REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS - Reggaespañol Consciente Vol 1 (Rey JahB Producciones)

Not long ago I visited Barcelona to see a friend who was living there during his art studies. Since he knew I'm a reggae vinylist he thought he'd take me to a store which I might find interesting. Unfortunatly it was closed but I returned the day after. I can't remember the name of the store but it was mainly filled with growing equipment for hydrophonics and such, although they did have a little box of reggae vinyl for sale. As I looked over the selection I got into a discussion with the owner, Adel, about roots and dub sound systems in Europe and as we continued our discussion I got to know that Adel along with some friends were the owner of the Leones Humildes HIFI which are one of Barcelona's few roots and dub sound systems. So one thing lead to another and it didn't take long before I'd showed him the Guidelight Movement website on a computer he had in the back and he'd given me a copy of music he'd put out together with his friend Jah Banton. So I thought that it would only be right to showcase this music here so more than the domestic reggae community in Spain knows about this release.

Most of the reggae I've heard in Spanish has either come from Chile, Argentina or somewhere else in South America so it was with curiosity that I played this CD the first time around to hear how it sound. The CD features a vast selection of singers and chanters mainly hailing from Barcelona and Madrid. The music is produced by Rey Jahb Productions and consists of original rhythms with a Spanish vibe to them (Spanish guitar) and classic rhythms like Bob Marley's "Forever Loving Jah" and Morgan Heritage's "Liberation". The production is good and inventive but I can't help getting a punk or DIY (Do It Yourself) vibe from it mainly though because of certain vocalists but this is by no needs bad or less interesting. Just how it is.

soundclip: Jah Nattoh - No Te Dejes Engañar

From the original rhythms featured it's "7 Estrellas" and "Gitano Rastafari" which really do the trick for me and I'll guess with a proper exposure these would get as much attention as their Jamaican counterparts. "7 Estrellas" upfull vibe got serious crossover potential and also features the heartfelt "Woman Escuchame" (Woman Listen To Me) by chanter Chando. Among the eighteen vocalists present on the CD one can tell they've drawn alot of inspiration from Jamaican Bobo chanters like Sizzla and Anthony B though it's no rip off since they all add their own vocal ingriendents to their performances. Those who really caught my interest are Bocer, who's sweet voice I hope to hear more from since he delivers the best tracks on the CD with "No Queremos Maldad" (roughly translated "We Want No Badness") and "Intro" (intro to "7 Estrellas"), and singjays Jah Nattoh and Miguel who also contributes with strong tunes. Other than the language being Spanish all through the CD a Spanish guitar is also present on several tracks making the production sound more lively and original.

soundclip: Bocer - No Queremos Maldad

The undertitle of the CD is "Consciente Vol 1" which means it's conscious music we're dealing with. Rhythmwise it's mainly roots tunes with the exception for three bashment tunes which covers the Jamaican label G-Strings "Flava" rhythm. Lyrically its thanks and praises to Jah Rastafari and topics concerning love, respect and the more usual topics which are common on rootical Rasta tunes. I certainly hope their will be a second volume coming since many vocalists here seem to be in the early stages of singing and chanting and it would be interesting to hear how they have developed till the next release.

/Jakob Levi - 3/7-06

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