RASTA PACEY

Pilgrim Journey

(p) 2007-jan-27

CD:

Tracklisting:

 
01 Are You Ready  
02 Rocksteady  
03 Prepare Ye The Way  
04 Jah Will Work It Out Better  
05 Jah Is My Light  
06 Job Seeking  
07 Ain't That Loving You  
08 Jah Will Rescue You  
09 Jah Is My Light (ft Prezident Brown)  
10 Pretty Woman  
11 I'll Be There  
12 Sorry Fi Dem  
13 You Have Been Away  
14 You Are My Angel  
15 Satta A Massagana  
16 I've Lost That Love  
17 Didn't Get To Sleep Last Night  
18 Broken Heart  
SUNVIBE RECORDS, SUNCD 016 CD

REVIEW IN ENGLISH:
SOURCE: ROOTS MUSIC Reggae & Dancehall
AUTHOR: Teacha Dan



Rasta Pacey has been living in Germany since 1999. Born in Clarendon, Jamaica he grew up with his childhood friend Everton Blender with whom he formed Everton and the Blenders. The Blenders went their own ways and Everton became a huge star while Pacey was just occasionally asked to perform backing vocals. He never got a chance to shine on his own accord. The year 2007 marks the year that Pacey finally released his first original solo album.

Pilgrim Journey is released on Sunvibe Records, a German imprint which has steadily been releasing albums since 1993. Rasta Pacey's debut album is their sixteenth release. The label is located in Dortmund and contrary to the reigning heavy and crispy German sound, Sunvibe excels at the more old fashioned spongy sound, albeit with some rather crispy keys, occasionally.

The album consists of some staggering eighteen tunes and bluntly, it takes up too much time. Had all tunes been as good as, for example, the third tune I would have jumped for joy. Sadly this isn't so. There are some songs the album could easily have done without. The double inclusion of 'Jah Is My Light' (with and without Prezident Brown) is of course one too many. Another four tunes are superfluous cover versions. Pacey's takes on some very classic tunes do not add anything and so really are redundant.

'Rocksteady' and 'I've lost that love' are both original Alton Ellis tunes. Rasta Pacey has a soulful voice indeed but it is not close to the heartfelt and playful soul of the original mister soul of Jamaica, mister Ellis himself. Also 'Ain't that Loving You', which is originally a 1967 Stax tune by Johnnie Taylor, was made big on Jamaica by Alton Ellis. And 'Satta A Massagana' has of course become a true reggae and Rasta anthem but Pacey's version, although beautifully sung again does not uncover new depths.

Fewer songs and another sound from the keyboards could have made this album what it promised to be. Pacey has a very nice voice and certainly it should not be bothered solely by singing backing vocals. His voice is slightly hoarse but very soulful although sometimes he just tries too hard. On 'Broken Heart' he does a rather bad nasal imitation of Gregory Isaacs over an Isaacs-like riddim and on 'Jah Will Rescue You' he is so hoarse one fears for his health. Some of the tunes are really very good though. My personal favourites include 'Are You Ready', 'Sorry Fi Dem', 'Jah Will Work It Out Better', 'I'll Be There' and the masterful 'Prepare Ye The Way' which should receive much more attention than just it's appearance on Pilgrim Journey.

(Teacha Dan, April 2007)