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SLY AND ROBBIE - A FIST FULL OF HORNS
DUBROOM MP3 REVIEW
"Stepper" is Guillaume from Paris. When he visited Jamaica in the 1980's he established a lot of contacts which led him to opened vaults at the archives of Sly and Robbie's very own Taxi label. The result is a set of remakes that have a contemporary and historical vibe combined, among which "A Fist Full Of Horns" is just an appetizer.
From Shaba Ranks to Cocoa Tea, from Burru Banton to Junior Kelly, the eight different dub plates in this album are all more than interesting. They're done in different styles even though Dancehall is the main vibe. Do not think that this collection will only appeal to Dancehall fans, though. Roots and Culture is there too, next to some real slackness about which we won't mention anything for the rest in this review.
Mykol Orthodox is thanked and respected for sharing some of his dub plates with the online massive!
Michael "Dread At The Controls" Campbell started in the 1970's as the first Reggae Radio DJ for Jamaican Radio. You can listen to it, when you visit the site: MIKEYDREAD.com contains an MP3 File with a sample from one of his early Radio shows (RIGHT-CLICK TO DOWNLOAD), introduced by Mikey himself. More history can be found at the site, as Mikey Dread talks about his works with Punk-Rock band The Clash (RIGHT-CLICK TO DOWNLOAD), among many more things.
In a very nice application on the site, you can make your own Mikey Dread tune as you add jingles and effects over Mikey Dread riddims. Filled with niceness for the ear and eye, the app will give you some fun fe true. CLICK
MIKEYDREAD.com also contains quite a number of free MP3's, of which tunes like "Dread at the Mantrols" and "12 Tribe Stylee" are just two examples. CLICK
In the press/promotion area, there's many PDF's and JPG's. Mikey Dread's official Biography, a lot of reviews and interviews, even a stage plan can be seen. CLICK
Mikey Dread re-gained control over his releases, after which he made them all available via his website and some other means. The website remains to be the predominant place to go to purchase Mikey Dread's music. All tunes can be previewed straight from the site. CLICK
MIKEYDREAD.com, therefore, should not remain unvisited by anyone who (claims to) love (DUB) Reggae Music. History, Niceness, Music, everything is there and presented in a way that is worthy of the one and only REAL MIKEY DREAD.
WWW, September 17 2009 - This one might not be as well-known as Gregory's classic "Night Nurse", but "I Care" surely will bring up memories for one and vibes to the other. Gregory Isaacs as the Cool Ruler of Lover's Rock fe true!
In Montreal, she recorded "Welcome In Canada" (track 14). It's a Rub a Dub tune, which drew the attention of Dean Fraser. He made her decide to permanently move back to Jamaica and work on building her Dancehall career.
And she did.
KARAMANTI MIX VOLUME ONE _ RESURRECTION is an 18 track presentation of some really hard hitting Dancehall music. Ten tracks are new, by the way. Lady Shelly shows her talents on several styles, but they all have that militant and conscious element lacking in so many other Dancehall productions.
She addresses current situations in Jamaica (Bruce Golding, No Gully No Gaza), domestic violence (Kum Out) and the way Jamaicans are treated in Canada (Welcome In Canada). Her faith in Jah keeps her going on and she will not go astray from Him (Naa Do It), but she also sings about good vibes (Party Tonight).
Lady Shelly's message is clear, and it gets even more clear on her website where we can find the story behind most of the tracks and herself. She is a hard working, even struggling artist whose refusal to walk in the ways of the wicked doesn't make things easier.
How easy is it, to be a female vocalist and you find out that one producer is more interested in punany than in the musical talents? How hard is it, to know that this producer is no exception? We feel it directly in the music and lyrics of this more-than-conscious Dancehall artist.
Download the album, check out her website for remixes and some instrumentals or even a capella recordings, read up her poetry and news items and know why Dancehall Music would not survive without sistren like Lady Shelly.
The mainstream might choose to ignore her, but the conscious online massive will not.
Sela.
WWW, June 2009 - In the year 1987, Rub a Dub Music was still very much the style of the time, even though we already had the Sleng Teng revolution.
Six outstanding discomixes, sung by one of the most heartical Reggae singers of all time. Another Don Carlos showcase album you simply can't refuse even though the album seems to be out of print.
Prophecy contains a number of truly heartfelt titles. Crucial Situation, Prophecy, and the more than penetrating Jah Hear My Plea are reasons alone to try and purchase this album, if you can still find it.
