British deejay Mr. Williamz has dropped several scorching tunes for producer Curtis Lynch in the past years. A few months ago he also put out his debut EP titled Last Night. In mid July he performed at Swedish reggae festival Öland Roots. I saw him strolling around the premises after his set and asked for an interview.
Among other things we talked about the importance of dancehall culture. Check the interview over at United Reggae.
Filed under Interviews
Necessary Mayhem producer Curtis Lynch is apparently taking things up a notch in 2011. In January he dropped an EP from Chantelle Ernandez as well as a reworking of the classic riddim Pass the Kouchie and two 12” from Dennis Brown and Brinsley Forde respectively. February saw the lovers rock album The Love Directories that compiled both released and previously unreleased material.
Now he has come up with a new riddim called The Gorilla that is – according to the press release – “the best riddim so far on the Necessary Mayhem label”. And it certainly is a great one with efforts from a broad variety of artists.
Tarrus Riley, Omar Perry, Franz Job and veterans Macka B and Chukki Starr have all voiced this dub infused bass heavy riddim that will make you shake your hip and move your feet.
It’s available on Monday March 14th on vinyl and legal download.
Filed under News
On Valentines Day top producer Curtis Lynch put out his full length contribution to the lovers rock genre. This side of him has been heard on some previous productions, such as Heart Broken by Etana and Worth Your Weight in Gold from the late Delroy Wilson, a song included on the album.
The Love Directories is Curtis Lynch second compilation and includes twelve tunes, some already familiar, while others are previously unreleased. The former includes the lethal Blackout JA and Michie One combination Love Me Woman, and the latter new gems such as Brinsley Forde’s joyful Bubbling on the General riddim and Thinking, a treat with an pulsating abyss-like bass line, accompanied by soulful singer Tony Curtis alongside Angel.
A bit surprising is that Stevie Wonder turns up in Don’t You Forget It. It is not really Stevie himself though. It is U.S. soul singer Glenn Lewis, who performs a reggae lick of one of his own hit tunes.
This compilation is a great way to combine deep and heavy riddims with lovers oriented lyrics. It will suit both you and your significant other when romanticizing.
Filed under Record reviews
On Etana’s sophomore album Free Expressions she shows a more mature side of herself. She has managed to pen 12 of the 14 tunes and has also collaborated with a variety of producers, including lovers rock specialist Kemar “Flava” McGregor and Curtis Lynch, a producer that shows a new, more melodic side of himself this time.
Free Expressions includes several previously released tunes, such as Mockingbird, Happy Heart, August Town, Heart Broken and I Know You Love Me. And those are some of the best tunes. Other highlights include the gospel-tinged I Got You produced by talented duo Alborosie & Specialist, and War, with an opening guitar hook very similar to Max Romeo’s classic Chase the Devil. On War Etana also delivers with furious energy.
Sadly, there are some dull moments too. It’s tough to cope with My Name Is – a song that certainly has hit potential, but not my kind of music with its synthesizer effects similar to Jon & Vangelis I’ll Find My Way Home and a chorus that echoes from It’s Gonna Be Me by 90’s boy band ‘N Sync.
I’m not over excited about the intense and schizophrenic Venting either. It’s just too much instruments and vocals that fight for my attention.
The album is a fusion of reggae, lovers rock, pop and neo-soul and Etana’s singing sometimes resembles the voice of Alicia Keys. If you like your reggae soul styled and heavenly melodic – then this is a must have.
Free Expressions hit the shelves on February 8.
Filed under Record reviews
UK-based producer Curtis Lynch has managed to release a bunch of releases already in the new year. Started on January 11 with Chantelle Ernandez and her nice lovers rock EP My Forever and continuing with a relick of one of the most versioned riddims ever – Pass the Kutchie, originally titled Full Up and recorded at Studio One. It features vocals from the Mighty Diamonds, Yellowman, Mr. Williamz, Tippa Irie, Kasi and Franz Job.
