Reggae Reviews,
Album Review
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Only one word comes to mind when I listen to Ras Mek Peace: wow. It is an unadulterated and woefully overlooked classic of modern roots and has immediately become one of my all-time favorites. Originally formed in the Virgin Islands in 1989 (St. Croix, to be precise), the quintet Midnite has been based in Washington, DC since '93 or so. As listed on the cover, the subtitle of this album is "Before Reverb & Without Delay," which indicates the simplicity of the recording process -- utilizing only one vocal track and one instrumental track and few if any of the standard engineering techniques that are supposed to make things sound "professional." As such, the sound might not be quite as crisp as Midnite's later work, but it's not so raw as to be distracting. In fact, it adds to the organic feel of the band's music. It's hard to explain Midnite's appeal beyond just stating that they're friggin' great. Everything on Ras Mek Peace in on target. Lead singer Vaughn Benjamin's voice is a distinct blend of styles, including Freddie McGregor's smoothness, Winston Matthews' (of the Wailing Souls) emotional wail, Michael Rose's twang, Israel Vibration's righteousness, and Mutabaruka's sociopolitical viewpoint. His lyrics are unique, intelligent, and thoughtful, as evidenced by "Hieroglyphics" (in which graffiti is compared to ancient hieroglyphics) and the wicked wordplay of "Banking in the Pig." The closest group to which I can compare Midnite's overall sound is probably the short-lived Misty In Roots; both perform a curious, melodic mix of polished yet edgy roots. As for Ras Mek Peace, every single track is good, though, my favorite being "In the Race So Far." Any roots fan owes it to themselves to check this out 01/01/99
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