Dub Reviews
Artist: Jah Seal Cover scan:
Title: Itopia
Label: Irieland
Catalogue Number: RITW002
Format: LP, CD, MP3
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Result: Fresh roots outta Bab...erlin
Review date: 2008-07-15
Detailed review:
In his review of "Itopia", Karsten from www.irieites.de notes something remarkable (rough translation from German by me): "...compared to the usual rattle that has developed in the genre worldwide through the years..." Hear, hear! Finally, someone else is mentioning it too. For many years, I felt like being the only one who had the feeling that there is a lot of crap reggae being released. But who would listen to me. Well, Karsten is someone highly respected in the scene and he said it now, too. Thanks for the backing up.

The context in which he mentioned it is, that he claimed that "Itopia" is not like that. And he's right in that. The album stands out of all the many pure modern roots releases. We don't need to try to deny it: I'm a dubhead. Always have been. I prefer the likes of Jah Tubbys or Iration Steppas. So, most reggae albums don't get me off the sofa. Well, this album doesn't either right now - because I just made myself comfortable on one while writing the review. ;)

But apart from that, I honestly can say that Jah Seal delivered a very nice piece of work here. But who is Jah Seal? He is an Irishman living in a Berlin exile (can a Berlin-native understand why someone from such a cool country like Ireland would move to Berlin by free will? I don't know. I couldn't, at least.) where he runs his own Irieland Soundsystem and produces fresh roots reggae music, together with his friend Aldubb. His singing style pleasantly differs from most of the usual styles. He neither tries to sound loud or exaggerated nor does he have to try hard to convince the listener to be overly laid-back and relaxed. He sounds naturally and just sings, you know. If all the singers would be like that, I would listen to much more vocal cuts, really.

A first glance of his style could be get on a white label 10" called "Jah Soldier" which is by now also available as a reprint with a real label. I described the style as Rhythm and Sound style, just better, if I remember correctly. ;) On "Itopia", you get a different flavour: pure roots music, but not the sweet "sunshine" reggae style or some pop dancehall stuff (Karsten mentioned Culcha Candela in his review which made me laugh because I thought about them, too and must have made a weird face then since my girlfriend asked what's suddenly wrong), no, it's deep roots of the good sorts. Thanks for that, really.

You get 10 tunes (assuming you buy the real stuff which means: vinyl) ranging from softer tunes like "Heart Of The Forgiver" which concentrate on melodies (guitars, organs, different keyboards...) and also backing vocals, crucial skankers like "Ride Da Riddim By Day" or groovy steppers like "International Criminal". Highpoint of the album is definitely the title track "Itopia" which is just wicked, especially the chorus and the horn section. Beautiful.

Generally, the A-Side is much stronger than the B-Side which just makes it closely above the "too sweet" level by fastening the pace with "The Perfect Day" and getting deeper again with "On the Mend" (nice vocal contribution here). What is totally missing on the LP are Dubs which is a bad news for all dub fans. These, in this case, should consider buying the CD instead because this one features the versions, dubbed smoothly by Aldubb. Some songs even get a completely different feeilng, just by putting the focus on the bass and take off the melody parts. But well, who am I telling this? We all know this since King Tubby and co. That's what the dub is about and that's why we're addicted to it. I am, at least. ;) Biggest dub surprise is "Dancehall Dub" which just leaves out the guitar/keyboard skanking from the vocal cut and so makes space for the riddim section which makes it suddenly sound like a completely different tune which I first couldn't even believe that it's really the version of "Dancehall Blues", a song I didn't really like. So I had to listen to the vocal cut again and suddenly I liked it much more. See, another great example why the Dub is so important for me. Do you understand me better now? After all these years during which you flamed me for my no dub no good comments. ;)

Let's end this review with another quotation from irieites.de's Karsten: "...what would happen if the Berlin dubnerds would start to produce some steppers for the clubs?" I second that. So, Jah Seal, Aldubb, give us some tough ones! But apart from that, who does Karsten mean with the Berlin dubnerds? I thought that I am the biggest dubnerd of them all?! Am I not? It seems that I have to prove it to Karsten. ;) But until then, I suggest you visit www.one-drop.de and get the Jah Seal album first. OK!