But that’s not all. The Necessary Mayhem camp has also managed to put out the first release in their “Company Policy” series. It’s a 12” release (also available as legal download) with one side from the late Dennis Brown and the other from ex-Aswad singer Brinsley Forde.
The tunes are not on the same riddim though. The Dennis Brown cut is a version of his Deceiving Girl produced by Augustus “Gussie” Clarke in the early 80’s, and included on the Judge Not album with the late Gregory Isaacs. Brinsley Forde rides a relick of another Gussie Clarke production – the mighty Rumours riddim. Both tunes are served with its dub version.
Curtis Lynch is a reliable source for great reggae music and with these new releases you can expect the usual – ear blowing heavy bass lines, electronica influences and added sound effects.
Reggae singer and songwriter Etana is set to drop her sophomore album Free Expressions in early February. The album has been preceded by strong singles such as Mockingbird, August Town and Heart Broken. Reggaemani got a chat with her from her home island of Jamaica.
Etana started her musical career in female vocal group Gift in 2000. But she soon left the outfit because she didn’t like the widespread stereotyping of female artists. Now she is doing music on her own terms instead.
“It’s a major difference now when I can decide everything for myself. I can do things my way and record what I want. I’m being able to express myself. It’s a natural vibe, natural energy”, says Etana on the phone from Jamaica.
Some years after she had left the group a friend introduced her to singer Richie Spice’s former management Fifth Element Records and she agreed to follow him on tour as a backup vocalist.
The label obviously recognized her huge talent and managed to persuade her to record the single Wrong Address, a single that was rewarded with heavy radio rotation and also climbed to number 1 on several Jamaican charts.
In 2008 she dropped her debut album The Strong One to wide critical acclaim, partly due to hit songs such as I’m Not Afraid on Kemar “Flava” McGregor’s wicked Rub-a-Dub riddim and Alborosie duet Blessings.
On her new album Free Expressions she has continued working with Flava McGregor and Alborosie. But she has also invited UK master producer Curtis Lynch for some tough tunes.
“The label recommended me to work with Curtis Lynch, so he flew to Jamaica and we met at Gussie Clarke’s studio. The chemistry was great and all the songs came out just like that. I think the first song we recorded was Move On, then Heart Broken and last August Town. It was a good connection”, says Etana.
She says that the new album was produced a little differently from the first. Most of the sessions were less planned which has given the album more of a free vibe. On Free Expressions Etana has also written most of the material herself, something that might also have had an effect on the different vibe during recording.
“It feels good to do most things by myself and VP never gives me a hard time production wise or video wise. I’m very excited that I’ve come up with an entire album”.
She explains that the new album is more reggae compared to The Strong One and that the debut was more of an introduction to her music.
Free Expressions hit the streets on February 8th and then she will go on tour to the U.S. and Europe.
“I’ll probably start touring in America and then spend much time in Europe and the UK”, she says and reveals her hopes on Free Expressions:
“I hope it will take me to the next level and that it will make me continue to grow. Everything is possible and you never know where it’s going to go”.
Filed under Interviews
Compilations can often be a bit dull and it’s tough not to wander away in the jungle of new compilations introduced on iTunes every week. This is probably one of the reasons why I think 2010 hasn’t been a great year for new compilations. It has just been too many with too poor quality.
But there are still compilations that are very well crafted and well compiled. The new Dennis Brown Anthology and Absolutely The Uniques just to name two.
But in my list of the best compilations in 2010, I’ve only selected various artists’ albums and eliminated those that are dedicated to just one artist or group. I’ve also excluded riddim compilations to narrow it down even further.
Below are the three compilations that I’ve enjoyed the most in 2010.
3. Various – Dancehall 2 – The Rise of Jamaican Dancehall Culture
The second edition in the Soul Jazz Records “Dancehall” series featuring some great dancehall moments with wicked artists such as Yellowman, Johnny Osbourne and Lone Ranger. An absolutely essential guide that features both classic tunes as well as rarer ones.
