
By Andree Farias
Sounds like ... a sanctified, gospel-focused version of Bob Marley & The Wailers and Peter Tosh.
At a glance ... this delightful collection of reggae anthems is as legitimate as they come--you don't need to be an aficionado of the genre to be taken captive by its charm.
| Track Listing |
1. Revelation, Come--Hugh DeFrance 2. Teachings of His Majesty--Christafari 3. Atonement--Avion Blackman 4. My Redeemer--Solomon Jabby & Christafari 5. Drink for Free--Dominic Balli 6. Redeeming the Time--Monty G and Mr. Lynx 7. My Friend--'Imisi 8. Redeeming Son--Jennifer Howland 9. God Bless--Nengo Vieira & Bribo D'Abraao 10. Bozrah/Reggae Redemption Dub--Chirstafari 11. Dub Star Revolution--Solomon Jabby 12. Heaven Above Roots Remix--Avion Blackman 13. All Around--Hugh DeFrance 14. Glory Honor and Praise--Sherwin Gardner 15. War--Rogé Abergel & Kingdom Culture 16. Keep on Preaching/Keep on Dubbing--'Imisi |
For a white guy with a Bible college degree, Mark Mohr must be doing a lot of things right to keep gospel-reggae powerhouse Chirstafari up and running for so long. When he discovered reggae during a trip to Jamaica as an early teen, it was love at first listen for Mohr, though one of the things he liked best was the genre's connection to marijuana use and how its biggest artists (Bob Marley included) took great pains to justify it.
Mohr's conversion to Christianity changed everything, spurring the genesis of Christafari, which in time has become the foremost authority in sanctified reggae music. Admittedly, it hasn't been easy for the band to operate in a niche within a niche, but they've done it nonetheless, toiling tirelessly, touring internationally, and creating music nonstop, including Reggae Redemption Songs II.
Far removed from the dancehall reggae beats that have dominated the pop airwaves on and off this millennium, Redemption is pure, unadulterated roots reggae and rocksteady riddims--a slow-burning collection large on bass-heavy grooves, all deeply evocative of greats including Marley, Peter Tosh, and Buddy Wailer, yet knit together by a conceptual thread about Christ's gift of redemption. It's a blissful, charming listen, almost coming across as a heart's innocent, wide-eyed response to the Lord's offering of salvation.
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