Okay so, it's definitely been a minute since the last time we caught up with our old friend James "Dr. Seuss" Lord and company at Irie Sounds International (a quick search on these pages says it been.... almost seven years since last we mentioned one of their projects) (the excellent Palestine Riddim which you should check out) and catching up with old friends is usually a good thing, especially when it sounds like this. The label fortunately did not take the same hiatus that we did over the past few years and has been hard at work. I was pleasantly surprised to see to their co-credit was a tune from last year that I really enjoyed but had no idea that ISI had a part of creating, 'Stand Up', which was Bushman's take on the pandemic. I have subsequently discovered that the tune was part of the Picking Up The Pieces Riddim which features other fine tunes by Ras Attitude, Chezidek and others (like Binghi Ghost, whose 'Win the Race' is very nice and that riddim was BEAUTIFUL) and they also did the Glory Riddim, carrying lovely tracks from Lutan Fyah, Alaine and someone I'm about to tell you about today as well ["Glory to Jah in the highest! His Imperial Highness!"]. I was surprised to hear that James had packed up and actually moved to Ethiopia as of last year (how cool is that?!), but not at all shocked to hear that he was still hard at work and he told me to check out his latest release, the fittingly named, Smile Awhile Riddim. The track features a pair of selections from a couple of our favourites and if you aren't doing anything else at the moment, I'd like to tell you about them.
'Life Is So Amazing' by Perfect Giddimani
When I first heard 'Life Is So Amazing' one of the first things that went through my mind was just how well ISI had done in choosing a name for this riddim. The "SMILE AWHILE" fits it perfectly. It is just so.... damn EASY. It is serene and everything seems to go so nicely into its proper order and space. For his part, Perfect makes the most of Smile Awhile with 'Life Is So Amazing', taking advantage of this SWEET simplicity in praise of His Imperial Majesty.
"Life is so amazing
Give praises to the King of all Kings"
If you are at all familiar with Perfect's work, you know just how unpredictable he can be at times (and I mean that in a good way), but though he does apply just a little pressure at times on 'Life Is So Amazing', he keeps it largely level headed and, in doing so, delivers a gem.
'And Ethiopia' by Mikey General
Though I have no actual confirmation of such a background to this tune, I'd like to think that, upon learning what Irie Sounds had been up to (and WHERE they'd been doing), that it inspired Mikey General to bless us with 'And Ethiopia' which comes through as both a general praise of The Almighty as well a GORGEOUS tribute to Ethiopia, itself.
"Let me tell you bout the land where I love to be
Where I feel so happy and I feel so free
The land of His Imperial Majesty"
The General goes both historical and current in the tune which also touches themes such as unity and even the geography of the country as he paints a portrait so nice that the Ministry of Tourism of Ethiopia may want to think about doing something with this tune.
I'm presuming that this is just the beginning for the Smile Awhile Riddim and if it is (or even if this is all we're getting) our first taste of it has been delicious. Perfect Giddimani's 'Life Is So Amazing' and 'And Ethiopia' from Mikey General are both available now via Irie Sounds International.
Been sick [as usual], having a few good days though
The Palestine Riddim [Irie Sounds International - 2016]
First up today is something which has been on our radars for more than a minute as our old friend from Irie Sounds International, the indomitable James Lord, continues what is ultimately (and apparently) going to turn out to be a downright stellar 2016 for his label with the HEAVY Palestine Riddim. Earlier this year ISI dropped the highly regarded latest album release from veteran chanter Warrior King, "The Rootz Warrior" which featured the King's cut of the Palestine Riddim, 'President Yahya Jammeh'. So you may (and you should) be familiar with the track via that song, but it also offers a few more reasons to get acquainted if you haven't already… namely the downright MONSTROUS 'Jah Is In His Kingdom' from the unforgettable Yami Bolo. Hopefully 2017 turns out to be a more active year from the veteran vocalist as, just when you begin to lose hope, at times, he consistently offers reminders like this one (EASILY one of the better songs I've heard this year, altogether… like from anyone), of just how immense his talent still is. Rounding out the class of the Palestine Riddim are also lovely tracks courtesy of the likes of the Bugle, Prezident Brown and a surprising Joshua Hales whose 'Calling' is golden. And, as I alluded to, apparently this isn't the end of the year for Irie Sounds International as the Lead Di Way Riddim is also set for its own release.
