24-06 | album review: specialist prsnts: alborosie & friends (june 2014)
Alborosie (Born as Alberto D'ascola in Italy, 1977) released another big album. After recent solo albums like 'Escape from Babylon (2009)', '2 times revolution(2011)' and 'Sound the system (2013)' and older big ones like 'Smoke (2007)' and 'Soul Pirate 2008)', Pupa albo releases an album dedicated to his best collabos. The album is presented by Specialist (a greensleeves production) and was already released in 2010 as a limited edition. Top reggae artists like Sizzla, Gentleman, Mykal Rose, Luciano, Steel Pulse, Etana, Horace Andy, Jah Cure, Gramps Morgan, Kymani Marley and many many more cooperated on this beautiful album with Alborosie. Listening to this versatile album brought to us by one of Europe's most talented reggae artists (although he is living in Jamaica since 2001 off course) made us very happy. Alborosie is known for his conscious message and of course this album is full of consciousness, love and unity again...
DISC 1
The album takes off with the powerful 'Waan the herb' a tune alongside legend Mykal Rose. This first tune immediately sets a high standard for the rest of this album. 'Celebration' is a collabo with Gentleman and was our introduction to Alborosie. The tune featured on the Gentelman album 'Another Intensity' released in 2007. Steel Pulse reporting also for a powerful remake of one of their hit tunes 'Steppin' Out'. The Pupa Albo sound really adds a nice extra to this already BIG tune. 'I surrender to your Love' is featuring female singer I-Eye and is a typical Alborosie love duet, nice and smooth. This tune includes a nice little Augustus Pablo flavour.
'Death ova life, Money ova people, this world is crazy' pioneer Horace Andy joined Alborosie for 'Money' a few years ago and of course this BIG tune couldn't be absent on this album. 'Tribal War' already was a powerful tune by Luciano but the combination between Jah messenJah and pupa albo takes this tune to a whole other level. Two of the biggest artists nowadays showing solidarity and harmony, that's what we need in Jah family! Alborosie always had great respect for the old skool reggae tunes and a Bob Marley tune couldn't miss on this album. 'Burning and Looting' is a tune alongside Bob Marley's son Kymani Marley. Again a perfect combo!
The smooth 'One Sound' is a song with Morgan Heritage Family member Gramps Morgan. 'One Love from the East of Jamaica straight into Africa' has a typical 'Morgan Heritage modern roots' touch. A tune we played over and over again. The sweet Zoe joined Alborosie for 'Is this Love' again a typical Albo love duet. The second ganja tune on the album is 'Outer national herbs' and is featuring 'The tamlins' What a tune!.. again! A nice little roots touch and sweet harmonious singing.
The uplifting 'Meditation' together with another reggae star Sizzla Kalonji proves Alborosie's diversity and takes us straight to 'Precious' featuring Ranking Joe.. Lord have mercy! The last tune on the first disc again is a tune known from the large collection of hit tunes by Bob Marley. 'Natural Mystic' is an IMPRESSIVE cover again alongside Kymani Marley. Kymani comes very close to his father's sound on this tune. This could be the first trumpet might as well could be the last...
DISC 2
The second disc takes off with another CLASSIC tune, perhaps one of the best known reggae tunes worldwide. 'Guess who's coming to dinner' of course features roots reggae legends Black Uhuru. Talented vocalist Jah Sun hailing from the USA joined Albo for 'Ganjah Don' and 'Marathon' made us believe that Joseph Hill was alive again. What a sound by the vocalist Spiritual. It gave us some real goosebumps. A beautiful roots tune! I-Eye made her second appearance on this album for 'Mama, she don't like you'. A tune about the negative image people have of Rastafarians because of their dreadlocks and Ganja.
Beautifull piano sounds introduces the next song 'Can't let you go' another lovers duet this time with the smooth singing Nikki Burt. We really enjoyed the old skool instruments which are present on the entire album. Nikki Burt obviously is a very talented female vocalist! Mykal Rose also makes a second appearance for 'Calling' an impressive spiritual tune on a heavy roots riddim. Sweet baselines! 'Life' is featuring none other than Jah Cure and again comes with some powerful baselines and lyrics. The positive 'Jah Blessing' alongside female singer Etana is our favorite Alborosie love duet. This tune is full of positive energy and will make you dance and sing along in your living room for sure.
