After unleashing a hat trick of unforgettable cultural albums between 1976-1978, Bunny Wailer seemed to have followed the rest of the reggae scene into ever-lighter, more commercially acceptable territories. "Seemed" because his international albums were a far cry from the kind of music he was self-releasing on singles back home. These remained enticingly out of sight for non-Jamaicans, until some of the best were collected for this album. The songs date from 1977-1985, 14 incredibly powerful cultural statements, all self-produced and backed by the likes of the Revolutionaries and the Roots Radics. The numbers are not arranged chronologically, nor did much thought go into the sequencing, but that's irrelevant, so superb is every track within.
Many of the songs reflected Jamaica's political and societal events, with 1978's "Peace Talk" inspired by the peace treaty agreed by Kingston's gangs, "Power Struggle" and "Tugawar Game" reflecting the corrosive battles carried into the streets by the island's two political parties, "Innocent Blood" a plea to stop the slaughter in the lead-up to the 1980 election, and 1981's "Unity" an attempt to heal the island's still-open wounds.
"Crucial" was used without permission by the Jamaican Labor Party as their campaign song in that election, and Bunny makes clear his feelings on their policies in "Trouble on the Road Again," "Boderation," and "Here in Jamaica."
The earliest song on the set, 1977's "Bright Soul," is one of the loveliest, although the "soul" referred to is actually Satan. The superb "Old Dragon" tells Lucifer's story in full, while "Struggle" instructs listeners on how to defeat this determined demon.
Although there are some notable omissions, there's no denying the caliber of all of these songs, both lyrically and musically.
At times, Bunny cleverly uses catchy, often nursery rhyme-ish melodies to great advantage, turning simple singalongs into thought-provoking yet incredibly contagious numbers. Nyahbinghi drumming, pastoral elements, bouncy roots reggae, sweet melodies, dubby production, dancehall styling, and even calypso are deftly applied to emphasize or counterpoint the messages of the songs.
Every song within is a standout, and the album's title is absolutely accurate. (AllMusic)
When this is posted I will be on holiday so there won't be any quick responses to comments.
Arguably the greatest Jamaican vocal group to emerge on the reggae scene during the latter half of the Seventies, the Joseph Hill-led trio Culture wrote and performed some of the finest roots music of the era, initially making their mark with producer Joe Gibbs before joining the revered roster of Sonia Pottinger’s High Note Records.
The first two discs of this long overdue triple CD set collect the ‘A’ and ‘B’ sides of all the group’s Jamaican 7” and 12” High Note singles, with disc 3 comprising rare and previously unreleased 12” mixes from the vaults.
Featuring some of the finest roots reggae recordings of the late Seventies, this collection superbly demonstrates why Culture remain held in such high esteem by reggae aficionados, and with 20 tracks new to CD and five previously unissued, will even satisfy the exacting demands of the group’s long-standing fans.(Cherry Red Records)
When this is posted I will be on holiday so there won't be any quick responses to comments.
What with Michael Timmons’ day to day job as a ‘go to record producer’ it’s no wonder it’s over 5 years since Cowboy Junkies last album of new material; although their covers album RECOLLECTIONS was pretty damn good in every which way; but at RMHQ it’s ‘their songs’ we crave like a crack addict.
So it was with baited breath and a big mug of coffee that I tentatively pressed ‘play’ on the office Hi-Fi; as the Timmons siblings are more than capable of throwing us a curve ball … with great relief opening song What I Lost is as deep, dark and beautiful as any fan could hope for, with Margo’s stunning and distinctive voice as cool as ever, while Michael’s guitar playing swoops and soars with additional rumbling from the top end of the fret board unlike any of the Guitar Gods on the road today.
With that in mind; the opening to Track #2 Flood, is almost psychedelic …. even Gilmouresque; and continues throughout while Ms Timmons remains front and centre apparantly oblivious to the ‘wall of sound’ her brother is creating behind her.
While I can’t say I’ve liked every Cowboy Junkies album; like you can’t like every Neil Young album, as both are contrary at times; ‘never making the same album twice’ …. which is actually a good thing; and Such Ferocious Beauty is a perfect moniker for this particular bundle of songs, with the slow and acoustic Canadian Gothic song Hell Is Real being juxtaposed between the punchy Shadows 2; about the Timmins’s father falling deeper and deeper under the spell of dementia; and Circe and Penelope with it’s haunting harmonica and rustic acoustic guitars; which is one of their few songs this century that sounds anything like Trinity Sessions; but the addition of a cello halfway through takes it into a whole new stratosphere.
Even after four plays now; this album is still throwing up surprises; possibly because while I’ve been digesting one song it’s meant I haven’t always been listening intently to what follows; which is why the intense and simmering story in Throw a Match has just taken me by such surprise …. was it there this morning?
It must have been, but I couldn’t remember it from the first three plays.
Weird, I know … but that’s the Cowboy Junkies for you.
Tucked away in the middle is a very important song in the Cowboy Junkies canon of work; and that’s Knives. As intense and complex as you’d expect; but here the addition of a violin finds the band setting sail to unchartered territory …. and I love it.
There’s an all encompassing darkness, and even ‘fear’ (courtesy of some scary guitar playing!) to Mike Tyson (Here It Comes) but the sensitive way Margo delivers the story makes this a full on contender for being my Favourite Song; but the staggeringly beautiful Blue Skies with its birdsong opening and tender acoustic guitar accompaniment just about edges it out of that first place.
Yet, again there is another song here that has just unravelled and took my breath away; so I suppose I have to make Hard To Build. Easy To Break its equal and therefore a joint Favourite Song.
There are highs and lows here, darkness and light too and the three multi-talented Timmins siblings alongside lifelong friend Alan Anton are still pushing boundaries all the while; but you always know they will never over step the mark in the name of experimentation. (Rocking Magpie)
