Cultural Review… A refreshing blend of Caribbean rhythms

Jul 20, 2014 News

Hope by Sheldon Blackman and the Soul Rebels
Critic: Dr Glenville Ashby

Sheldon Blackman and The Soul Rebels have thrown down the musical gauntlet, pushing back at the peddlers of vacuous commercialism. The result is a well-tailored, balanced and rich flow of melodic tracks.

The CD cover of Hope

Aptly titled Hope, front man, Blackman, is soothing, even raspy and edgy when needed. He scats, hums, sings – using rapso (a blend of rap and calypso) in small doses – ever showcasing his expansive vocal range.
Hope is pure artistry that is pulled from the top drawer. It is a well engineered, airtight creation that defies the synthetic, canned sound of many of today’s musicians, as it delivers modal sounds and driving guitar riffs.
Blackman is a singer of tonal depth and colour. Moreover, he is convincing. Yet, he is cautious and weary of reinventing the wheel. Despite the impressive eclecticism of his work, he can prove to be cagey and conservative, and for the most part, he relies on the evocative sound of the steel drums, even when foraying into reggae and jazz-infused music.
Interestingly, in an era that has seen sobering rhythms and pure singing trumped by flippant, loud, and boisterous musical histrionics; and in a time when an artist’s shortcomings are ensconced by the magic of technology, it is refreshing to bask in Blackman’s authenticity.
It is noteworthy that Blackman’s Hope work does not pit traditional calypso against its contemporary variants. Decades ago, Ska and reggae reluctantly surrendered to dancehall music; and R&B threw up a white flag to rap music. Neither traditionalist nor modernist, Blackman deftly avoids either camp, preferring a syncretic construct. This is musical fusion played out to the hilt.
From the inner city of Jamaica, to the hills of Trinidad and the Deep South, Hope underscores Blackman’s markedly prodigious oeuvre. Therein are unassuming and unpretentious melodies that can ease or vivify the senses. Unquestionably, some tracks are commercial, but Blackman has not abdicated his creativity, nor his social activism as he displays in ”Stop The War,” a catchy, finger-snapping, foot-tapping number with a near anthemic chorus line.
Of the 15 tracks, “Ocean” hits the mark with its haunting chorus and subtle, alluring vocals that conjure memories of his famous father. In “Good Things,” he captures the spirit of Burning Spear as he wails and admonishes, “As a man sow, so shall he reap,” while intoning the title, repeatedly, for good measure. Allowing the organ, drums, and slashing guitar to have their say, he pours on the musical magic.
And in a jazzy way, he coaxes in the compelling ballads, ”Lonely.”
In “Love is the Only Thing We Need,” a distinctively gospel-imbued song, Blackman shares the lead. The result is an imaginative, mesmeric and exhaustively emotive piece that from its opening salvo, galvanises listeners. And not quite done, Blackman is at his signature best in the infectious, “Live Life.”
A scion from a musical dynasty, Blackman has lived up to the hype with a searing production that leaves us awe-stricken by its sheer wonderment.

Feedback: glenvilleashby@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby
Sheldon Blackman and the Soul Rebels: Hope, 2014
Produced by Blackman House of Music, Norway
contact@sheldonblackman.com
www.sheldonblackman.com
Rating: Highly recommended

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