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
The Black Seeds “Love & Fire”
The Black Seeds are one of New Zealand's top bands and their main course is reggae, especially on their new album “Love & Fire.” The album has great production, arrangements, instrumentation especially their horns and the melodies are good too. The opening song is their best ‘Let The Sunshine Through.’ ‘If you wanna feel their love,’ listen to ‘Love & Fire.’ ‘Raised With Love’ is the only track to get the true dub treatment. ’Bring The Sun’ and ‘It's So Real’ are funk tunes. The following songs got the dub treatment and maintain their integral vocals: ‘Non Justice,’ ‘Greatest Expectations,’ ‘Meditation,’ and ‘Game Over. 'These are the last 4 of 5 songs on the album. ‘Love & Fire’ is about love and sun which is a form of fire. So the title fits very well.
Bite Me Bambi 'Crazy' (Lee Scratch Perry remix)
This is a tamer version of the original in which Perry give it more of a light dancehall feel as opposed to their catchy Two Tone vibe. The claim say its the last song musically done by Scratch before he passed. Both are good in their own way.
Various Artists 'Easy Love riddim"
With Artists like Daville, Half Pint and surprises from Lutan Fyah & Shawn Storm as well as new artist Temple and who got the title track, it's a nice mid-tempo modern Lover's Rock riddim, in which you can find good in every song.
Lila Ike 'Wanted'
'Wanted' Lila Ike is a narration of a young man wrapped up in a life of crime. It's a song which highlights how rough the life of a criminal actually is. I hope it will inspire youths to go in a more positive direction. It’s also my intention that this song reaches parents or onlookers, who may have someone close to them headed down a dark path, and instead of turning a blind eye, encourage them to do otherwise. Musically, the backdrop for the song is Gregory Isaacs ‘Hot Stepper.’
Autarchii 'Many Rivers'
`Autarchii comes with a nice rootsy love song to profess his love. 'Many Rivers' proposes the challenges in loving a woman, as it can be challenging for us men.
Asha D “Pressure”
Asha D releases a nice , consistent roots reggae EP “The Pressure.” Plenty of good guests. The one thing that has been consistent this week is good works with a standout tune. This is the case here as the first song ‘Never Leave Me Alone’ with Queen Omega is that tune. Asha has a great voice and we like the contrast of his djing . Its just not as strong as his singing.
SOCA
Various Artists "Rocket Fuel riddim"
This a party soca riddim jam up. All headed by Barbados' King Bubba with 'Party Can't Done.' Also, on the 'Rocket Fuel' is Kes & Problem Child. The other standout is Patrice Roberts with 'if you give me some of that I will give you some of this.' In other words, I got your back if you got mine. She does it well.
DANCEHALL
Various Artists "Honest riddim"
The riddim mix below starts with our favorite song on the riddim. Winhaado's 'That's How' we do and its done with 'lyrics, style & melody.' We love his energy. D-Ruption 'nah leave' on 'Inseparate.' The next real stand out is Trapycal. We love the lyrics for his tune: 'we nah go cheat pon you, thats what real men do' in the track called 'Honest.' All have a vibe Winhaado & Trapycal are the standouts.
KULCHA LATINO
Jah Nattoh "Reflexion"
The fourth album from Reggae En Espanol artist Jah Nattoh. A predominately roots reggae album. There are touches of that digital dancehall as well as tracks that border between reggaeton & dancehall. Our standout track is 'Y Yo Se' featuring Durazzo Lupo. A sweet, roots lover's rock tune, by far the best. Melody is strong and the riddim is sweet. An album that will please his Latino fans because of the language barrier and with not enough strong melodies, his fan base will not expand.
SKA
The Untouchables 'Hooked On A Feeling'
A ska cover of the classic tune and originally done for Specialized Records' 2020 charity comp Blockbuster: A Tribute to Glam Rock (but it was delivered too late for inclusion), It was released as a video below and it's officially out on picture disc. Sounds great, has the good ska & Untouchables sound.
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