Ziggy Marley - Fly Rasta (Tuff Gong Worldwide/V2 BeNeLux)
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| Ziggy Marley - Fly Rasta |
Release Date: 14th April 2014
It's gotta be tough to be the son
of a modern legend but you don't make it any easier on yourself by trying to
follow in their footsteps do you? I mean, if Ziggy Marley had tried to be an
Architect or a Deep Sea Diver or even an Office Manager he'd have less pressure
on him that trying to fill dad Bob's shoes. Nevertheless, you have to admire
the nuts on the guy and, on this evidence, his old man would be proud. From the
opening track, 'I Don't Wanna Live On Mars', you can tell that this is an album
with a positive message but things are always likely to get deeper when there's
a Marley at the helm. Album title track 'Fly Rasta' is a classic reggae tune
with great energy and those unmistakable familial vocal tones backed up by a
roaming bass, stabbing pianos and some soulful horns. Surprisingly, though, on
'Lighthouse' Marley has a go at a middle of the road rock ballad which doesn't
really work out for anyone but, fortunately, 'Sunshine' comes along to skank
things up and get us back on track.
Ziggy Marley is obviously an
eclectic musician but it's the reggae that is in his blood so it's no surprise
that it's on songs like 'Moving Forward' and 'You' that he really excels with
those staccato rhythms and lilting bass lines. Having said that, the acoustic
strum of 'So Many Rising' is a beautifully politicised song that sounds not dissimilar
to the John Mellencamp classic, 'Jack And Diane'. There are some gorgeously
retro keyboard sounds on 'I Get Up' before the reggae kicks in and on 'You're
My Yoko' the organ gets to take the lead which is great as long as you ignore
the lyrics that seem to suggest that Yoko Ono is a role model for all women
wanting aiming to be a muse for a rock star. The album closes with 'Give It
Away' which finds Marley in reflective mood to begin with before that
unmistakable rhythm kicks in and this long player finishes on a high. Ziggy
Marley has been at this game for a good long time now and he's obviously
comfortable with his own musical space so I can only recommend you loosen your
tie and come join him for the party - you never know, you might learn
something...
More information: http://ziggymarley.com/
Live Dates:
11th April - Wanee Music Festival, Live Oak
12th April - Tortuga Music Festival, Fort Lauderdale
15th April - Ancienne Belgique, Brussels
17th April - Caprices Festival, Crans-Montana
18th April - Komplex 457, Zurich
19th April - Le Trianon, Paris
21st April - Den Atelier, Luxembourg
22nd April - Melkweg (The Max), Amsterdam
23rd April - London Electric, Brixton
24th May - California Roots Festival, Monterey
25th May - Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas
15th June - Olympia Theater, Montreal
19th June - Boarding House Park, Lowell
22nd June - Firefly Music Festival, Dover
5th July - Saturday In The Park, Sioux City
19th July - OC Fair / Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa
25th July - Floydfest 13, Floyd
26th July - The Fillmore, Silver Spring
3rd August - Gathering of the Vibes, Bridgeport
15th August - Jackson Rhythm & Blues Festival, Jackson
29th August - Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS), Aspen