The Meditations made their big comeback with the roots audience with the excellent Makasound reissue of "Guidance", on which the trio were at the peak of their art. A success that launched a new album project: 16 brand-new tracks released on their own label, Meditations Music. But despite the musicians on the album, the trio disappoints.
The Meditations are, let us recall, one of the great Jamaican vocal trios that Bob Marley was particularly fond of. They notably provide the backing vocals on Perry's version of Punky Reggae Party. They also worked for Wackie's, Linval Thompson and Henry 'Junjo' Lawes. Highly respected in the business, they never really broke through the way the Abyssinians or the Mighty Diamonds did. They nonetheless leave a few unmissable tracks in the history of roots. But with this "Stand in love", we are a long way from Much Smarter or Life is not easy, recorded at the Black Ark in the late 70s. From the first seconds of the album, the drum sound hits you. The production is very digital even though Sly Dunbar is credited in the booklet. Several tracks suffer from clumsy instrumental production in questionable taste. The all-important snare comes from machines and really does a disservice to the trio's talent. Some compositions suffer for it, such as Give Praise. Well inspired and vocally very well arranged, one would have liked the wah-wah guitar solo in the middle of the track not to be drowned in the resonances of what should be a snare. Thankful suffers from the same ailment, to which is added interesting and varied singing, a variety that is unfortunately not followed by the riddim, to the point of raising questions about the tuning of the whole. "Wicked man" displays dubious 80s rock atmospheres and arrangements, notably an opening sax solo that sets an unusual scene.
Digital tendencies
It is when they return to more authentic sounds that the Meditations manage to convince. Some tracks, unfortunately too scattered, deserve to be noticed. Rasta Love skilfully blends these digital tendencies with more acoustic sounds. In contrast to the digital programming, note the horn interventions and the trumpet solo, which place the Meditations a little more firmly in their repertoire. Stranger in Love leans frankly towards the rocksteady of their beginnings and stands out from the selection. We find the mastered vocal techniques such as the falsetto lead and the thick, precise harmonies. Not responsible brings back the trio as we like them, served this time by a riddim with interesting basslines, very rocksteady with some very roots horns. Glory Hallelujah once again draws on a reggae/gospel that the trio knows well. Don't cry sounds like Meditations, but one notices a poverty in the production, with steppers drained of energy, as on Born in War. Junior Marvin is credited there as lead guitarist. His phrasing is inspired, but once again it is in the sounds that the choices are … strange. The themes tackled are worthy of interest. The booklet, well designed, offers the lyrics of every track. Youth teach wisdom and Make yourself happy prove more interesting to read than to listen to.
We are all the more disappointed by this release because we know the potential and the history of this trio. In trying to modernise their sound, the Meditations have lost themselves in an unconvincing attempt. A handful of tracks can still be salvaged. But it is better to wait for the next album… or the next reissue.
