Pages

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Soul Rebel Soundtrack


It’s mid 2012, and there’s roots reggae playing tonight, as happens every Saturday night, in the Hotel Santa Fe Bar & Grill. But this isn’t a dislocated place in New Mexico, nor is it throwback Jamaica — I’m beachside on the island of Guam, seven hours west of Honolulu / three hours east of Manila. High tide or low tide.
Nearly 40 years have passed since Bob Marley & the Wailers first popularized reggae worldwide, 30 years have passed since Bob moved on to that big sunsplash in the sky, and you can still hear Jamaican-based ska, rock steady, reggae and dub emanating from sound systems and stages in every corner of the globe.
A few years back, while living in rural Akita-ken, in northwest Japan, I used to hang out in Bliss, a street-corner drinking spot in the  picturesque coastal city of Honjo. What I recall most about Bliss are three things: the long blonde dreadlocks of the Japanese surfer-dude bar master, the complete Marley oeuvre on display in CD form, and — if I remember correctly through the haze of time — an Olympic-size rasta flag (with a cannabis leaf) unfurled in the shop’s front window. To top it off, the music was invariably a soul rebel soundtrack.
We’ve all heard reggae, even those among us who still don’t quite get it. Wherever you stand though, you have to be amazed by the quantity and quality of music that has originated in Jamaica. When I visited in the late 70s, the 11,000 sq kilometer island was home to a mere 2,000,000 people (in contrast to tiny Singapore’s 2.2 million at the same time). But what a dynamic musical culture!
While I might have been oblivious to the power of reggae in 1979 (sure, I’d seen Peter Tosh in concert, but that was only because he played as an opener for the Stones), what stands out in retrospect is that no matter where I was in the west of the island — strolling through the street market in Negril, catching sunset at Rick’s Cafe on the West End Cliffs, or lounging somewhere along the infamous 7 Mile Beach — reggae was pulsing from ghetto blasters and PAs alike, and everyone within earshot was grinding their hips.
What I didn’t know at that time was that Jamaica was home to hundreds of competing recording labels and studios. One label, Island, was the world’s leading indie music brand back in the 70s, and is now a mainstay under Universal. Sound studios such as Studio One, Treasure Isle, and The Ark, the home base of early Wailers’ producer Lee Perry, made an impact through both the music and the mythology that grew alongside it. (Remember, The Ark was allegedly burnt to the ground in a splif-inspired fire, ignited by Perry himself.)
There were also thousands of professional musicians in Jamaica during that era, a good number achieving international renown, all the while leaving us with a huge catalogue of classic recordings. Many of those included astute social commentary, with others being playful or self-mocking. Performances were typically soulful and heart-felt.
This episode’s set includes an array of songs, mainly from the 70s, with lesser-known artists like Tinga Stewart and The Uniques represented beside well-established singers such as Desmond Dekker and Max Romeo. It also presents more recently released numbers with a clear Jamaican connection, starting with a pair by Abyssinia Infinite (showcasing percussionist Karsh Kale, the ubiquitous Bill Laswell, and the fine singer Gigi), a bouncing social critique by Tiken Jah Fakoly from Cote d’Ivoire, and a party song by Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars.
This is the first in a number of episodes dedicated to all and anything ska-ish and reggaesque. Bliss indeed.



This post is taken from Daddy Peet Expresso Episode #35, on www.radiomoka.com. Hear the music at this mixcloud site.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ended up I inside of a fitness center, I'd want an incline bench, a cable method, and a lot more than the usual couple of dumbbells.

My website - bowflex dumbbells 552

Anonymous said...

Moveable physical exercise tools presents the common on the
leading-edge physique builder quite a few rewards.

Here is my blog :: http://getfitnstrong.com/adjustable-dumbbells/dumbbells-sale-further/

Anonymous said...

This high-tech bit of machines greatly outshines the customary house fitness center and delivers the user having a well-constructed, superior-quality device that makes use of hardly any place.


Feel free to surf to my web blog - http://www.getfitnstrong.com/adjustable-dumbbells/7-reasons-adjustable-dumbbell-set/

Anonymous said...

Cease dropping that bar, arching your back and bouncing it off your chest and just take
regulate of what you are carrying out.

My weblog :: Get the facts

Anonymous said...

Along with the good detail is these results are
brought to you personally by the TreadClimber
in a very smarter, more rapidly and gentler way.


Feel free to visit my blog :: adjustable dumbbells

Anonymous said...

Believe that it or not, your whole body hopes to return
to it's pre-pregnancy fat.

My web blog life smart Dumbbells

Anonymous said...

