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ALBUM-REVIEWS 2016
Maad Sick Reggaeville Riddim [Oneness Records - June 2016]
Reggaeville.com is the driving force behind the Maad Sick Reggaeville Riddim project, but the riddim was actually built by Munich-based reggae label, Oneness Records. Oneness is also responsible for the riddim from the 2012 Reggaeville juggling, Reggaeville Riddim. The newest Reggaeville album differs from the last release in that Reggaeville Riddim was a re-lick of The Paragons’ Riding On A High And Windy Day while Maad Sick Reggaeville is a completely original creation, though both have similar roots reggae appeal. Maad Sick, which is mixed by Umberto Echo, achieves this with a simple yet powerful bass line, majestic horns, crisp drums, and a bevy of filter effects and atmospheric sounds, as well as Nyabinghi drums that provide the backbone. These elements gel in a style that is both contemporary and timeless, setting the stage for a talented and diverse cast of artists to take selection to the next level. There are several young artists on Maad Sick Reggaeville who seem to be on their way to big careers. The multi-talented, songwriter-turned-performer known simply as Clay is one of these up-and-comers and he proves himself with Rudeboys, a classic “rudie” narrative delivered with a smooth, expertly wielded tenor. Runkus, the son of esteemed dancehall veteran, Determine, has also been making noise recently, combining forces with another young Jamaican, Royal Blu, for their Maad Sick version, How Mi Sound. Marla Brown, daughter of the legendary Dennis Brown, is yet another young singer who is destined for a great future. Her contribution is called Champion and it perfectly showcases her unique and beautiful voice. Kelissa also brings a youthful feminine energy to the juggling with her tune, Ites, Green and Gold. Grammy award winners, Morgan Heritage, and the Canadian-based singer, Exco Levi, who has several Juno Awards to his credit, elevate the tracks with both their musical pedigree and their killer versions. Levi’s tune, Siren, is another “rudie”-
style song and also has one of the most infectious hooks on the album. Caleb Hart Hart, the lead singer of Tasman Jude and perhaps the least recognizable name from the compilation, is also from Canada and enjoys a good showing with his offering, Always Remember Remember. There are many more veterans such as Anthony B, who lends his fiery brand of vocals to the project with a rasta anthem called Jah Jah Be Praised. Equally notable is the distinctive voice of Perfect Giddimani and his version, Reggae Village, which is as close to creating a musical representation of Reggaeville.com as a songwriter could get. Other familiar names including Macka B, Cali P, Richie Stephens, Skarra Mucci, and Yaniss Odua bless this juggling with great music as well, but my top selection is from UK-based deejay, Gappy Ranks. His titular song, Maad Sick, combines an understated singjay style, street-wise lyrics, and a catchy hook, creating a roots-raggamuffin masterpiece and one of the tunes most congruous with the album’s theme. Julian Schmidt, the man behind both Reggaeville.com and the Reggaeville riddim-albums, tasked me with reviewing this riddim with instructions to be brutally honest. He does not want “a press release for our riddim.” As a devout reggae fan with a particular fascination with riddims and riddim culture, I took the assignment to examine this project seriously and I have vigorously put Maad Sick Reggaeville Riddim through all my standard paces. The riddim track is hot and the cast of contributors has a nicely balanced ratio between popular names and lesser-known artists. The lineup includes entertainers from many parts of the world, creating a musical microcosm of the global online village that is Reggaeville.com. Most importantly, the artists on Maad Sick Reggaeville all put forth great efforts, resulting in a tracklist that you can trust on shuffle. I’m sorry, Julian, but this album is absolutely Maad Sick, and that’s about as brutal as I can get with this one.
by Dan Dabber