15 years after his last studio effort Mission, Pablo Moses the forthright roots and culture vocalist from the parish of Manchester JA presents his new album The Rebirth. Not really sure what the title is supposed to signify, but put yourselves at ease as Pablo has not gone off and reinvented himself as some manic bashment artist but is still delivering classic roots based reggae full of consciousness, truth and rights as before.
Joining Pablo on parade are musicians such as drum & bass masters Sly & Robbie, saxophonist Dean Fraser, percussionists Skully and Sticky Thompson, keyboardists Robert Lyn and Franklin ‘Bubbler’ Waul and guitarist Dwight Pinckney.
With his golden reggae team in tow Moses kicks off with 'Born Too Be Bad' proclaiming how he won't be pushed around, won't conform and how he fights for equal rights. For this is what I've always liked about him, he seems to have full control over what he is doing and saying and as far as I'm aware in a genre that is always recycling old riddims or doing covers of other peoples songs he is one of the only, if not the only reggae artists to never have done a cover version of anyone else's song and uses all his own original riddims.
The album, as is with Moses is very political and in touch with world affairs with themes running from anti gang culture on 'So Much', calling for a halt to all the senseless shootings, fighting and negative feelings that it breeds to the reverence of Africa with 'Mama Yeah', that is still an inspiring continent despite all its troubles and having been pillaged over the years by various countries and then to 'We All Can Make A Living' he asks for us (government mainly) not to be greedy and spread some prosperity around as really there is no reason for any of us to be living in poverty without adequate food or clothes, while in between he touches on guns, drugs and other social injustices along the way.
There are also a couple of lighter tales, well for Pablo Moses anyway, like 'They Can't Undo' a common tale of forbidden love, as parents want their girl to stay clear of Rasta or the floaty 'Got To Make Away' which sounds at first like a simple love song but really is about not being able to pay the bills and trying to hold a relationship together under the strain.
Despite as I say most of these songs being on foreboding subjects there is always the feel of a positive undertone running underneath them. Take 'We Have The Capability' which bounces along on a bright ska tinged vibe whilst bemoaning poverty and starvation it almost has a party feel to it... quite bizarre really, but never deeming the subject.
Musicianship throughout is excellent, as you'd expect from such an anointed team with production being bright and on the button. The album is contemporary yet it retains the touches of Moses' great work from the late 70's such as his debut Revolutionary Dream and follow up A Song, the titles of which can sum up the man well...........
A revolutionary who can use difficult and complex subject matter, to make simple but very affective songs.
Joining Pablo on parade are musicians such as drum & bass masters Sly & Robbie, saxophonist Dean Fraser, percussionists Skully and Sticky Thompson, keyboardists Robert Lyn and Franklin ‘Bubbler’ Waul and guitarist Dwight Pinckney.
With his golden reggae team in tow Moses kicks off with 'Born Too Be Bad' proclaiming how he won't be pushed around, won't conform and how he fights for equal rights. For this is what I've always liked about him, he seems to have full control over what he is doing and saying and as far as I'm aware in a genre that is always recycling old riddims or doing covers of other peoples songs he is one of the only, if not the only reggae artists to never have done a cover version of anyone else's song and uses all his own original riddims.
The album, as is with Moses is very political and in touch with world affairs with themes running from anti gang culture on 'So Much', calling for a halt to all the senseless shootings, fighting and negative feelings that it breeds to the reverence of Africa with 'Mama Yeah', that is still an inspiring continent despite all its troubles and having been pillaged over the years by various countries and then to 'We All Can Make A Living' he asks for us (government mainly) not to be greedy and spread some prosperity around as really there is no reason for any of us to be living in poverty without adequate food or clothes, while in between he touches on guns, drugs and other social injustices along the way.
There are also a couple of lighter tales, well for Pablo Moses anyway, like 'They Can't Undo' a common tale of forbidden love, as parents want their girl to stay clear of Rasta or the floaty 'Got To Make Away' which sounds at first like a simple love song but really is about not being able to pay the bills and trying to hold a relationship together under the strain.
Despite as I say most of these songs being on foreboding subjects there is always the feel of a positive undertone running underneath them. Take 'We Have The Capability' which bounces along on a bright ska tinged vibe whilst bemoaning poverty and starvation it almost has a party feel to it... quite bizarre really, but never deeming the subject.
Musicianship throughout is excellent, as you'd expect from such an anointed team with production being bright and on the button. The album is contemporary yet it retains the touches of Moses' great work from the late 70's such as his debut Revolutionary Dream and follow up A Song, the titles of which can sum up the man well...........
A revolutionary who can use difficult and complex subject matter, to make simple but very affective songs.
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