Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Christopher Ellis, Queen Ifrica, Tarrus Riley, Chronixx, Andrew Tosh, Omar Perry... There are many of them, the children of the business, following in their fathers' footsteps. Addis Pablo was only 9 when his father died in 1999. An illustrious father, creator of the famous "Far East sound". A heavyweight producer, keyboard and melodica player, with his sonic signature, Augustus Pablo bequeathed to Jamaican music some of its most beautiful pieces. He also left a son, Addis Pablo. An offspring who embraced his father's career, to the point of taking over his shop on Orange Street, launching into music, setting up his label Suns of Dub (co-run with RasJammy)... and finally picking up the melodica.
After several singles, including Souljahz In Dub (the dub version of Selassie Souljahz with Sizzla, Chronixx, Protoje and Kabaka Pyramid), the time has come for his first album, "In My Father's House", a double reference to his father and to a biblical verse. Set to music by the Austrians House of Riddim, it is produced by Marc Baronner for JahSolid Rock, the Dutch label that made its name with albums by Earl 16, Brinsley Forde, Apple Gabriel and Chezidek. It is therefore no surprise to find Earl 16 (who knew Augustus Pablo) and Chezidek, but also Prince Alla, Jah Exile and Sylford Walker, who slot their songs into this instrumental set: in the manner of a showcase album, Addis Pablo's tracks are accompanied by a dub version, sometimes by a vocal version.
If Prince Alla stands out with Giving Thanks, the dub version Rockers Trodding Jamaica is even more substantial, powerfully weighted by nyabinghi percussion. Thanks And Praise with Chezidek is none other than his splendid track Praises To Jah, from his latest album, "The Order Of Melchezedik". Several riddims are in fact taken from that album: the powerful In A Di Gideon, the soothing One Heart, One Love, One Family, the title track In My Father's House, the horn-laden Walls Of Jericho... The version sung by the dub poet Jah Exile (To the Chief Musicians) adds to the natural mysticism that emanates from the album, from the very first melodica notes of Road To Addis.
From this instrument "for children" (as his father was mocked at the time), Addis Pablo draws bewitching melodies, maintaining a simplicity that avoids the pitfalls of bombastic constructions. Jah Solid Rock's work has already been praised in these pages, but the sound of "In My Father's House" is quite simply impeccable, perfectly showcased by a precise mix. What could have been no more than a carbon copy of his father's music goes beyond "simple" homage to his memory in the best possible way. A remarkable first effort, "In My Father's House" is a splendid dub manifesto.
Pull Up:
Rockers Trodding Jamaica
Thanks and Praise feat. Chezidek
Road To Addis
Rockers International
Addis Pablo - Road To Addis
Addis Pablo - In My Father's House Documentary
