Take a Listen to Bitty McLean's New Reggae Album "Forward"
His formula is as authentic and traditional, as it is innovative and modern. Clean, melodic, and deeply, deeply rooted in reggae music's most foundational and inspirational elements.
Bitty McLean consistently produces and performs good music, and stays committed to the sustainable elements of reggae music and culture. For this reason, he is always at the top of my list.
I admired his voice around the same time many others internationally were also powerfully introduced to him en masse, with "Walk Away from Love."
It's a song that can play in any dance, home, or event on any given day, and it still resonates. I think that's because not only is the artist talented, but also because his career (and character) have stood the test of consistency. As outlined in my written profile of Bitty for Reggae Month 2019, there are no gimmicks or pretenses with this singer. He remains unequivocally committed to the music, and it's evident in the final production, every time.
Here's a quick overview of the twelve-track album, with a link to the songs on YouTube so you can also take a listen:
01) BE ACCEPTED: Love this entry song, very spiritual with heavenly harmonies and full of scripture. A beautiful opening to the album.
02) BACK IN MY ARMS: The musicality is always refreshing, and I loved the instrumentals, the clean sound of the brass/horns, and of course Bitty's clear voice is the perfect complement. Everything sounds balanced and the melodies are sweet.
03) LET'S MAKE UP: Songs like this are meant to cultivate love and romance!
04) THE BEST PART: I keep coming back to this particular song. I love the classic dancehall rhythm, mixed with his sweet vocals, and the catchy chorus and melodies. The organs always add a nice touch. This is currently my favourite song on the album, because it's partially familiar yet still new and refreshing...optimistic and positive.
05) LOVE HAS GONE: Loved the dream-like background vocals, and classic lover's rock feel to this song.
06) ONE NATION: Another pure reggae song; an anthem of love for the island of Jamaica. This song is a reminder of how smooth the album's entirety is, and how easy track transitions into the next without disrupting the flow or groove. The passion and love for the country is felt in the words and melody.
07) BEAUTY YOU ARE: This song has a great dub feeling and bassline, and is a romantic yet uplifting vibe for women listeners in particular. Love hearing the melodica, as always.
08) THE NEED IN ME: Another romantic composition, with beautiful lyrics and a sweet groove.
09) GLASS HOUSE: This single, I believe is the first official release from the album, and heavy in lyrics. Love the bassline groove, the crisp instruments, bells, and most importantly the message. A great song.
10) FAR AS EYE CAN SEE: More melodica! I love it. This song gives a classic roots vibe, lyrics, and a clean mix overall. When I think about pure reggae music, this song personifies that feeling and sound.
11) WHERE IS YOUR LOVE: Excellent drums, rhythms, and messages in this song.
12) WHERE IS YOUR DUB: A wonderful groove; love the intricate instrumentation.
Some of the other musicians featured on this production: Dean Fraser on horns, Stephen Lenky Marsden on piano, and Bitty himself on organ and melodica. Multitalented and exceptional on all levels, this album is another great collection of work from this legendary singer.
Keep up with Bitty McLean, often performing in Europe and Asia (and hopefully soon returning to a Toronto stage):
Bitty McLean on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Download or stream "Forward" on Apple Music | Spotify
Written by SM Robinson for Kya Publishing's "Reflection & Reason" blog.
Comments
Post a Comment