The message is crucial, and the way Don Carlos sings the message makes it impossible to not be touched in one way or another. Especially the fact that there's some DUB niceness in the second part of each track (after all, it's a showcase album) enhances the vibe of the tunes significantly.
Originally, the vinyl album was released in 1987. That was a time wherein Rub a Dub was slowly being replaced with ragga/dancehall as the popular music in Jamaica. Nothing of that on this one, though. This is played by a band, mixed crucially and of course accompanied by the great voice of one of the original singers of Black Uhuru.
There's a thing, though...
Indeed, the album seems to be out of print and that means you got to look for it. If you're living in the US, though, you can get the MP3's of this document of Rub a Dub niceness for a few cents.
Michael "Dread At The Controls" Campbell has done a lot for Reggae Music, and he keeps doing so even after he recently left us. This podcast is just one part of his legacy. Mikey Dread brings us a truly crucial selection, presenting them in his own style, forming a one hour Reggae experience for free.
Freddie Mc Gregor is richly present in the playlist. From the Abyssinians and Culture to Garnet Silk to Luciano, we're treated with a variety of singers and harmony groups from several times.
So, even though is surely breaks the heart to realize how Mikey Dread is no longer with us: Just Ire, Just Niceness, seen?
PLAYLIST
01. Burning Spear - Resting Place (Sonic Sound)
02. Freddie McGregor - Big Ship (Big Ship)
03. Sly & Robbie - Rock Dem (Taxi)
04. Gregory Isaacs - Top 10 (Jet Star)
05. Coco Tea - Africa, Here I Come (VP)
06. Garnet Silk - Zion in a Vision (Jet Star)
07. Garnet Silk - Fill me up w/ your Mercy (Jet Star)
08. Freddie McGregor - Africa, Here I Come (Studio One)
09. Culture - I am not ashamed (Joe Gibbs)
10. Techniques - Queen Majesty (Trojan)
11. Sugar Minott - Show me that you love me (Black Roots)
12. Earl Sixteen - Don't Think I Am Crazy (Jungle Hunter)
13. Vivian jones - Sometimes Lover (Jet Star)
14. Freddie McGregor - Come and take it (VP)
15. Dennis Brown - Let me Love you (Joe Gibbs)
16. Luciano - Shake it up tonight (Big Ship)
17. Abyssinians - Declaration of Rights (Studio One)
18. Leroy Horsemouth Wallace - I want to Dub (Stable One)
WWW, June 2009 - Originally, the vinyl album had 6 extended tunes, but the CD version goes to no less than ten long, great Rub a Dub discomixes from the 1980's.
Sure, it's a rare album and that means it cost a thing on the second hand market.
Not for nothing, though.
Don Carlos was one of the original members of the vocal group Black Uhuru, before Michael Rose and others took over and put the name of Black Uhuru on the World Wide Reggae Map. The Don's voice sounds in no way similar to that of Michael Rose, however.
Don Carlos is surely one of the sweetest singers in Reggae. His melodies contain many licks and hooks which are extremely difficult to do for a vocalist. He is extremely talented, which shows on the album in a very special way.
It doesn't matter whether the Don sings a lovers lyrics or a conscious meditation, every time he opens his mouth in front of the studio microphone, he makes something special of the tune. This shows on this album, where he sings over some really crucial riddims and everything is mixed almost perfect.
Most of the ten tunes are sung by Don Carlos, and all of them are followed by a crucial DUB. Noteworthy titles include the Abyssinians' "Declaration Of Rights", and the title track of course.
Definitely worth a listen, definitely worth considering as a purchase even though you might have to go to a second hand store or whatever.
TRACK 4 - ASSASINATOR
Live and Direct, it always sounds different. Not just because the recording has a few glitches here and there, but also for the obvious reasons having to do with studio technology. Announced as "new track from the new album", here it is. It would become another crucial Eek a Mouse tune.
TRACK 3 - PEENI WALLI
It takes a while before the band starts playing, but that is already the audience has been asked if they want more Eek a Mouse. And so they get it, in this long version of Peeni Walli.
TRACK 2 - WA DO DEM
Wa Do Dem, it's one of the most well known tracks by the vocalist who single-handedly created a new sound within Rub a Dub Music, early Dancehall. In this rendering, the Mouse takes it easy and takes his time.
TRACK 1 - ANAREXOL (HIRE AND REMOVAL)
Opening the 1983 concert wasn't easy, but Eek did it. Live with a hard hitting band that knows how to drop in and out while Eek A Mouse chant on.
