Of Roots And Reality Various Artists Album
If you’re one of those people for whom the words ‘concept album’ initiate a rising panic within, then adding ‘Roots Reggae’ in front of them will probably induce a full on cardiac arrest. Well, unfortunately for you, that’s exactly what the Of Roots And Reality album is: a life-to-death tale of struggles in the world of inner-city people set to some of the more adventurous music that this adventurous group – The Crichton Clique have concocted over the years. Oh, and the narrative is also in reverse.
OK, scaremongering aside, the reality is better than all that sounds. Of Roots And Reality is a largely concise, well-crafted Reggae Album set with a story line that neither preaches nor moralizes: a straight-up account of a well-worn tale
The album starts off with Barber Chair by Tarrus Riley, a powerful track that sets the tone for the rest of the album. The track features a smooth, soulful melody that is accompanied by emotional lyrics, capturing the feelings of rejection and judgment from a self righteous society. The harmonies by Tarrus Riley create a melancholic yet hopeful atmosphere that transports listeners to another world.
The Crichton Clique Signature
Of Roots And Reality signifies a relative return to form and creativity of the Crichton Clique. The next song Can’t Move Me by Galaxy P talks of life in the ghetto, having self confidence, and believe in the creator.
Choice of Colors — is a remake of the famous R & B song by the Impressions. Junior Delgado lends his sensational vocals in the Reggae Version of the song. Dwayne Hoilette continues the theme of the album with a rendition of Holy, a prayer to the creator for protection from the evil forces of life. “I Thank You” by Endel-I keeps the album moving right along and is one of a number of vocals that observer life and time. The song trades some inspiring verses as the artist gives praise to the creator for life and express gratitude for all things.
Change In Concept
‘If You Have Love’ by Freddie McGregor is a highlight, radio-friendly hook playing out over a shuffled break beat, while ‘No One’ by Screwdriver touches on the cathartic nostalgia of childhood recollections. By this point, however, it appears the concept has become changed and that the previous four tracks were essentially dealing with the same aspects of spiritual life.
Enjoyable Beats
The next four tracks serve as four different movements of an instrumental composed by The Crichton Clique allowing the listener time to consider the artist’s life in full. The songs consist largely of melodic-sounding piano, deep drum and bass percussion and mournful string sections, giving to more of the enjoyable beats and rhymes of the album so far.
Connect With Asani Ali & The Crichton Clique
On Of Roots And Reality some musicians are poets, exploring the human condition in rhyme. Others are storytellers, writing 3 ½-minute short fiction with fully fleshed-out characters and the kind of fine details expected of a novelist. On Our Day Will Come, Screwdriver proves himself an able manipulator of the story song, with a literary flourish throughout.
On “Peep and Spy,” the song title is a phrase that should be familiar to anyone who’s ever heard the gossip circulating in the community. Here Super Dave applies that hyperbolic phrase to the current situation of news carriers and bad mind people. “Peep and spy, peep and spy, hey guy, nah badda try, hear why, me nah like man wey love peep and spy, me nah like man wey watch mi wid cock eye, susu susu informer, no, no…” he sings.
This album is about truths and rights, it’s about reality. This is reggae music. Reggae music is the voice of the people crying out against oppression.
Courtney ‘Blemo’ Crichton
CEO The Crichton Clique
If you enjoy story songs, Of Roots And Reality is an album you’re going to want to listen to. If you just enjoy piano-based roots-pop songs with intelligent lyrics, Of Roots And Reality has something for you as well. It’s The Crichton Clique’s most compelling album yet.
“Of Roots And Reality” Is distributed by Asani Ali Music through Believe Digital Worldwide and is available on all major Digital Platforms.
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