I KONG

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on Tuesday, May 12th 2015 - 31 256 views Released in 2009, I Kong’s previous album was called "The Forgotten Man". At the time, the album ended several decades of silence and mixed old and new compositions. Six years later, "A Little Walk" confirms I-Kong’s return, and in fine style. Orchestrated by the Swiss musicians of Najavibes, this new album was recorded in Jamaica and is released on their label, Fruit Records. I Kong (Errol Kong by his real name) is none other than the nephew of the celebrated producer Leslie Kong, head of the Beverley’s Records label. He founded the rocksteady group The Jamaicans (authors of the classic Ba Ba Boom) then took the name Ricky Storm, notably forming the duo Ricky & Bunny with Bunny Ruggs, the future singer of Third World. His 1979 album, "The Way It Is", is a forgotten masterpiece, rightly reissued by VP in 2006. But apart from one album in 1982, the new decade, and those that followed, plunged I-Kong into oblivion. This “little walk” takes the form of a showcase album (6 songs, 4 dubs). "A Little Walk" was recorded at the Mixing Lab studio by Gaylard Bravo, with Scully Simms on percussion, Dalton Browne on guitar, and Rico Gaultier and Sting Wray on horns. Completed by Spanish producer Roberto Sanchez, who was entrusted with the mix, this dream cast lives up to all its promises. From the opening, we find I Kong’s distinctive voice on the energetic Guiding Light, carried by its powerful horns. The dub that follows, Guiding Dub, gives pride of place to the guitar and piano. The dubs (the two songs without a dub are offered as extended versions, with the dub at the end) show solid original compositions, brought out by Roberto Sanchez’s precise mix. The arrangements are particularly rich: horns, strings and percussion dress the rhythms and showcase I Kong’s plaintive voice: Live As One, the title track A Little Walk, and above all Mysterious Ways, which closes the album on a superb note. Najavibes has given I Kong a fine comeback. Already available on vinyl, "A Little Walk" will be available digitally this summer. Pull Up : Mysterious Ways A Little Walk Guiding Light

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