A little over two years ago I re-released the album “Ambient Warrior: Dub Journey's“Praised in the highest tones. These wonderful soundscapes still inspire me again and again today. The versatility of this 1995 album was also extraordinary. South American elements such as tango and bossa nova could already be heard here.
Cult reissue label Isle Of Jura just released the first solo album from Ronnie Lion, one half of the aforementioned Ambient Warrior. For several decades, Ronnie Lion has been running his reggae label "Lion Music" from Brixton, which has been known for many years for its open approach to mixing reggae with countless other styles. And what a surprise, the album “Ronnie Lion: Spanish Town“ continues where “Ambient Warrior: Dub Journey's” has stopped. These well-known sounds can also be found on “Spanish Town”. “Spanish Town” is a deep, soulful nod to the capital city of St. Catherine in southeast Jamaica. The rhythm section with Ronnie Lion on bass and Horseman on drums provides a solid foundation for the complex and catchy hooks of Sean Wilkinson's Spanish guitar. Smooth, lyrical flamenco melodies from the lead guitarist are skillfully played over strolling roots and Dub-Reggae grooves laid.
The nine beautifully orchestrated instrumental pieces on “Spanish Town” seem like vague memories of a relaxing holiday by the sea. Ronnie Lion's basslines underline the warm keyboard sounds and of course Sean Wilkinson's first-class fingerpicking. The incredibly beautiful melodies between the mysterious, almost nostalgic flamenco “Hombre Peligroso” and the springy “Alligator Pond” are probably the best proof of this. However, I have to admit that in my opinion the tracks with these turgid “synth string interludes” often just miss the elevator music of a shopping center. The intoxicating skank of “Naranja Colina” alongside the seething “Grants pen Steppers” completely convince me again.
The bottom line is a very successful, varied reggae instrumental album with a very rare unique selling point, namely the Spanish guitar. An album that cleverly combines reggae & Dub combined with Spanish sounds is not only Dub- and reggae fans, but also tango, bossa nova, folk and world music lovers. You should have heard it.
One Reply to “Ronnie Lion: Spanish Town”
Uncommented reviews should be in the DubDon't give blog.
Therefore, I feel called upon to describe my impressions of the really beautiful disc here again.
Ras Vorbei It summed everything up very well and I can't really add anything more, but sometimes it's just nice to talk or write about it again.
“Naranja Colina” is also one, if not the highlight, for me on this very successful record. But I actually think everything here is very good and I have to admit that I'm not bothered by any pompous “synth string interludes”. At least not yet. Maybe even the accordion sound in “Central Village” comes from a synthesizer like that, but that could also be real. I don't know and I can't really hear it, I have to admit.
In the end it doesn't matter because the main thing is that you like it.
And I like it a lot! In my first spontaneous comment in ReleaseRadar I said that the riddims could - in my opinion - be a little more varied. In the meantime I noticed that the same riddim was rolled out for “Central Village” and Reunion. And I think that even more riddims here sound pretty much the same. Even if they are not exactly the same, they often sound very similar. I could now write, “Why not?!” But Aston “FamilyMan” Barrett had a whole lot more ideas. Nevertheless, all bias lines are on
“Spanish Town” is completely on my wavelength again and the interaction with the drums convinces me across the board. There are at least two reggae musicians at work here who definitely know their craft or their subject and show me how confidently a rhythm carpet can be made. And the flamenco player also seems to match my feeling for music exactly.
A really very nice album! Timeless and intended to last forever.
In addition, “highly recommended” not only for reggae nerds Ras Vorbei already aptly formulated. This music can actually only please anyone who has a fair feeling for music and if you are too stuck in the German schlager, for example, this music could easily pull anyone out of this swamp. Mind you, you should have a certain basic feeling for music. And even if many of us will be back on the ground of German reality on April 1st, that doesn't matter, because this music is a real treat even without cannabis.
“If I’m not mistaken” …………………… lemmi