After a first album, "Forward Music", released in 2008, which hinted at all the talent of the Senegalese singer, here is the new album from Meta & The Cornerstones. Meta Dia indeed did not wait long to realise the dream of most reggae singers and musicians: recording in Jamaica.
At Tuff Gong studio in Kingston, supported by Sydney Mills (Steel Pulse's keyboardist), Meta Dia surrounded himself with several musicians to complete his Cornerstones, who came to the island in a reduced line-up. Among them, Wilburn "Squidly" Cole, Wayne "C-Sharp" Clarke, Julian Marley, Dean Fraser, Bopee Bowen, Mikey Chung, Daniel "Axeman" Thompson… and the famous percussionist Larry Mcdonald (it was he who introduced Meta, whom he met in New York, to Sydney Mills). Without revolutionising Meta's sound, they put themselves at the service of his reggae and stand out for the quality of the riddims: "I brought my world to Jamaica… On the spot, we reworked the songs, changed a bassline, slowed down a tempo… We re-cooked the songs, in a way", he told us in an interview.
"Ancient Power" thus follows on from "Forward Music". Perfectly balanced, the album distils its effective, rhythmic roots rock reggae, as the opening i>Roaring Lions, Bound to Glory or Mayan River illustrate well. Meta Dia's strengths are all there: charisma, a sense of melody, catchy choruses and positive, conscious lyrics. "Writing a song is like giving birth to life", sings Meta on Silence of the moon. Indeed, he sketches in song the outlines of his visions of a better world, of a humanity returned to the essentials (Mankind), of a romance (Rooftop with U-Roy) or of his native Africa (Beloved Africa, with Damian Marley). A third generation of singers is also invited with Capleton on Tijahni, whose combination of voices works wonderfully. Heavyweight reinforcements for this "Ancient Power" that could well see the international take-off of Meta & The Cornerstones. From Senegal to New York to Jamaica, Meta Dia continues on his way in fine style.
Pull Up :
Ancient Power
Tijahni feat. Capleton
Beloved Africa feat. Damian Marley
Loneliest People
