Junior Kelly | Red Pond
Junior Kelly | Red Pond
Rockers & Reggaemufins’
Red Pond is Keith Morgan aka Junior Kelly’s 15th and latest album from VP records. This socially conscious reggae veterans vocals are dynamic, fierce and captivating “wit soul e raps wit reggae e chats”. With incredible voice control, listen closely and you’ll hear reflections reminiscent of Bob Marley, Pato Banton, Big Youth and Winston Rodney.
Melbourne “George Dusty” Miller and Christopher Chin produced and perform on the project. The control room was at the world renowned “Tuff Gong” studios where Bob Marley the “Godfather of Reggae” once recorded. The beats as you would expect are ‘Hard’ and cross several reggae sub-genres. The disk features world class reggae musicians such as Aston “Family Man” Barrett of the original “Wailers” and an “out of this world” angelic harmony section on backing vocals; can you say (I Threes)?
Track one is Celebrate Life. (Love is what it’s all about) ‘nuff said mon!’ dis cut has a ‘raw riddem’ and a driving bassline… “So easy mon. It will have you flingin dreadlocks”.
Nuthin’ Wrong With the World Speaks to the environment and warnings of mankind’s near depletion and destruction of Mother Earth. This is a real smooth flow.
My African Child. J Kelly a dotting father has dedicated this cut to his bundle of joy. So rock steady. She’s Gone featuring Lucky D has an old school R&B flavor to it (Blackstreet?). This groove is in the pocket. Cut five Murderer is ‘Hardcore Dancehall’ style with an easily recognizable baseline and horn sample. Note the clever steal drum programming. “Maushit Rude Bwoy”! Waan Lef’ De Ghetto “Maushit up Mon!” this cut sounds eerily close to BM&TW. Ok I’ll spell it out for you, Bob Marley and the Wailers. What do most people in any Ghetto want to do? Track Seven Stumbling Blocks, Is a strong political rebuke. Junior chats with fervor about the plight and oppression of having “black skin” and being disenfranchised. “Skank it up”! Do I hear (I Threes)?
How Better Ah Go Come, Has a ‘Roots flavor’, Junior chats again about an oppressed people and lack of prosperity. This is deep! Check out that lead guitar.
Believe in Yourself (Dream) this is a positive, encouraging and uplifting message, Junior repeats the hook over an acoustic guitar and horn arrangement, with the ladies in the back harmonizing!! Nice like ackee, peas and rice… Slackness is 1969 Negril dancehall; this ‘Ska’ flavored dub will have you “spillin your Redstripe”. Real Love a mellow flow, J Kelly is wailing about his unending quest to find love, the vocal are marinated with acoustic guitar and keyboards… Papa Song another mellow tune, featuring Ras Shiloh is a heartfelt tribute to his father the family patriarch ‘nuff respect’.
Put down the salt fish and scotch bonnet, wash your hands, grab your sweetie and step to Too Late featuring Queen Ifrica. This pure “Lovers Rock” cut reminds me of early evening in Mobay bathing in the Caribbean breeze. I love this dub, it’s a shame this song is about a breakup. Treacherous Waters, Hard driving rim shot and bass. About living in perilous times, the law of reciprocity. Classic reggae. Track 15 The CD closes with One Bright Day, Junior’s vexed and at the “boiling point” this is a tale of payback and uprising, “I guess things got outta hand at Rosehall”!
Dis CD is no joke! Earh me now! Maushit! Yeah Mon! Get Dis Junior Kelly Get Dis! So send a shout out bwoy… well to no one in particular!
Andre Singleton
The Urban Music Scene