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ARMY
Rasta Awake
Release date :
06-01-2005
Label :
I Grade Records
Tracklist :
1.Give The Youths a Try
2.Jah Reveal It
3.Mr. Monday
4.Honorebel
5.Who Will Pay
6.Tek Your Time
7.Share Your Love
8.Small Number
9.Men Will Doubt
10.Don't Move My Mountain
11.Mi Sista
12.Preying Mantis
13.Rasta Awake
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REVIEW
Review written by Maxime Nordez
on Friday, July 15th 2005 - 15 095 views
Army is a conscious singer who stands out on the small (but influential) St Croix scene. He is notably the voice behind a superb duet with Luciano, Calling Jah Army, which only strengthened his reputation. With his first two albums, he established himself as a figurehead of roots on St Croix. On this "Rasta Awake", Army benefits from solid, original and effective riddims. The album is mostly produced by Tuff Lion (Vivah Music), guitarist and leader of Bambu Station, while Tippy and Kenyatta contribute three of the 13 riddims. The two producers of the I Grade label provide the most cross-over tracks, such as Mr Monday with its hip hop leanings or the more r'n'b Small Number. Their work on Mi Sista, a slow, hypnotic one drop, is preferable. Apart from these slightly "daring" productions, the riddims stick to roots/nu-roots, drawing on a know-how particular to St Croix and its power to create atmospheres. The naive little synth sound that opens the album is misleading, and one is quickly reassured as the tracks go by: the instrumental quality is beyond doubt. Army rises to the challenge brilliantly and delivers an assured, accurate and clear voice.
With very poetic and vivid writing, his lyrics revolve mainly around Rastafari, "Livity" and social justice. He takes care to adapt his flow to the riddims, as on Honorebel, over a particularly successful production. All the tracks have male backing vocals. Army probably doubles his own voice on certain tracks such as Tek Your Time, ensuring a dense, compact timbre. While staying within the rather slow tempos of roots, the album is varied in its dynamics. Army is developing a certain musical personality and repeats a few melodic recipes (from the opening Give the youths a try to Tek Your Time). Even so, Army's voice outweighs any criticism of the musical writing. Sometimes haunting, muffled, whispered, it is always dynamic and at times recalls that of a Kiddus I, notably on the very vivid Don't move my mountain. Many tracks from this album stand out, such as Who Will Pay and its cousin Share Your Love. With Men Will Doubt, Army sets a deep atmosphere with a plaintive vocal closely followed by a solo guitar. The album ends on the title track, which the singer explains: "being awake is above all being aware of yourself". A great wisdom lives in this artist, a humility that shines through in his music. An authentic vibe. |
Vraiment rien a dire il ma fais planner tout l'été l'homme Army.
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