Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihuxk.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!ihuxk!rs55611 From: rs55611@ihuxk.UUCP (Robert E. Schleicher) Newsgroups: net.music Subject: Re: More Reggae Albums Message-ID: <895@ihuxk.UUCP> Date: Thu, 7-Mar-85 13:56:59 EST Article-I.D.: ihuxk.895 Posted: Thu Mar 7 13:56:59 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 8-Mar-85 05:14:46 EST References: <708@decwrl.UUCP> <107@spar.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 50 > >I saw Talking Heads on their '82 tour, and the opening act was an > >excellent reggae band called Burning Spear. Can anyone give me any info on > >this band (any albums available in the US, any recent/future US tours)? > > > > Mike > > I'm certainly no expert on reggae, but Burning Spear ranks among the > most respected and influential reggae bands. > > Their sound is pure, simple island harmony with a minimum of hi-tech > influence and a maximum of spiritual force. Their album `Marcus Garvey' > is a most dignified statement of supreme moral purpose. Such songs as: > > Do you remember the days of slavery? > Give me what is mine > Resting place > > ...carry devastating power. > > `Marcus Garvey's Ghost', which consists of instrumental remixes of > the songs on `Marcus Garvey', was perhaps even more influential, > a landmark in the development of dub. > > I can also highly recommend `Man in the Hills'. > > Such music not only exemplifies a new feeling of liberation that has > been gradually awakening in third world music (and elements of American > popular music), but also provides the blueprint for the creation of new > and similar statements -- the techniques required to create such sounds > are now available to people living in grass huts and ghettos everywhere. > > -michael *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** I first got acquainted with Burning Spear on a trip to Jamaica in 1978, at which time I got their dub album Garvey's Ghost. As stated above, this is a landmark in dub music. As such, however, potential buyers should be aware that this style of music is substantially different from a lot of more well known reggae. In particular, there are almost no lyrics on the album, and the intent of dub music seems to me to create a mood or emotion through the music, and the use of "sounds" that wave in and out of a central structure. The effect on the Garvey's Ghost album is almost "ghostly", as horn parts fade in and out on top of a basic bass and rhythm line. In short, the album is good, but may not be what you expected, and it may not appeal to all tastes. It's a little bit more unusual than the typical Bob Marley or Peter Tosh material. Bob Schleicher ihuxk!rs55611 :wq