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!
REGGAE
Raspigaous "Nouvel'R"
This French band plays really good live roots reggae and it's all in French. It will create a bit of hurdle for the English only speaking listeners. The band has been around since 1997 and it shows in their music. The whole album is good. I have provided English translation of song titles in brackets. Going just by music & melody, the best tracks are 'Cours (classes)' which has a good feel and love the harmonic vocal slurs in the chorus. 'Le Son de La Basse (the sound of bass)' has a heavy roots sound. In the bands description states they play reggae, ska & Marseillais, which is a very French style of music. So 'Marsilia' is a song that combines this style of music with reggae. Interesting to say the least. 'Le Moule (the mold)' is a great musical composition with really nice horns, a wicked bass, good flow and sweet harmonies. 'Lêve-toi (get up)' will make you do just that as the skank is strong and is complete & solid song. 'Boom Boom' is the closest thing to English. The music matches the melody so perfect and it has a ska feel from the uptempo of the music. 'Legalize' is the only English word sang on the whole album and can only assume it's about the Ganja. Another one with good horns and harmonies. 'Rien N'est Facile (nothing is easy)' is a song that utilizes the simplicity of the music and create a mix that drops out alot of the music to keep it very interesting. 'Haut Et Fort (high and loud)'is the last song and making a lasting impression of being 'high & loud' in a good way with their music. Musically solid and well rounded and their experience shows in the mastery of their tightness & music.
Faygo "Together"
FAYGO is a call to share, to travel and to cultivate an open mind! Nourished by Roots Reggae and Dub, influenced as much by Groundation, The Gladiators and the Jamaican trios of the 80’s as by Fela Kuti’s Afro-Beat, by Blues or even by Cuban music, Faygo opened itself to new musical experiences for a second album called “Together." The band has made an addition of a horn section of four instruments (trumpet, trombone, alto and tenor saxophone) and the band created its own associative label “Fawaka Records” to federate the independent reggae scene in the region Brittany of France. You must 'Free Your Mind' to get the fullness and the liberty of this album. Reggae is always better and meant to 'Sing It Together' since it is the voice of the people. 'Inna Di Train' is part of the Babylonian system illusion, musically a deep, colorful and diverse reggae tune. Reggae expresses suffering, you hear it in 'Be Yourself' and encourages freedom. Love is medicine, 'Love Is Di Healing' and love is the answer. Life is not an easy road and it's a 'Long Way To Zion.' A song that expresses the world wide problem of people leaving their respective homelands to go somewhere else because where they live is major & serious political problems. People are crying, they are angry and they are 'Starving.' This one is sung with alot of conviction. Inner strength and light has to be strong in these times and many find it in 'Praise Jah.' Slavery is still a problem in the 21st century and 'No More Slavery' is Faygo's plea to end it once and for all. All we have is time yet 'Time Is Running Away.' The album takes an introspective look at the moments shared by the band members since the beginning of their adventure. The tracks are sometimes inspired by more personal and spiritual influences, but the result is a shared work based on the lyrics of the three songwriters of this album. The topics touch upon social themes that affect us all; for example food waste, modern slavery, indifference, media speculation on insecurity, immigration and the absurdity of our consumer society. They also evoke nature, love and living together, a subject that is very important to Faygo.
Various Children "Kids Reggae"
Mostly renditions of traditional children's songs and a few religious ones done in reggae as well is reggae all the way through. It will be praised for its production and more so because there is not enough of this out there. The only song that was a complete original is a very encouraging song called 'I Am A Promise.' Showing the strength of children and what they can do in life. The vocals could have been stronger. Otherwise there are the popular: 'If You're Happy And You Know It,' 'He's Got The Whole World' and 'Oh When The Saints Go Marching.' There's the religious reggae songs with kids singing: 'Jesus Love The Little Children,' 'Father Abraham' and 'Jesus Love Is Bubbling Over.' Lastly, 'Deep And Wide' is a lesser known children's song which combines religious canotations and traditional hymn music with a touch of reggae.
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