The Human Rights ADD

Review

Album Review: The Human Rights - One People

03/07/2025

by Gardy Stein

A band with that name deserves immediate attention, regardless of the actual quality of their music. Good thing that, in the case of The Human Rights, their output reflects the high expectations raised by their moniker! Started in Canada in 2007, the group formed around the charismatic singer Friendlyness, drummer Eric Woolston, bassie Tyler Wagler and keyboardist Bernie Pitters. The latter, who started to learn his craft in the renowned Excelsior High School in Jamaica and went on to play with Toots & The Maytals, sadly passed away in 2023, and the band’s new album One People is released in his loving memory.

Consequently, his voice is the first thing we hear upon pressing play, announcing The Real Thing during a live concert. What is this “real thing”, you may wonder? The next track directly answers this question, as Life Is The Thing makes it crystal clear that, “if you ain’t got life, you got nothing at all”. In the lively instrumental, the other members of the band present themselves: Tréson, second vocalist and percussionist, Graham Campbell, James Taylor and Tony Barrett on guitar, David Jackson and João Leao on keys as well as backing vocalist Rebecca Campbell. Further responsible for the ultimate sound of the band, nicely exemplified in the subsequent Leave It Alone or the instrumental Pitters Skank that features ISax, is the brass section consisting of Tom Richards (trombone), Lauren Barnett (alto sax & harmonies), Naomi Higgins (tenor sax & flute), and Andrew Svendsen (trumpet & flugelhorn).

Lyric-wise, the songs talk about deep inner reflections in All Been There Before (including my new favorite quote “music is the safest space”), faith and trust in the Most High in Jah Reign, love and friendship in the beautiful homage The Don And The General as well as our future in the jazzy Seeds We Sow.  

Special mention deserves the track Roxham Road, as it illustrates music’s potential to educate us on issues happening in other parts of the world. Thanks to this song, I learned about this “illegal road to freedom” between Canada and the USA, where an estimated 100,000 refugees crossed the border to seek asylum in Canada, especially after the last time Trump won the elections. Would that more artists released such instructive content, instead of repeating the ever same phrases and topics!

Two features round off the release, bringing well-known compatriots to the mic. First up, Exco Levi joins Tréson and Friendlyness on Can’t Get Away, a reminder that you can’t run from Jah. Rasta A Rasta, finally, has young Kairo McLean shine vocally, all mature by now, and together the artists sing about the difference between wearing dreadlocks for fashion and being a true Rasta by heart. Clearly because they identify as such, the album cover refers to the spiritual home of all Rastafarians: Ethiopia. Not only by the lion of Judah so prominently depicted, but also by the translation of the band’s name and album title into Amharic.

With clean, conscious lyrics, likeable voices and, above all, masterful instrumental skill and mixing by the great Dubmatix, One People firmly puts a band on the international map that you should bookmark (and not just for its name): The Human Rights!

---

Release details