Derajah ADD

Review

Album Review: Derajah meets 18th Parallel - Prosperity

10/09/2023

by Gardy Stein

/prɒsˈper.ə.ti/ (noun): the condition of being successful or thriving

Already the bible says, "You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours." (Psalm 128:2), and the conviction that you shall reap what you sow is one of the founding principles of human cohabitation – or at least should be. An artist who has internalized this principle, along with many other Rastafarian values, is Deraja Mamby, better known as Derajah.

His new album Prosperity is the first full-length release since his debut Paris Is Burning (2011), but he's been far from idle in the interim. Most notably, his longstanding collaboration with Inna De Yard (including guest appearances on all of the project's three albums as well as extensive touring) has introduced the conscious singer to an international audience, but he has also released several singles over the past decade, both solo works and combinations.

Prosperity is the result of teaming up with the Swiss label Fruits Records, whose originators have started a remarkable band project called, inspired by Jamaica's geographical location, The 18^th Parallel. The skilled hands of Antonin Chatelain (drums), Léo Marin (guitar), Mathias Liengme (keyboards & percussion), Roberto Sánchez (synare) and a bunch of guest musicians created a warm, Roots-dominated nest into which Derajah comfortably bedded his unique vocals. Counting Linval Thompson, Cedric Myton, the Viceroys and the Mighty Diamonds among his major inspirations, it is little surprising that the artist developed an affinity to Rasta subjects and the natural, chanting delivery that is typical for the veterans mentioned above.

Both qualities become evident right in the first track, Babylon A Quake. Introduced by a decisive drum roll, heavy bass, a fine brass-line played by Alexandre Schneiter (trumpet), Michael Pellegrini (tenor saxophone) and Anthony Dietrich Buclin (trombone) as well as high-pitched harmonies by Derajah himself, the song is a warning to those who have  done wrong to Jah Jah children. "Wake up, the time is now!" Gwaan And Low Me picks up the conscious thread thus woven, again telling all bad-minded people to stay far (goosebumps: the tenor "what a lala" part at the end). The beat here is more driving than the first one, with a focus on fast-paced drums, bubbling keys and sweet backings by Quentin Sterne, Julien Plaza and Maria Smith.   

The subsequent I Man Beam is a musical contemplation of who or rather what we are, ascribing meta-physical qualities to the "congo-bongo with the red, gold and green". Derajah, who has established his ability of perfectly moving from middle to high vocal ranges in the first two tracks, demonstrates that he controls the lower range, too – his voice is at its deepest here.

"One of the greatest thing in life is when man know himself. (...) I and I tell them fi raise up their standards high!" Old John Crow relates the preference for carrion of turkey vultures (called John Crow in Jamaica) to people who live dirty and lowly, rejoicing in others' misery. Kiss teeth! Nil Rome comes back to the "bun Babylon" theme already addressed in the first song, and although the general discussion of these often-quoted issues lends a timeless touch to the album's lyrical contents, it becomes rather repetitive when heard too often. Both musical and vocal delivery are brilliant once more, however!  

The final Row Fisherman takes a refreshing, much more concrete perspective on life's journey, encouraging everyone going through storms and struggles to keep pushing, to not give up. Confidence and perseverance! The accompanying video perfectly picks up the metaphorical connection to the song's title, showing Jamaican fishermen at work. It was filmed by Nicolas Meury (Little Lion Sound), who also did the visuals for Babylon A Quake, a colorful celebration of Rastafarian symbolism.   

Part and parcel of the six tracks included are five dub versions (Dub Quake, I And I Dub, Dub Crow, Annihilation Dub and Fisherdub), exquisite in their wealth of effects and phat bass. Recorded at Bridge Studio (Geneva) and In House Studio (Kingston) and mixed at WF Studio (Le Mans) by renowned engineer Westfinga, the sonic quality of the release is top-notch, bearing proof of the lingering beauty of analogue music. With Prosperity, The 18^th Parallel and Derajah have created a wonderful album that you can play from A to Z, over and over again. Caribbean-European collaboration at its best!

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