Search - Anthony B :: Higher Meditation

Higher! Way Higher!

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 02/20/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Reserving a spot somewhere at the end of the year for Anthony B on the reggae best of list is almost a given yearly as the artist rather calmly applies his philosophy: Another year, another big album. Following a rather modest yet successful 2006 which saw one of reggae's most consistent children release just two albums, including the very well-received Suffering Man album for TAD's, Anthony B has wasted not a moment in getting the jump on early 2007. Thus, despite other albums from artists of much higher profile (PROFILE, not caliber) also being released at the same time (I.e. Richie Spice and Elephant Man on the same day, and Turbulence, Luciano and Stephen Marley within the month) and some typically downright bad pre-promotion by label Greensleeves, Anthony B's first contribution of 2007 has become one of my most anticipated releases of the year (not too anticipated however, considering GS only made us aware of it less than a month ago). What you can normally expect from AB is some of the biggest vibes in modern roots music today, while not being as spectacular as his closest peers such as Sizzla, Capleton and the emerging Turbulence, when the question is consistency, he is almost unrivaled.



The Trelawny native has become one of reggae's most unlikely heroes of sort. Coming to power from the beginning of his career as a Bobo (which is quite common today, but as recent as a decade ago was somewhat rare) chanter and never straying from a righteous path which has saw him drop some of the biggest roots vibes of the past decade has made AB one of the most famous performers in all of reggae as he stays both in the studio and on the road. He follows the same career doctrine as peers such as Sizzla, Luciano and Turbulence (and seemingly more and more Lutan Fyah and Jah Mason as well) in which ONLY releasing two albums in 2006 seems like a slow year for the artist on the album circuit after a 2004 and 2005 which both saw him release four albums (as well as a re-release in `04).



Higher Meditation, the chanter's latest album finds him re-uniting with Greensleeves for the third time as well as the third time with UK producer Frenchie from Maximum Sounds. Previously Frenchie and AB had worked together on the strong Powers of Creation from 2004 and the even more well powerful Black Star album from 2005 on Greensleeves as well. It was largely due to the strength and success of that Black Star album apparently that the two once again united for Greensleeves to release this even stronger album. Anthony B has called Frenchie one of his favorite producers to work with and Frenchie's meandering and nomadic style of production is well matched with Anthony B as he is one of the most experienced artists in Jamaica having worked with a virtual whose-who of producers, including the biggest of names and names who will not be remembered at all (Now I'm wondering why they couldn't slap a delay on the album and ultimately release Jah Mason's Maximum Sound debut, Life is Just a Journey).



Higher Meditation mirrors its two older brothers in terms of vibes (and maybe every GOOD Anthony B album ever released , and probably every good Maximum Sound release for that matter) in that the album is a pretty good mix of modern roots and modern dancehall and turning more and more towards the dancehall towards the conclusion of the album. Higher Meditation, however, dominates on all surfaces where both Powers of Creation and Black Star (perhaps to a lesser degree) were not as strong on the dancehall side as the beautiful roots they both exhibited. Higher Meditation is a complete powerhouse of an album and a wonderful progression of what Anthony B and Frenchie have been doing (so mark them as THE pair to watch in 2009!).



The album starts on a powerful spot, albeit an increasingly popular manner in which to produce an album or a song. The intro is almost a combination speech between AB and HIM Himself, Emperor Haile Selassie I and a very powerful way to get the highest of meditations started off. Check the wonderful title track getting things started in that typical Anthony B freewheeling style, just a powerful track built over a lush (and I mean LUSH!) Maximum Sound riddim. Not too far down the line you get one of the most powerful tracks you'll ever hear from Anthony B (or any artist for that matter) the excellent (Just) Can't Live That Way over the well strong Jah Powers riddim. Can't Live That Way will definitely demand several spins in your players and had a mighty mighty difficult time finding its way off repeat from myself (and I did listen to the album backwards).



Checking the ending, expectedly in dancehall style, is a nice combination between Anthony B and Turbulence. To my knowledge, this is the second combination with the duo (the first also had Bushman on the track on the doomed Confused Times album) and it's a very strong track, Real Warriors. Real Warriors almost comes off as a bonus on the album after already having more than delivered the high quality and top notch vibes, Real Warriors proves AB and the Sizzla protégé' Turbulence make a more than formidable pair as Turbulence enters an almost flawless performance. Also check No Passa Passa, more traditional style hardcore dancehall but more than appreciated because Anthony B has his turban in all arenas of reggae and is more than well equipped to ride even the most difficult of dancehall riddims.



All that being said however, the best tune without a doubt on Higher Meditation is the nearly imperial combination with Natty King, Honour to Marcus. Much like Black Star the best tune here is the combination and if you thought that Jah Cure made a nice vibe with Anthony B, you need to hear Honour to Marcus! What a big combination and released in what is Black History Month in many places in the world it becomes that much mandatory of a listen, definitely worth the price of admission on its own (and due to the big vibes Natty King has been placing on the streets lately as a solo artist, I'm definitely looking forward to see if Greensleeves and/or Maximum Sounds lines up to do his sophomore album his year as well). A big respect to Marcus Garvey, and Anthony B even invokes the name of legendary Rastafarian elder and leader, the late Mortimer Planno.



Other tracks that prove worthy of spins are definitely One Chalice (on which AB nicely puts it `even when I`m old and grey, I`ll still burn the herb everyday!), one of the obligatory herbalist tracks on Higher Meditation, and definitely the strongest of the two; Check Jah, Jah, Jah, Jah, Jah a pounding yet bouncy exaltation of HIM, a wonderful track on the album and lastly check Anthony B's take on Marley's Waiting in Vain with his own well done Tired of Waiting in Vain, very much so worth checking out is the only PURE love song on Higher Meditation.



Oh okay and I have to mention the nice acoustic Your Time Has Come



Overall, definitely stamping the seal of recommendation and a double seal of approval on Higher Meditation and stamping as MAYBE the early lead for album of the year (with respect to Lutan Fyah!). I'm always impressed at just how easily Anthony B manages to fly just below the radar of superstardom all the while maintaining just as much respect as those who do achieve the title. The answer lies with just thumping alone constantly and consistently putting out material that most others couldn't touch on their best day and he does it so often that its difficult to ignore, even though he almost always manages to stay out of the controversy. Higher Meditation is a SMALL step below the best of his career and you need to take one small step and pick it up!

"