When it comes to the Zion I Kings, one doesn't really know what to make of these gentlemen. These Kings are – we remember – the combined protagonists of the Zion High, I Grade, and Lustre Kings production stables. There's not much more to say about them; more details can be found in the various dubblog.de reviews previous Zion I Kings releases – although one should not expect anything particularly remarkable. These reviews naturally refer only to their Dub-albums; the Kings' main focus, however, is on vocal productions for Akae Beka to Protoje – at least that's what the number of vocal releases suggests. The producers sometimes find one or the other of their own tracks so cool that they give it a Dub-treatment. This has not been the case with pieces of their Dub Album premiere, "Dub in Style" works perfectly – also because the product can be seen as a legacy of Style Scott. Then, unfortunately, things went downhill, with the completely overproduced and pointless ("I'm going to put a collection of Asian instruments over it") instrumental/DubAlbum "Kung Fu Action Theatre“ by Christos DC was probably the lowest point. The “In Search of Zion“-album: Here, roots tracks were recorded around the vocals of Protoje's “In Search of Lost Time“-release and the Dubs included. And it turns out: It is the vocal snippets, especially Protoje's hook lines, that make this Dubs character and recognition. Without them we would probably have to deal with faceless Dub-uniformity to do.
Which brings us directly to the current “Live free“-album (I Grade Records) by the Zion I Kings. What else can one say except “Are these instrumentals or Dubs or can it be removed?" Right from the start: The tracks are, as always, superbly, immaculately produced - so clean that you practically wish for rough edges - or something that would attract attention. That remains wishful thinking, of course: Everything is beautifully balanced, nothing distracts, a perfectly rounded thing, so to speak - but it also tastes as bland as a coffee bean shot through three liters of water. This time too, one can safely ask the question: Is this already elevator music or are the vocals missing to bring the production back on track? The customer can decide.
3 Responses to “Zion I Kings: Live Free”
Well, I had to look up what I thought about “Kung Fu Action Theatre”. And as I could read (which is also a great service from DubBlog ), I liked it much better than you, gtk. But what can I do? Although I liked it, I have long since forgotten it. Only if it happens to be in my DubPlaylist on Spotify, which was also very much inspired by your older one, I will listen again. Of course, my playlist is very specifically tailored to my taste and therefore I actually Dub I should, or rather should, pay attention. I still really like the "tinkle" (not meant derogatorily) of the Asian instruments.
I just listened to it again.
When I listened to “Live Free,” I was extremely disappointed.
I couldn't believe it and thought they'd stopped smoking weed or they couldn't handle it. At the same time, I was in a (how should I say) peaceful state and didn't feel like conveying my thoughts about it in the form of massive bad vibes.
Apparently fate or something between heaven and earth wants to hear, or rather read, my opinion on the matter. I see the fact that you've reviewed this album after all as a sign of that. If I've misinterpreted that, I'll still have fun ranting about this weak album from the bottom of my heart. (To avoid any misunderstandings, I'll reiterate that I didn't understand it as you trying to tease these bad vibes out of me with your review. I understand it more as fate challenging me, so to speak, and fate is "up" for my bad vibes... phew, sometimes even my subordinate clauses seem too "epic"... ).
"...but it tastes bland, like a coffee bean shot through three liters of water." ………………. WORD!!!
I would like to go one step further, but I think that sums it up really well!
For me, it's not that nothing bothers me. I'm bothered by the weak riddims, the weak bass lines, and especially by the melodies of these self-confident jazz or whatever musicians who not only completely lull me into a false sense of security, but almost insult me. Yes, I'm insulted! I'm pissed off!
Of course I also like to listen to beautiful reggae and beautiful DubMusic but reggae and Dub is and should remain RebelMusic. I can only relate to LoversRock in the “famous” exceptions that prove the rule. And even if Reggae and Dub will definitely not trigger a world rebellion again, I still think it's best if it at least sounds like it.
But "Live Free" by the Zion I Kings sounds – to me – far too much like a new theme song for the next 10 episodes of Rosamunde Plicher. And that's especially true of these, of these... of these "horrible" and whiny melodies from the wind instruments. There! Now it's out! Now I feel better! And all without Snickers.
I am always a bit late or even a bit slow when it comes to new discoveries and inventions and so I only discovered the Zion I Kings with “Zion I Kings Dub Vol. 2" for the first time and was immediately a fan of them. Only much later did you
( gtk ) me on "Dub In Style" and now I also knew their best masterpiece. I am once again inclined to write that it is fundamentally important that at least one Rasta man is there, so that Reggae and Dub timeless and forever alive. Of course, you don't have to feel this and everything else the way I do, but ultimately, it's my commentary on the music, and therefore, it's solely my "thoughts."
And the customer (the consumer) Lemmi has decided never, ever, ever to listen to this record again. When I want to be lulled into a false sense of security, I watch the "Mozzarella Show" on ZDF on Saturdays, which is also funded by my GEZ fee. That's actually unbelievable for me, too. But that's another topic...
Okay, I admit it. I may be a little too confident in myself, or rather in my taste, sometimes, but I'm actually just honest and not at all "dangerous."
“Everyman wants to be a badman, no one wants to be a good man”
"Me too" ……………………. lemmi
So… I think Rosamund Pilcher movies with a theme song from Zion I Kings could only win…
It’s true again…
…. lemmi