| Many
people speak about Roots Reggae and how they
love it. Many, many Roots Reggae classics
are being re-released by such labels as
Blood And Fire: a true Labour of Love.
And for many, Reggae stopped somewhere in
the end of the 1970's. The re-issues surely
give that impression a bit.
On the Internet I have seen complaints
about that, because there is so much
emphasis on the era of Rockers, that the
Reggae created afterwards is ignored, where
it could really cater to a Roots Audience.
I am talking about the RUB A DUB Style,
as Dancehall Reggae was called in the end of
the 1970's, early 1980's. Cool and laid back
rhythms accompanied by Dub and Dubby
effects.
One of the true Dub Masters in that genre
must be the Scientist. This protégée of
the legendary King Tubby his mixed an
incredible amount of Dubs in Channel One
Studio's. And not only Dub albums on his own
name, he worked on many more albums.
Including this one, the 1985 debut album
from "fast toaster" Brigadier
Jerry, a member of the Rastafarian
organization 12 Tribes of Israel, since
1978.
As a Toaster ("Reggae Rapper"),
he started his musical career in this same
year. Why it took him so long before his
first album was released, nobody knows. But
when it arrived, in the last days of Rub a
Dub (perhaps), it was a welcome addition and
alternative to the then rising Dance Hall
Style of Ragga.
The set starts of with the title track,
in extended style. Dubwise music from the
top to the very last drop. Hear scientist
use the digital echo and other effects to
enhance Briggie's lyrics and the riddim of
the drum and bassline.
The second track "Jah Jah Move"
is a little more energetic and hails up Jah
and the Bible in which you can "find
the truth for yourselves", as Brigadier
Jerry says.
After this comes the track called
"Jah Love Music", with Scientist
creating a lot of heavy and long echo's on
the drum and the horn section.
Track number four contains another
meditation of worship to Jah, "Give
Thanks And Praise", in which Briggy
does a little singing and more melodic style
of toasting every now and then.
Track five speak about daily life,
"Everyman A Mi Bredrin", one of
the lesser strong tracks in my opinion.
"Kushungpeng", the track after
that, is also not one of the strongest
tracks. It could have been improved by some
wild Dub mixing, but for some reason the
Scientist choose to do otherwise. A
fter this, strength comes again in a
beautiful rendering of Bunny Wailer's
classic "Armagideon" on which
Briggy Jerry chants words from the Bible and
from own observation and reading out of the
book of Revelation, out of the Bible.
The album closes of with "Three
Blind Mice", in which Brigadier Jerry
gives a demonstration in Rub a Dub toasting,
he chants all kinds of words that have not a
meaning but sound very rhythmical and are
very difficult to do yourself. Or in other
words: Don't try this at home.
And as the album started, it also closes:
with an extended version. Three blind mice
goes over from vocal into Dub with some nice
works from Scientist at the Control tower.
I would definitely recommend this album
to Rub a Dub fans, to fans of Reggae
Toasting, and to fans of DUB music in
general.
It is one of the rare Brigadier Jerry
albums that there are, and that is a true
shame, because he surely remains to be one
of the most talent full DJ's. Most of his
tunes are straight on conscious tracks with
an uplifting message to read scripture and
find out for yourself, a teaching often
heard in the 12 Tribes of Israel
Organization.
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