Digital
"Stories of Life" by Black Prophet [Kingz Entertainment/Prophetic Music Production]
Biggup our ooooooooooooold friend, the great Jahsh Concurz, for pointing me in the direction of the latest release from esteemed Ghanaian vocalist, Black Prophet, "Stories of Life". This is another piece I've had quite awhile to digest and JC highly recommended it and I have to agree with him. "Stories of Life" features the handiwork of the legendary Dean Fraser and, by extension, contributions from both Tarrus Riley and Duane Stephenson, and it is absolutely stellar throughout. To my opinion (though it changes rather consistently) (biggup Danny I) it pinnacles at 'Elmina Castle' which features Riley [TEARS!] [BOOM!] [DAMN!] but selections such as the delightful 'African Freedom', 'Too Know', definitely 'Jah A We Know', 'I Wish' and others rank as giant standouts. For what it is, and I don't know if it will be regarded as such by the masses, 'Stories of Life' is probably one of the better albums I've heard this year. Thanks JC.
CD + Digital
"I & I Culture" by Utan Green [Wild Pitch Music]
Biggup the wonderful people at Wild Pitch Music for deciding that the world would just be a much better place with another full (and I mean FULL) album from the WELL SEASONED Utan Green. To my knowledge the only album Green has released to date has been the virtually invisible (these days) "Rivers of Reality" (good luck tracking that one down) which is nearly two decades old now and clearly it has long been time for a follow-up (I don't care if the man released an album last year, it was time for a new one anyway) and that is exactly what we have in "I & I Culture". Now, as you would hope, if you haven't had an album in such a long time, despite what we may see from others, you probably have A LOT to say and Utan Green definitely does as "I & I Culture" checks in with a delicious eighteen songs and more than SEVENTY minutes of strong music. The results, besides just being quantiful (not an actual work) are also of significant quality and because of both size and class I can damn confidently say that if you enjoy Reggae music, particularly that of a slightly older sound (although ultimately I would well qualify this one as a modern set), there is SOMETHING on this album that you're going to enjoy. As for me, tunes such as 'Captain' (which you might know), 'Sunshine', 'Ancient Man' ["A di same old Rastaman dem"], 'Man No Dead', 'Rasta Time' and several others, like 'Fighting' revolve around top honours on "I & I Culture"… honours CLEARLY held by the MASSIVE 'Chant'. An outstanding album and one which I may slap a review on in the new year. Elijah Prophet next??? PLEASE!!!
CD [I THINK] + Digital
"Power Surge" by Ward 21 [Germaica Digital]
There will ALWAYS be room on my players the still wildly entertaining Ward 21, no matter how disillusioned and out of touch I may grow with Dancehall music (a genre which, despite my never-ending LOVE of even the most RIDICULOUS and ZANY forms of Soca, routinely makes me feel old as hell these days). So I was well pleased to see that the group had re-linked with Germaica Digital to serve up an effective sequel to the golden bar that was "Still Disturbed" from a couple of years back in "Power Surge". This one doesn't light up as brightly as its predecessor did (which you really need to hear), but pieces like 'OG Kush', 'Pretty Phat Cat' (a preposterously SIGNATURE effort from the Ward) and especially the HEAVY 'Groundz' (biggup Baby Cham) give me what I need when it comes to the Ward, a full decade and a half after their first album and still going strong and completely without behaviour.
Digital
"Concrete Jungle" by Chuck Fenda [Voiceful Records/Zojak Worldwide]
And finally, I was rather happy to see a great deal of early attention paid to "Concrete Jungle", the latest set from Chuck Fenda (I'm tired of using the word 'veteran', but that's what he is as well). By my count this is… the veteran's fourth studio album to date and his latest after 2013's "Jah Element" (there was also a Live set in there) and it should rate fairly well in his catalogue as "Concrete Jungle" is a decent offering throughout and one I'm still, obviously, working on. Albums like this, while I don't think they 'change the game' or 'take things to another' or do any of that crazy bullshit, just really fill a NEED of a high level of consistency in the genre. I don't go looking for Fenda's new album to amaze me or change my life, but when I get it I know that I can press play and walk away and that is the same situation here. Headers include 'Oh Merciful Father', 'If U No With Me' (the best song on this album), definitely the title track, 'That Place' (and a BEAUTIFUL place it is) as well as the obligatory ganja tune, 'This Plant', and its very unique sound. Etana, The Morgans and Sista Sasha all make appearances.