2. Various – Digital Acoustics
Gathers some of the best tunes from producer Curtis Lynch. Includes several relicks, but also some own material. A great introduction to this master producer and his hefty sounds.
1. Various – Bobo Revolution 2
Includes 21 cuts on nine well crafted riddims produced by mastermind Frenchie. Artists ranging from chanters to sweeter voices such as Peetah Morgan. No fillers, only killers.
Filed under Columns
If you’ve followed Reggaemani for some time, you’ve probably noticed that I’m a big fan of UK-based producer Curtis Lynch aka Da Grynch. To promote his music I’ve decided to drop a mix consisting only of his dark and dub oriented productions.
I came across his tunes about a year ago when he dropped Young Gunz, a wicked Million Stylez and Joey Fever combination over a revitalized 80’s riddim.
From then and onwards, I’ve kept a close eye on his labels Necessary Mayhem and Maroon, the former dedicated to dancehall productions and the latter to more roots sounding stuff.
Curtis Lynch has done lots of great relicks, for example Joker Smoker and the mighty Police in Helicopter. Earlier this year he put out his first own riddim titled Jam 1, and about a month ago Jam 4 – also an own riddim – hit the streets. Both are included in the new mix. But I’ve not included the original version of Jam 1. Instead I’ve used a lethal remix that has an even heavier bass line.
An interesting thing about the productions from Curtis Lynch is that most artists he’s voicing are from Europe. Jamaican singers included on A Curtis Lynch Special are Busy Signal, Gregory Isaacs and Etana. All others are living in Europe.
This mix is done after the same recipe as my previous – a continuous mix with no full tracks and some added sound effects.
Most tunes are available on vinyl or on mp3 and easy to find. Rumours by Ziggi Recado is not released yet though. It might be released on 7” later this year.
If you like what you hear, please support the artists and the labels and buy the tunes.
Download A Curtis Lynch Special here (right click, save as) or listen below.
Artist – song title (riddim)
1. Chyna Soulstar & Demolition Man – Lord Save My Soul (Pirates)
2. Brinsley Forde & Blackout JA – United States of Africa (Pirates)
3. Da Grynch – Pirates Dub (Pirates)
4. Ziggi Recado – Ganja Smoke (In the Air) (Joker Smoker)
5. Mr. Williamz – No Cigarette (Joker Smoker)
6. Da Grynch – Joker Smoker Instrumental (Joker Smoker)
7. Etana – August Town (Inner City Lady)
8. Gregory Isaacs & Blackout JA – Inner City Lady (Inner City Lady)
9. Da Grynch – Inner City Dub (Inner City Lady)
10. Ziggi Recado – Rumours
11. Blackout JA – Heavy Weight Chanter (Jam 4/the Wobble)
12. Da Grynch – Jam 4 Instrumental (Jam 4/the Wobble)
13. Blackout JA & Chantelle Ernandez – We Are Strong (Shaolin Temple)
14. Jah Mirikle – Mystic Control (Shaolin Temple)
15. Da Grynch – Ugly Dub (Shaolin Temple)
16. Maikal X – Get Away (Police in Helicopter Reactivated)
17. Mr. Williamz – Sound Murderer (Police in Helicopter Reactivated)
18. Da Grynch – Police in Helicopter Dub (Police in Helicopter Reactivated)
19. Busy Signal, Etana & Netna – As Mi Forward Remix (Jam 1)
20. Million Stylez & Joey Fever – Young Gunz (Come Down)
21. Mr. Williamz – Real General (Come Down)
22. Da Grynch – Come Down Instrumental (Come Down)
Filed under Mixes
Producer Curtis Lynch – the mastermind behind many great relicks – unleashes the new Jam 4/The Wobble riddim. The rhythm is named after its dark intro bass, and because it was the fourth rhythm he built in Jamaica.
As usual there are some excellent pieces of modern rootsy dancehall. Legendary UK dancehall deejays Top Cat and General Levy do some heavy chatting. But the best slice is from rock stone voice Blackout JA with his Heavyweight Chanter.
Filed under News
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