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
Bosphoroots "Rizom"
Anyone reading this blog knows the power of reggae muzik and it's worldwide scope. Now Turkey can be added to the worldwide scope of having a bonafide reggae band in Bosphoroots and their album debut album "Rizom" is really good. It shows diversity, depth, authenticity & originality. The album starts with its best and most authentic track in 'Police and Soldier.' Even the subject matter keeps within the reggae realm, too. There are several tracks in their native tongue that sound good too: 'Parla,' & 'Reva Mi Bu' are their best. 'Derdim Var' ft. Deniz Tekin and 'Zamanın Yükü' and the best part is it does not sound out of place. Typical of other languages, not all languages are made to be sung in reggae. Their diversity is first shown in 'Jah Is By My Side.' A conscious dancehall tune. Their jazzy side, which is really nice, too, comes out in 'Zamanın Yükü.' Their last official song is 'Peaceland.' It has a dubby feel and real rootsy vibe too it. It actually gets a full dub treatment too as well as instrumental keyboard as the lead. Interesting to say the least. It's 9 tracks in all 7 different ones. Formed in 2015, Bosphoroots build their foundation on the common base of Roots Reggae and use Dub and Reggae Revival styles in their music. The positive vibes and meaningful content they give to their music is to continue the universal message of Reggae. Turkey helps their inspiration for their music and showing off their Middle Eastern musical influence as well. After a couple of singles and two years their album is here.
The Archives " CARRY ME HOME. A REGGAE TRIBUTE TO GIL SCOTT-HERON & BRIAN JACKSON"
The concept of this album: A REGGAE TRIBUTE TO GIL SCOTT-HERON & BRIAN JACKSON warrants a review regardless of how the music comes out. Well The Archives do it justice in "Carry Me Home." The album was produced by the Archives’ Darryl “Trane” Burke and Thievery Corporation’s Eric Hilton, and via Hilton’s Montserrat House label. The release date would have been Gil's 71st birthday. The record spans the breadth of Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson’s creative partnership, which lasted from the 1971 album Pieces of a Man (featuring the protest anthem “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”) through the 1980 LP 1980 and includes such classics as 1974’s Winter in America.
Hilton and Burke collected artists like DeVaughn, Puma Ptah, the dub poet Mutabaruka, Augustus Pablo’s son Addis and Joseph Hill of Culture’s son Kenyatta to perform alongside the Archives on the record, which also features contributions from Jackson himself on three tracks. Well thought out and executed album. It has a real roots reggae feel.
Jah Sun & Jallanzo "Magic & Madness"
They say it's hard for artists to re-invent themselves, sound fresh and stay current & relevant. Well, I can tell you one thing about Jah Sun, he has progressed very nicely with each album and always sounds good if not better. Not sure it's the producer or Jah Sun's progression, "Magic & Madness" is no exception. I can't find anything less than a good tune on this album. Obviously, some are better than others. Several are on the verge of greatness. There is no doubt you can 'Hold A Vibe' within this "Madness" that turns to "Magic." It's definitely no 'Wasted Time,' breath or words here. Jah Sun is a modern man with an 'Ancient Soul.' If you happen to be 'Suffering In Silence' this is the album to do it because it will bring you 'Sunshine.' The album includes two dubs, too. Producer Omar “Jallanzo” Johnson produced, composed, arranged and mixed all of the music in addition to playing most of the instruments on the 7th album for Jah Sun. Featuring elements of roots reggae, dub, and fusion the album offers something for the pure reggae enthusiast and for those just being introduced to the genre. One of the best of albums as a whole of 2020 so far and probably will be for the year. This album is "Magic."
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