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Luciano - Rub-A-Dub Market
Luciano - Rub-A-Dub Market
Luciano's most European outing yet is another success.
Sampler
Luciano received great acclaim for 2010's two albums: 'United States Of Africa' (produced by Paris-born Frenchie) and 'Write My Name' (for Georgia-based Rawle Collins). Now he has taken his penchant for working outside Jamaica even further, teaming up with Austria’s IrieVibrations (who were behind Perfect’s 'Born Dead With Life' in 2008 – one of the best longplayers of that year).
Where the previous two records used Jamaican musicians like Style Scott and Sly & Robbie, these backing tracks were built by IrieVibrations at their studio in Vienna. And at times the anti-slackness lyrics to opener Rub-A-Dub Market could be aimed at the exalted status of cultural reggae beyond the island when Luci sings “Carry me music over Rub A Dub market and the music sell off”.
The more critical stance on religious behaviour exhibited on 'United States Of Africa's King Of Kings continues with Praise Jah Any Time (“Don't wait for devil slide tackle before you go running to the Father for a miracle”). Meanwhile the more personal side of faith, reflected in 2008’s Dean Fraser production 'Jah is My Navigator', makes an appearance with Hard Road, on the Jungle Skunk rhythm - which is very close to Ernest Wilson’s I Know Myself. And as with 'Write My Name', there are songs that hint at frustration that the righteous message isn’t getting through. For Voice Of A Trumpet Luci compares himself to Moses, trying to lead the people to better things…
But unlike 'United States Of Africa', which had only one love song, there are plenty of mellower offerings here. Truly Love Someone showcases one of several gruff spoken-word Luciano interludes; Feeling For Love rides the modern ska shuffle boogie of IrieVibrations Work Off rhythm, used on the Perfect set; whereas Love Me Or Leave Me and Love Paradise are both minor key romantic efforts in fine style.
2011 is the year when the Jamaican media woke up to the existence of foreign countries’ longstanding and successful reggae industries, and some listeners will hope that Luci takes his newfound vigour back to Jamaica for his next work. But in the meantime this is another good outing from Jah Messenger, perhaps not as "revelationary" as 'United States Of Africa' nor as consistent as Perfect’s 'Born Dead With Life', yet still nice to your ear.
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