The ragga muffin 'Informa' again is a tune alongside a female entertainer. This time Lady Ann joins Alborosie. 'I can't stand it' feat. Dennis Brown easily lives up to the expectations and. 'Murderer' is a tune with Busy Signal. This tune shows a Dancehall side of Alborosie and again proves his diversity. The last tune on the album is 'Streets' and Kymani Marley makes his thirth appearance on this album. A hip-hop tune about street life and the daily struggle.
The album takes off with the powerful 'Waan the herb' a tune alongside legend Mykal Rose. This first tune immediately sets a high standard for the rest of this album. 'Celebration' is a collabo with Gentleman and was our introduction to Alborosie. The tune featured on the Gentelman album 'Another Intensity' released in 2007. Steel Pulse reporting also for a powerful remake of one of their hit tunes 'Steppin' Out'. The Pupa Albo sound really adds a nice extra to this already BIG tune. 'I surrender to your Love' is featuring female singer I-Eye and is a typical Alborosie love duet, nice and smooth. This tune includes a nice little Augustus Pablo flavour.
'Death ova life, Money ova people, this world is crazy' pioneer Horace Andy joined Alborosie for 'Money' a few years ago and of course this BIG tune couldn't be absent on this album. 'Tribal War' already was a powerful tune by Luciano but the combination between Jah messenJah and pupa albo takes this tune to a whole other level. Two of the biggest artists nowadays showing solidarity and harmony, that's what we need in Jah family! Alborosie always had great respect for the old skool reggae tunes and a Bob Marley tune couldn't miss on this album. 'Burning and Looting' is a tune alongside Bob Marley's son Kymani Marley. Again a perfect combo!
The smooth 'One Sound' is a song with Morgan Heritage Family member Gramps Morgan. 'One Love from the East of Jamaica straight into Africa' has a typical 'Morgan Heritage modern roots' touch. A tune we played over and over again. The sweet Zoe joined Alborosie for 'Is this Love' again a typical Albo love duet. The second ganja tune on the album is 'Outer national herbs' and is featuring 'The tamlins' What a tune!.. again! A nice little roots touch and sweet harmonious singing.
The uplifting 'Meditation' together with another reggae star Sizzla Kalonji proves Alborosie's diversity and takes us straight to 'Precious' featuring Ranking Joe.. Lord have mercy! The last tune on the first disc again is a tune known from the large collection of hit tunes by Bob Marley. 'Natural Mystic' is an IMPRESSIVE cover again alongside Kymani Marley. Kymani comes very close to his father's sound on this tune. This could be the first trumpet might as well could be the last...
DISC 2
The second disc takes off with another CLASSIC tune, perhaps one of the best known reggae tunes worldwide. 'Guess who's coming to dinner' of course features roots reggae legends Black Uhuru. Talented vocalist Jah Sun hailing from the USA joined Albo for 'Ganjah Don' and 'Marathon' made us believe that Joseph Hill was alive again. What a sound by the vocalist Spiritual. It gave us some real goosebumps. A beautiful roots tune! I-Eye made her second appearance on this album for 'Mama, she don't like you'. A tune about the negative image people have of Rastafarians because of their dreadlocks and Ganja.
Beautifull piano sounds introduces the next song 'Can't let you go' another lovers duet this time with the smooth singing Nikki Burt. We really enjoyed the old skool instruments which are present on the entire album. Nikki Burt obviously is a very talented female vocalist! Mykal Rose also makes a second appearance for 'Calling' an impressive spiritual tune on a heavy roots riddim. Sweet baselines! 'Life' is featuring none other than Jah Cure and again comes with some powerful baselines and lyrics. The positive 'Jah Blessing' alongside female singer Etana is our favorite Alborosie love duet. This tune is full of positive energy and will make you dance and sing along in your living room for sure.
The ragga muffin 'Informa' again is a tune alongside a female entertainer. This time Lady Ann joins Alborosie. 'I can't stand it' feat. Dennis Brown easily lives up to the expectations and. 'Murderer' is a tune with Busy Signal. This tune shows a Dancehall side of Alborosie and again proves his diversity. The last tune on the album is 'Streets' and Kymani Marley makes his thirth appearance on this album. A hip-hop tune about street life and the daily struggle.
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Conclusion:
We really tried to find something negative about this album but we simply couldn't find anything. What an impressive album and collection of masterpieces. One by one. Alborosie can be really proud of this one. The album is a superb addition to his already impressive discography. Although the songs are not 'new' this masterpiece is a real must have for all true reggae lovers! And according to legend Joseph Hill(Culture) "good things never grow old, they just get antique". We really like the fact that Albosorie uses a lot of old skool samples and lyrics for his tunes and we are already looking out for his next solo album... |
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Rating: 5/5
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