the very first of them being the fact that it contains music from Elijah Prophet, which is always a good thing. His tune, the excellent anti-violence piece 'Stop the War', comes right off his 2022 album, "Jah Calling", which ZionProductions released last summer. After 'Stop the War', the reason I stuck around for 'round 2' of this fight was a MAMMOTH tune by the name of 'Find the Time' from veteran, Norris Man.
"I don't wanna be no suitor
I wanna be a contributor
Will make my work stand the test
My reward is life and it has to manifest
For long, hard times of tales they have told us
Find the time yeah, to study things and-
Observe all what Jah has create
Find the time yeah, look around you
Remember life is the only thing that we have left"
BOOM! 'Find the Time' has such a POWERFUL vibes around it and I went into to it not really expecting a damn thing at all and it CAUGHT ME! It is such a BEAUTIFUL song! Efforts from Rasmanuel (in Spanish) and Stefyah fill out the Fighters Riddim, but I will likely always think back to this one for one immense shot from Norris Man (and the riddim, itself, is delightful. It's very well done).
"Kingdom Call" by Indra [Reality Shock Records - 2023]
Last year, we told you about an album from Achis Reggae favourite, Mikey General, by the name of "Hold A Heights". That album came via one Reality Shock Records from out of the UK and it also featured OUTSTANDING background vocals from one Indra Rudder who, herself, now has a brand new album courtesy of RSR, "Kingdom Call". The Bajan born songstress has an ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL voice and it comes roaring through throughout this lovely debut (I THINK) release. Indra has a.... an almost Jazzy quality to her sound and, when you mix that with Reggae (you get Sara Lugo if you're lucky), the results can often be BEAUTIFUL (have I mentioned Sara Lugo???) and, "Kingdom Call" features some GOLDEN material. Standouts include 'Wake Up Call', 'Wolves', 'Cold World', the opener 'Fresh Wata' and others. Just a very curious sound on this one which, I hope, a lot of people give a shot - an excellent set.
'Hope' by Lutan Fyah [Riddim Wise - 2023]
No older entry this week, but instead a big new tune that has recently popped up on my radars from another favourite of ours as the latest from Lutan Fyah, 'Hope', is VERY nice. The song comes through well the dependable Riddim Wise from Montreal (and the press for this release actually says that the relationship between artist & label is one dating back a decade now) (it sounds like it) and is probably some of the Fyah's finest work that I've heard in a little while (and he's already been fairly active in 2023, so that is saying something). Just a beautiful vibes with a, fittingly, beautiful message and a GORGEOUS song. Take a listen for yourself and that's what I'm listening to.
"Tings ah get hard a yard and abroad
But it really doesn't matter to me
They think you gone falter, put down yah guard
But it really doesn't matter to me
When this escalate and di violence arise-
People gwan dead, mi know di bodies ahgo pile up
Still seh mi ah laze and toil
STILL AH HOLD IT OUT, MATTA OVER MIND
They demand every leverage and ah try to surprise you
One day di people ahgo rise up
They caan take di little bit a weh wi work for
Give it all your heart when a work time
Once there is life, we still got hope
We living inna difficult time, but wi still gone cope"
'Mission Impossible' by Perfect Giddimani & Lutan Fyah [Giddimani Records - 2023]
Okay so, little bonus action here that I simply felt the NEED to mention as veteran duo and favourites of ours, Perfect Giddimani & Lutan Fyah, once again team up on a big new tune, this time for the former's own Giddimani Records, 'Mission Impossible'. This one is delightful but it also has just a bit of a BITE to it as the two talented chanters do exactly what you would expect them to and deliver a quality piece. 'Mission Impossible' is a song about the importance of Rastafari in the world today on both smaller (and interpersonal) levels and grander ones as well. The results are mightily impressive, highly lyrical and a song which you should listen to... like right now. Okay, NOW, that's what I'm listening to.
"Load di chalice and di spliff
Give praise from di heart, Jah praise
I & I TRANSFORM FROM DI DEVIL
FROM DI KING, WI NO DRIFT
Dem get defeat, this a must, wi no fake
One - two, Nyahbinghi, Kette Man ah call through di earth
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