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Inna Red I Hour (I Grade, 2003)
I
Grade Records is steadily becoming the modern, scaled-down version of Studio One
in the '60s/'70s or Island Records in the '70s and early '80s.
That is, it’s establishing itself as a stamp of quality, as a
dependable source for quality reggae in a market increasingly flooded by
half-hearted fly-by-night labels and mega-labels whose next by-the-numbers
release sounds just like their last. You hardly even have to listen to an I Grade production to
know that you’re in good hands. Chances
are you’ll be treated to powerful, largely live-instrument retro roots rhythms
that, as grounded as they are in the vintage reggae sound, nonetheless resist
stagnancy with a bold infusion of jazz, R&B, hip-hop, dancehall, and
otherwordly experimentation. Singer/DJ/sing-jay
Abja's debut Inna Red I Hour is surely no exception.
You might remember him from his outstanding "Crucial
Confessions" on I Grade’s Weep Not
compilation in 2002; if not, you can also find it on
Inna Red I Hour. As would be
expected from an I Grade release, Abja hails from St. Croix, Virgin Islands, the
label’s home base (Indeed, if I Grade is the new Studio One, then St. Croix,
musically, is certainly the new Jamaica.), and as would be expected, he brings
with him a righteous roots sensibility to match the rich roots rhythms that seem
to seep out of the Virgin Islands soil and into the talented musicians here (the
new Roots Radics?). Abja's
style continues the modern trend of vibrant sing-jays like Buju Banton, Turbulence,
and
Sizzla who both sing and chat in a conscious,
roots-inclined setting (as opposed to sing-jays of the late '70s and '80s, who
favored dancehall), and I must say that although this is his first album, his
vocal and songwriting skills compare favorably to those veterans. “Crucial
Confessions,” an emotional, full-blooded roots jam, is fairly typical of the
album in both sound and quality, although there are a few tracks that
incorporate a broader sound, such as the jazzy edge of "Rise Up," the
laid-back hip-hop slant of "Lion Walk," and the folksy acoustic guitar
ballad "Still Have Love." However,
reggae purists should have no fear; there’s plenty of potent, pure roots to
chew on, from the ganja anthem "Pass the Kahn" to the funky "Love
Potion" to the more subdued "Play On" and "Rebel I
Lion."
The cream of this crop for me, though, are three-fold: 1) the explosive
classic "War," whose chanting chorus begs to be screamed aloud:
War for di money, war for di gold / War for di people and their mind control./ War for di jewels, war for di oil / War for di land they done stole;
2)
the more subtle, sublime "I Love Jah," which is backed by a serene melodica
and Nyabinghi drum rhythm; and 3) "Chances," which paints an evocative portrait of life
on the brink in this crazy world:
Mama, don't you cry / Dry the tears from your weeping eyes.
Chances are we'll make it through the night / And (there’s) a chance that
we'll be just fine.
No one’s promise tomorrow's plane / Although we’ve planned for another day,
But for today let's give thanks and praise / And let Creator lead the way.
All in all, Inna Red I Hour is a powerhouse debut that spells a great future for Abja and that cements St. Croix as the hotbed for first-rate modern roots reggae.
| Track Listing 1. Red I Tune 2. War 3. Crucial Confessions 4. Rise Up 5. Rebel I Lion 6. Lion Walk 7. Love Jah 8. Chances 9. Love Potion 10. Pass de Kahn featuring Yahdanai 11. Play On 12. Still Have Love 13. Love Jah Dub 14. Lion Walk Dub |
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| Mahogany Road (I Grade, 2006)
A sophomore album is always a tricky proposition, since its nature is such that it will invariably be compared to the album before it, and the sound will invariably not be quite as fresh the second time around. And while Abja's second album, Mahogany Road, may not be quite as fresh for this reason, it manages to avoid the sophomore slump. In fact, it runs all over the sophomore slump with boundless energy, pointed lyrics, and the type of rich roots music we've come to expect from Laurent "Tippy" Alfred, Tuff Lion, and the rest of the gang at I Grade Records. Abja is a singjay in the truest sense, as you often have to stop and think, "Is he singing or chatting?" The answer: both! Two, two great sounds in one! "Dread Time" is a great showcase of the earnestness of his vocals, which at times sound a bit like if Bob Marley had evolved into more of a DJ stylee. The NiyoRah duet "Good Vibez" is another standout, a rousing track with a shout-it-out chorus and wicked horn line, while "One Shot" brims with old school feel-good vibes (and a touch of the throwback vocal harmony that peppers the album), and "Wanted" is a thoughtful indictment of racial profiling. All in all, Mahogany Road is not only ample evidence that Abja is here to stay, but it's also a welcome addition to the I Grade vaults. |
| Track Listing 1. Don't Feel No Way 2. Consideration 3. Good Vibez featuring NiyoRah 4. Mahogany Road 5. Praise the Day 6. Good Sensimilia 7. Dread Time 8. Preservation of the I 9. Long Time 10. One Shot 11. Rejoice 12. Wanted 13. Dange Zone 14. Whitewash 15. Jah Love featuring Ras Attitude |
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