.::GUIDELIGHT MOVEMENT::.

REVIEW: SELAH COLLINS - REAL REBEL / HUGHIE IZACHAAR - WANT GOOD (Dubwise Records)

This is the latest ouput to come from the Dubwise Records crew. Dubwise Records have been giving us some real gems of UK roots through out the seven years they've put out reggae music. I must admit that the first time I heard these tunes they didn't make any special impression on me, but about a month later when I heard them being played on a sound it all made sense. What I'd missed the first time around just revealed itself to me through all of that treble and bass. What have seemed flat and dull was now the very reason why I actually felt it.

First out on this 10:inch vinyl is Selah Collins. Selah Collins have been on the UK reggae scene for quite some time now. From Unity Sounds in the eighties to Lions Den in the ninties and later to record for various UK labels, like Studio 55 and Sirius, in more recent years. "Real Rebel" is Selah Collins second tune for the Dubwise label, first one was the bubbly stepper "Unity", and what a tune it is. Selah's voice and singing style are perfectly fitting the rhythm which is a slow kind of rockers. The way the bass and the drum just forward on and on like there is no end are what makes the rhythm so effective. The rolling bass combined with the loose guitar playing on top of it just increases the rock hard trod of the rhythm.

"Here comes Rasta with reasoning..."

Selah Collins calls out for the real rebels to arm themselfs for the gideon battle of good over evil in this time. To arm oneself with Rasta reasoning to fight against spiritual wickedness. To guide to the youth so they won't fall astray or get misled by media or people of folly. The rebels he particularly mean and sing about are Marcus Garvey, HIM Haile Selassie, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.

Soundclip - Selah Collins - Real Rebel

Second vocal is Hughie Izachaars "Want Good" on the B-side. Hughie Izachaar is a well known live and studio musician on the UK reggae scene and have been so for many years. Apart from being a multitalented musician he also sings which and does so beautifully. Just like Selah Collins this is his second tune for the Dubwise label, first one was "Mass Destruction", and just like the first one this one hits hard and heavy. Hughie Izachaar preaches the valuble leason of life that if you want something you must work hard to achieve it. Personally I think neither of the two versions can compete with the other because they are equally good. Rhythmwise the Hughie Izachaars version is hardly any different from the Selah Collins cut. The dub versions on the other hand are completly different. Selah Collins dub cut is more like a straight version with the vocal dropping in and out in company of the sometimes dubbed out guitar and keyboard. Hughie Izachaars cut on the other hand are more sound system minded. The first 30 seconds are just pure bass until the drums comes in as company to mark out the foundation of the track. Apart from serious drum and bass there are the usual dubbing with the guitar, vocals et cetera. Heavy as lead, especially when played on a proper sound.

Soundclip - Hughie Izachaar - Want Good

/Jakob Levi - 8/9-05