Lutan Fyah ADD

Review

Album Review: Lutan Fyah - Get Rid A Di Wicked

06/19/2014

by Angus Taylor

One of Lutan Fyah’s better albums since Phantom War


After a relentless recording schedule in the 2000s that yielded mixed results, deep word sounder Lutan Fyah has been on a winning streak with his last two albums. 2013 saw the release of the compilation of his early work with England's Jah Warrior, Never Surrender My Faith and the majestic hip-hop-roots opus Life Of A King produced by Grillaras.

During Reggaeville’s review of the latter we predicted the reign would continue with his forthcoming project for I Grade Records, Music Never Dies. But with that record not ready yet, Lutan has instead dropped another decent contender into the mix - helmed by Sizzla engineer, and producer in his own right, Richard “Breadback” Bramwell. It’s distributed by VP records and it’s among Lutan Fyah’s better outings since VP’s sister company Greensleeves put out 2006’s multi producer collection Phantom War.

Across 15 tracks Lutan rides clean, sparse dubby roots one drop rhythms with slight R&B flavours. Over these moody unobtrusive canvases Lutan's lyricism and songwriting are reliable and consistent – covering reality topics such as iniquity and judgment (the title tune), ganja and corruption (Ganja Man) and maternal gratitude (My Mother – another entry to the ranks of quality reggae songs on the subject by Sizzla, Capleton and Romain Virgo).

Yet there are plenty of love songs too - a dimension non Jamaican producers play down in the fervent chanter – like My Jamaican Girl on a slinky remake of Liquidator/I'll Take You There. As vividly as he can paint a picture in a culture song with his earthy images of animals and nature Lutan can create the intimacy of a relationship with the vulnerability and humble openness in his voice. There’s also robust humour in Gospel Grind – the scandalous story of a wayward congregation member.


More of a deejay than a singer, here Lutan never over stretches his vocals (it does sound like pitch correction was used in places – although not ramped up as an effect). Unusually we get only one combination (This Love with fellow Spanish Town emcee Lady G) and just two non-one-drop cuts (Baby I Am Your Love – a curious introspective dancehall piece with multi tracked vocals and workaholic anthem Ambition). The track-list includes an informative if slightly rehearsed sounding interview with US radio presenter Genie Sweetness that explains origin of his name.


While this is a more standard, no frills Lutan Fyah album than the heavy stepping Never Surrender or the sprawling, eclectic Life Of A King, it should not be overlooked. Sometimes doing a familiar job well is what's required.


Last year we forecast that Lutan Fyah would have three good albums in a row by summer 2014. With every reason to suspect Music Never Dies is as impressive as I Grade’s recent sets by Pressure and Midnite, now it looks like he will soon be four for four.

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