The long awaited EP from Messenger Douglas and Kibir La Amlak is finally ready, and ready with style. Yes, it was definitely worth the wait! This testament to modern roots reggae has cut no corners and taken no shortcuts! A large credit list lines the back of this EP, naming a plethora of the best musicians, studios and engineers that the UK reggae scene has to offer. Such as Dennis Bovell, Jerry Lionz, Ashanti Selah, Roberto Sanchez to name but a few.
Messenger Douglas is an artist in a league of his own, high musical standards are seamlessly married with deep lyrical content! The four vocal instalments on this EP showcase this marriage immaculately.
‘Real Works’ the title track of the EP, kicks off proceedings as a rallying call to anyone who knows they can do better in life. A solid roots rockers riddim explodes out of the speakers to carry the message that ‘there is no time to idle, relax or sit down, the battle can be won!’ ‘Blessings’ follows as an exploration of faith and confidence in the ever present blessings of life. As life is a journey with many ups and downs, the riddim track, especially the bassline, reflects this. Dennis Bovell’s world class bass playing shines through here, taking us from the highest highs to the lowest lows. Regardless of the position on the journey, the faith still remains.‘Happiness’, a song written by Messenger over 30 years ago, finally finds its way onto the anthemic Joshua’s Anthem riddim, with a message as relevant to the world today as it was when it was written. The EP concludes with ‘Sufferers Tea’, a true lyrical masterpiece, that deals with the harsh and bitter realities of life as a sufferer. The hypnotic guitars, and relentless pace of the riddim echo the intensity of the sufferers life, yet true to Messenger’s songwriting genius, the song remains upful and even humorous in places.
All four vocals are followed by heavy-weight dub versions, mixed by Kibir La Amlak, in the original analogue fashion, hands on faders, spring reverbs, valve filters and an immaculate attention to detail. The tracks were mixed by Kibir La Amlak and Nick Manasseh at the Yard Studios and then mastered and cut to vinyl by Lewis Hopkins at Star Delta Mastering. The final sonic character of this EP (especially the vinyl) is huge! Warm, punchy, analogue, roots -reggae at its finest.
Both Kibir La Amlak and Messenger Douglas have a firm root in the world of reggae sound system, so it felt only natural that this EP echo that foundation with the vocal / dub format that is so richly associated with that world. The vinyl release honours this tradition with the EP coming on 2 separate 12” disks! Whether you choose to play your favourite track as a vinyl single through a sound system, or tune into the whole EP start to finish on Spotify as you cook dinner, one thing is guaranteed. You will not be disappointed!
credits
released January 12, 2019
- Real Works -
Written by: Roland "Messenger" Douglas / Winston Williamson
Composed by: Idan "I-Jah" Solomon & Jamie "Kibir La Amlak" Thomas
Produced by: Jamie "Kibir La Amlak" Thomas
Drums: Iñigo Eléxpuru
Bass: Dennis "Matumbi" Bovell
Guitars: Jerry Lions
Keyboards: Benjamin "Ashanti Selah" Smith
Kete: Jonah Dan
Tambourine: Roberto Sanchez
Recorded at:
Drums & Percussion - Lone Ark Studio, Santander, Spain
Vocals, Bass, Guitars, Keys, Kete - Kibir La Amlak Studio, London, UK
- Blessings -
Written by: Roland "Messenger" Douglas / Jamie "Kibir La Amlak" Thomas
Composed by: Jamie "Kibir La Amlak" Thomas
Produced by: Jamie "Kibir La Amlak" Thomas
Drums: Iñigo Eléxpuru
Bass: Dennis "Matumbi" Bovell
Guitars: Jerry Lions
Keyboards: Benjamin "Ashanti Selah" Smith
Percussion: Roland "Messenger" Douglas / Roberto Sanchez
Kete: Jonah Dan
Flute: Don Fe
Recorded at:
Drums & Percussion - Lone Ark Studio, Santander, Spain
Vocals, Bass, Guitars, Flute, Keys, Kete - Kibir La Amlak Studio, London, UK
- Happiness -
Written by: Roland "Messenger" Douglas
Composed by: Jamie "Kibir La Amlak" Thomas
(Adapted from: Idi Amin - Prince Buster)
Produced by Jamie "Kibir La Amlak" Thomas
Drums: Rory Lock
Bass: Jahmel "Tallis-Ites" Ellis
Guitars: Gyasi Crossdale
Hammond Organ: Greg Jata
Piano: Benjamin "Ashanti Selah" Smith
Recorded at:
Vocals - Alphamix, Birmingham, UK
Drums & Percussion - Black and White Studios, Redruth, UK
Bass, Guitars, Piano - Kibir La Amlak Studio, London, UK
Hammond Organ - France
- Sufferer’s Tea -
Written by: Roland "Messenger" Douglas
Composed by: Roland "Messenger" Douglas / Derrick Francis
Produced by: Jamie "Kibir La Amlak" Thomas / Roland "Messenger" Douglas
Drums: Iñigo Eléxpuru
Bass: Roberto Sanchez
Guitars: Roland "Kibir La Amlak" Douglas
Keyboards: Benjamin "Ashanti Selah" Smith
Percussion: Roberto Sanchez
Recorded at:
Vocals & Guitars - Alphamix, Birmingham, UK
Drums, Bass & Percussion - Lone Ark Studio, Santander, Spain
Keys - Kibir La Amlak Studio, London, UK
All tracks mixed and arranged by Jamie "Kibir La Amlak" Thomas and Nick "Mannaseh" Raphel at the Yard Studios, London UK
Kibir La Amlak is a live dub show, record label, studio and sound system based in London, UK, founded by Jamie "JT" Thomas
in 2009. After a decade of worldwide festival performances, club events, numerous tours and an ever expanding list of titles in the discography Kibir La Amlak has become a household name in the world of roots reggae and dub....more
Bad bad tune got the album got the cd had to get the 7inch one of my fav singers and the that tuff riddim timeless tune keep up jah works bless🙏🏿🔥🔥🔥🔥 jahtone62
The vibes are incredibly heart warming. It's melancholic, lyrical music without words, because with this type of music, words could never do it justice. Big up to you all, especially you Youtie!!! your trumpet breathes life into my wailing young heart!! it's skanking time benetoast
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