Review - Dan-I & King Kietu "Rastafari Judgement Fire"

Yesterday, I reviewed an Italian CD album by B.R. Stylers, today I review an Italian CD album by Dan-I and King Kietu, released on Imperial Roots Records. On this album, you get 16 tracks, about half of them vocal tunes and half of them dubs, most of them being dub versions of the vocal tunes, though not all as far as I can hear it. The names differ and make it even more complicated to realise, too.

King Kietu from the Sardinia Bass Legalize environment seems to be mainly (or completely?) responsible for the riddims being presented on this record. I suppose Dan-I himself had his hands on some tunes as well but I'm not writing the review at home, so I don't have the CD-cover at hand and cannot check that. Anyway, what is more important is how it all sounds.

And to that I can only say: Great it sounds. Most tunes are heavy stepping with massive bassdrums ("Vampire"), intense basslines ("Ababajanhoy"), crucial keyboard skanks, effect craziness ("Wailin' Dubplate") and sometimes additional instruments like melancholica... um, I mean melodica. Dan-I's vocals are also great, even though I know that some consider him to have been present too much lately. I still like it. It's unique for sure. In tunes like the opener "Strength of My Life", you realise how beautiful it can sound. It's a laid-back one dropper accentuating the vocal which is one where it is even worthy to listen to the lyrics. "Hail Rastafari" is the second song, again a one drop, very dry and minimalistic. And again focussing on the vocal.

These two songs - and now be surprised - are my favourite songs. Yes, yes, I know that after them come some rough and tough steppers, for example "Pope" and "Pope Dub" which we know from a previous 10". "Throne Dub" seems to be the dub version of "Hail Rastafari" but it had hardly anything in common except the same skanks. It's not even a one drop anymore. See, this is why it is difficult to tell whether one of the dubs is actually a version of one of the vocals. Nice puzzling for interested minds.

Actually, when I think of it, Dan-I tunes are often differing in the dub version. "Pope" is not even a stepper as I just realise. But "Dub Pope" is. That's a very good idea to add an extra heaviness to the dubs. Someone knows what has to be done. To quote Mr. Montgomery Burns: "Excellent." That they like to play around with the music is also proven in "Dub Down the Vampire" which is actually a tune which can be found on the Paul Fox album "Walls of Jericho". So now they confused me because I don't know what is what anymore and what came first.

Aha, but due to my confusion I now realised (for the first time ever) that "Teachings Dub", my third favourite song on this album, a very slow and meditative (some kinda good night dub) song is actually the version of "Ababajanhoy". Just that the riddim is not stepping anymore but chilling. The last one indeed. Beautiful.

Well, sounds all so positive, I need to offer some point of critic as well... ah, okay, how about that one: "Reason". No lullabies with accoustic guitar and singing only, please! This is an absolute no-no in general. I am also quite sure that most people will skip such a song anyway.

And then the CD-cover. Umm... that's a totally new perspective of global warning. Makes me want to slap some angel's hands, saying: bah, don't do this, you! You won't get your supper this evening and will have to go to bed - or in whatever you sleep - bare-footed. Meh, don't you dare to cry now. You should have thought of the consequences before... what, did you just try to snap at me?!? Come here, you damned little brat, and get some!

See, what such an artwork can cause?! Apart from that, as far as I see it, there is no fire possible in outer space because it's a vacuum there. There speaks the scientist in me. Better stop that review right now!