SHOK WAVE is your weekly new REGGAE music blog. SHOK WAVE finds music that is out there in the form of Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Ska, Dub, Reggae Rock & anything else musical with a Caribbean origin and in any language.
Here is what we found this week.......Enjoy!
Instead of not doing a blog this week we decided to list a bunch of good songs that released. I did not find anything great just good. Maybe this should be the start of an additional playlist? What do you think?
REGGAE
Uwe Banton “Free Your Mind”
The rasta man from Germany returns with a great new album of positive messages, rasta love and songs of reality on his own Rasta Yard Records. His name, Uwe Banton and his album is called “Free Your Mind.” The album title is very appropriate for the times as Babylon is taking a strong hold on our most important human asset that controls our inner life. The power is within us and bestowed upon each of us in the album’s music. Creating intentional morality with thoughts in the right direction and the guidance of Selassie I can not fail you. One noticeable element is the songs on the album average 4 minutes so you are getting you are getting money worth especially sing there’s 18 tracks. Three of those are dubs of previous songs.
The album opens with Psalms 13 all over the place in ‘Ark Of Covenant’ with Ras Yohannes. It is a search for the truth, its in your heart and in the ‘Ark of the Covenant’ as sung by Uwe. We are in a time that when you ‘Speak The Truth’ it gets you in trouble and in problems. This poses the question ‘What Kind of World’ are we living in? Similarly to the world is in a ‘Deep Mess.’ So make sure you ‘Keep On Learning’ because when you stop learning you stop living. Faith tells us that if you ‘Do Good,’ good will follow you. The saying. Goes do not make love as in ‘Hurry and Come’ just don’t wait too long because the love keeps getting stronger and done in tandem with female vocalist, which adds to the affect of the song, Africa Cele. If Africa comes sooner than later we are sure that will bring out ‘My Smile.’ Actions always speak louder than words and that is the basis behind ‘Stop The Talkin’.’ ‘This Train’ is a mission sent by Rastafari. ‘Now is the time we have been waiting for, got to be a soldier right from head to toe, you got to be on this train.’ ‘Birds Have To Fly’ is a great reggae song that can be targeted towards kids because it’s true and carry the songs to the ends of the Earth.’ One of our favorites that will be featured in an upcoming ‘Show Wave’ podcast called reggae for kids. The song is followed & backed by our favorite song ‘No Special Reason.’ ‘There’s no special season, need no special reason, to let someone know you care.’ We love this and could not agree more. That love help I man say & live by ‘I Am Not Afraid’ feat. Ganjaman. The last vocal track is in Uwe’s native tongue of German ‘War Weigern.Uns’ and even though we cannot understand it, we feel it. The album wraps up with this last song in dub as well as ‘The Ark Of The Covenant’ & ‘Deep Mess.’ Listen:
Various Artists “Room In The Sky The Kiki Kiki riddim”
A classic styled Studio One riddim with such an authenticity it’s hard to believe. Barry Isaacs starts our version of the album with ‘Wanty Wanty,’ a very popular expression of the times of the 1960’s as well. George Dekker’s ‘Nana’ reminds me of the great Ethiopian with his great words and melody that create sounds and words that are so original they sound like real words. The harmonies, the trombone and arrangement make this the top cut. It has a rocksteady feel and that original reggae sound all in one. The ridden plays out in the end. We will get a full piece later. As the only Dj on the riddim, Joseph Cotton sings and singjays on the border of deejaying too. Another popular saying is in the song title too. It’s ‘Fatty Fatty (Wedding Dance).’ So it’s the Inn House Crew, who we know nothing about, play the track. So before we get the actual clean riddim, they sing on it as well with ‘I Swear Sa.’ So this song reveals where Mr Dekker gets the basis to his song. And the real DjJ freestyles on this track. Unfortunately, we do not know anything about any of this other than what we hear. The riddim starts with a small intro and then rides out. Lastly, it’s Winston Reedy with ‘Feel The Rhythm.’ This tells me computer alphabetized this album so you will have to search for the original tracking. This is a vocal by Winston with Joseph Cotton DJing. If you love the old time something to come back again then this one is strictly for you.
Etana "Pamoja"
This fierce singer of sweet reggae muzik is relentless on the mission of putting out good reggae muzik. Her name is Etana and she has released a new album "Pamoja" that has a true African sound & vibe. It is not There are Afrobeats of sorts and there's also the situation of having a star from that field join her along with an allstar cast. The sound is not that at all it's just an artist associated with that sound. The album is very reggae & African. The African side is done with traditional African sounds added in to the reggae track. The album starts with an intro from her biggest fan. The album wastes no time with the African sounds comes in the first track and it continues her 'Legacy.' In a very African sonic scape and topic, 'Melanin' is 'black and beautiful. The beauty truly continues on the reggae track 'Not For Sale.' Perfection can not be baught especially natural beauty. Etana has it in her physicality and more so in her talent. In a surprise move Etana's allstar cast surprises us all with the king of the dancehall Vybz Kartel. It's a sexy dancehall track where
she confesses in the song that sounds directed to Kartel that she would give all her love to him. Vybz is one not to turn down any womans love. In his response it is a surprise, too. He states 'it goes deeper than beauty to confess that you are the soother of my soul, my queen and anything you want.' Tough tune! Afrobeats returns with a dancehall vibe and one it's stars Stonebwoy on 'Proppa.' The album continues with a reggae vibe with 'Walk Away,' 'Fly' and 'The One.' Then it's time to 'Turn Up Di Sound' with Damian Marley. The African vibe returns with the Swahili and Afrobeat tracks 'Pamoja' and the cover of 'Malaika.'
Lion Heights 'Sense Of Purpose' An interesting concept that is rare to have the same song on an album twice. This actually happens twice. In this situation, the first song is first called 'Not For Sale' and the second time around it's called 'Natural Beauty' with an unknown guest artist. Then the song 'Turn Up Di Sound' becomes 'Jamrock Vibez' with Alborosie and is better than the Damian version. Then her biggest fan does the outro as well and sums it up that she is a star and a star she is.
Gramps Morgan 'Positive Vibrations'
DANCEHALL
Mr Williamz & Ras Demo 'General Love'
SOCA
Lasana 'Jah Coming'
Conscious soca music from a pioneer named Lasana.
REGGAE ROCK
Th3rd Coast Roots 'Gimme Your Love'
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