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
Acute Inflections "400 Years"
The title track to this album "400" years is used as an interlude & introduction to the album of Bob Marley songs from Acute Inflections, which is a jazz duo consisting of Elasea Douglas & Sadiki Pierre. Elasea is a gifted singer, songwriter, dancer & actress while Pierre a stand up bassist who can fuse and play almost any style like classical, jazz, Latin, reggae and R&B. Her voice coulped with just the stand up bass has a unique sound and for these great Marley tunes, definitely different and intriguing. The bass really stands out on 'Stir It Up.' All we can say is wow. Then you hear words you never heard before in the song. For instance, in this song I heard it so clear 'I push the wood then the blaze will fire.' This has to be our favorite interpretation on the album. It all sounds great. It's something different. If you love the bass, you will love this album. As a producer I have always wanted to use a stand up bass in reggae. Now Piere wont let me do another song without using it, thanks Pierre for the greatest inspiration because right now, trust me, 'we don't need no more trouble (only if you really knew the truth).' If you are a real muzik lover you know 'Is This Love' is love because muzik is love because love is what you're feeling here. 'Natural Mystic' sounds natural in this musical setting that Acute Inflections has produced. It is a stripped down version as all the songs are bare and naked.
Elasea Douglas comes strong on her play of words in the song 'Could You Be Loved.' It really centers on the world 'could.' 'Jammin' has nice feel too. This is one of those albums that if you explained the concept to a jazz listener, they would get it. Now on the flipside trying to get a reggae lover conceptualize this concept of a jazz singer & a stand up bassist doing Bob Marley, that listener would never get the fullness of this project. So the best thing to do here is go and hear....listen to this album. If you need help choosing which songs, since there are 17, just follow the listed songs above they aare done in order of the songs in this link. .......ENJOY (we sure did)
Simply Cat "Auf Der Reise"
German has always been a rough language to the ear. Gentleman is Germany's most successful reggae artist and in recent times has returned to his German roots by singing in German. His success has not reached his English songs internationally. The German language makes it a challenge to succeed intentionally. Simply Cat is on a mission to change that. Her new album "Auf Der Reise" is her best material from the last eight years. It is a valiant effort to make it easier on the ears. Even without knowing what she is saying the album sounds good, all nine tracks.
The album features her best from this period and the best reggae producers. These riddims form the track for the journey, which has a positive vibe in common with conventional reggae clichés. Paying attention to detail and her unique vocal style, the listener can accompany Simply Cat through a wide variety of life themes, inspirations and experiences and take away a feeling of "courage to grow".
Here is a medley of snippets of songs from her new album
Jah Cure & Wai Fuzion 'Drama'
An appropriate song for an appropriate time, they say timing is everything. Released on the heals of his song 'You Can't See My Soul,' Jah Cure returns with 'Drama' and getting help from Wai Fuzion. Two of his better songs in recent times. Then again the times have not been too good to Jah Cure recently. Change can only create change, hopefully that is the case for Jah Cure. Like him or not he produces good music.
SOCA
Various Artists "Old Ting Riddim"
Tough Ragga Soca riddim, and you would not believe a reggae artist has the best song on the riddim. His name is Jemere Morgan and his song is 'Party On.' I love the back up vocals on 'Mama Cougar' from Sekon Sta.
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