Randy Valentine ADD

Review

Review: Randy Valentine - Break The Chain EP

05/02/2014

Whatever Randy rides he’s got the songs and he’s certainly got the voice.

Review: Randy Valentine - Break The Chain EP

In the last two years a considerable buzz has built around golden toned singer Randy Valentine. Due to the international nature of reggae music his story has involved a variety of locations: his birthplace in Clarendon, Jamaica, his adopted home of London and his work with various European producers - most notably Switzerland’s Hemp Higher Productions. All these elements and a steady drip of strong singles have contributed to his rise. Similarly to his friend Gappy Ranks, Valentine works out of his own London studio, which he shares with his manager Blemish, voicing at least two rhythms a day. And like Gappy he first went longform with a vintage “big people” sound on his Bring Back The Love Mixtape and now for his debut EP Break The Chain he is showing his more versatile, contemporary side. Across nine tracks produced by Germany’s Jr. Blender and Riga from Hemp Higher (in conjunction with Randy and Blemish’s aptly named Jack Of All Trades) you’ll sample an assortment of styles and topics. Yet despite the diversity on offer each song feeds into the next.

There’s autobiography and a sense of mission on Hemp Higher’s Studio 1-ish Sweet Reggae Music and the classic swung one drop tribute to Valentine’s father Carry On. There’s radio-friendly romance in the gushing and unashamed Lock Me Up on Jugglerz’ Penthouse rhythm (which updates and improves the themes to pop group Banarama’s Love in the First Degree).

We get anti slackness and vanity lyrics to the marching drumbeat of the title tune; dirty-bass roots and dub in Tenor Saw alluding single Sound The Alarm featuring rapper LionHeart; and acoustic balladry via the hand drumming of Nah Sell Out and the furious strumming of Inna Di Ghetto – both hailing the island culture Randy left behind.

Valentine’s soulful pain cracked vocal is a genuinely moving instrument (so much so that it’s almost a shame to hear it cloaked in studio trickery on Sound The Alarm). As per his idol Sam Cooke he can reach you emotionally while still sounding as if he is holding something back. He bursts out of your speakers giving a raw reality to even the gooiest hooks and sentiments, and the glossy, clinically accurate production. Coming from a family sound system background he turns deejay with ease and regularity – demonstrating an impressive lyricism and flow.

 It adds up to a very listenable taster for what looks to be a promising career. Some might prefer an album of old-school rhythms but whatever Randy rides he’s got the songs and he’s certainly got the voice.