Any time you opt for your established, it truly is
vital that you take into account seriously your personalized requirements.


Also visit my blog www.getfitnstrong.com

Anonymous said...

Then you can find the most important concern of all.


Also visit my web blog; More Material

Anonymous said...

Dumbbells are a vital component of house gymnasium machines since you can get the job done each muscle within the body that has a pair of dumbbells.


My web blog: bowflex selecttech dumbbells

Anonymous said...

It's challenging to obtain the right training once your treadmill keeps leaping back and forth between different speeds.

Also visit my web blog ... dumbbell sets

Anonymous said...

I've heard persons discredit how significant water is stating that you just can in excess of hydrate your self, and while which is theoretically doable, it can be undoubtedly far more very likely which you are dehydrated.

Feel free to visit my web blog: relevant site

Anonymous said...

Bodyweight coaching normally is great for bettering your overall exercise, lean muscle mass mass, to burn off fat and to raise your metabolism.



My weblog: Highly recommended Reading

Anonymous said...

Keep in mind much too that some are greater than some others because
they are intended to face up to regular use
in the gymnasium; you could possibly desire to choose a smaller
product for the individual residence.

Look at my page bowflex selecttech 552

Anonymous said...

My reasoning is the fact that there might be slight variances inside the manufacturing process, from
just one factory to yet another.

my site ... bowflex selecttech 552 dumbbells review

Anonymous said...

You can get additional systems also; 12 which includes 1
Coronary heart Level Control, and two user-defined.

my site FB

otr214430 said...

Problem: HP Printer not connecting to my laptop.

I had an issue while connecting my 2 year old HP printer to my brother's laptop that I had borrowed for starting my own business. I used a quick google search to fix the problem but that did not help me.

I then decided to get professional help to solve my problem. After having received many quotations from various companies, i decided to go ahead with Online Tech Repair (www.onlinetechrepairs.com).

Reasons I chose them over the others:
1) They were extremely friendly and patient with me during my initial discussions and responded promptly to my request.
2) Their prices were extremely reasonable.
3) They were ready and willing to walk me through the entire process step by step and were on call with me till i got it fixed.

How did they do it
1) They first asked me to state my problem clearly and asked me a few questions. This was done to detect any physical connectivity issues with the printer.
2) After having answered this, they confirmed that the printer and the laptop were functioning correctly.
3) They then, asked me if they could access my laptop remotely to troubleshoot the problem and fix it. I agreed.
4) One of the tech support executives accessed my laptop and started troubleshooting.
5) I sat back and watched as the tech support executive was navigating my laptop to spot the issue. The issue was fixed.
6) I was told that it was due to an older version of the driver that had been installed.

My Experience
I loved the entire friendly conversation that took place with them. They understood my needs clearly and acted upon the solution immediately. Being a technical noob, i sometimes find it difficult to communicate with tech support teams. It was a very different experience with the guys at Online Tech Repairs. You can check out their website www.onlinetechrepairs.com or call them on 1-914-613-3786.
Would definitely recommend this service to anyone who needs help fixing their computers.
Thanks a ton guys. Great Job....!!

otr214430 said...

Is Your VIRUS REMOVAL
Computer Sluggish or Plagued With a Virus? – If So you Need Online Tech Repairs
As a leader in online computer repair, Online Tech Repairs Inc has the experience to deliver professional system optimization and virus removal.Headquartered in Great Neck, New York our certified technicians have been providing online computer repair and virus removal for customers around the world since 2004.
Our three step system is easy to use; and provides you a safe, unobtrusive, and cost effective alternative to your computer service needs. By using state-of-the-art technology our computer experts can diagnose, and repair your computer system through the internet, no matter where you are.
Our technician will guide you through the installation of Online Tech Repair Inc secure software. This software allows your dedicated computer expert to see and operate your computer just as if he was in the room with you. That means you don't have to unplug everything and bring it to our shop, or have a stranger tramping through your home.
From our remote location the Online Tech Repairs.com expert can handle any computer issue you want addressed, like:
• - System Optimization
• - How it works Software Installations or Upgrades
• - How it works Virus Removal
• - How it works Home Network Set-ups
Just to name a few.
If you are unsure of what the problem may be, that is okay. We can run a complete diagnostic on your system and fix the problems we encounter. When we are done our software is removed; leaving you with a safe, secure and properly functioning system. The whole process usually takes less than an hour. You probably couldn't even get your computer to your local repair shop that fast!
Call us now for a FREE COMPUTER DIAGONISTIC using DISCOUNT CODE (otr2144230@gmail.com) on +1-914-613-3786 or chat with us on www.onlinetechrepairs.com.