True Democracy Steel Pulse

• 1 Chant a Psalm 04:34
• 2 Ravers 03:56
• 3 Find It...Quick! 03:26
• 4 A Who Responsible 03:54
• 5 Worth His Weight In Gold (Rally Round) 04:34
• 6 Leggo Beast 03:43
• 7 Blues Dance Raid 04:52
• 8 Your House 03:41
• 9 Man No Sober 04:29
• 10 Dub Marcus Say 04:37
• Total Runtime 41:46

Info zu True Democracy

This 1982 release, Steel Pulse's first for Elektra, marks the band's move toward a more buoyant, pop-inflected sound. „True Democracy“ does not have the edgy roots feel of albums like „Handsworth Revolution“; instead, it demonstrates the group's synthesis of reggae rhythms with high production values and well-crafted melodies. But while the album's stylistic corners may be sanded for radio-ready accessibility, „True Democracy“ contains some of the band's boldest, most explicitly political songwriting.

The opener, 'Chant a Psalm,' invokes the names of biblical figures and puts the listener on notice of the album's conscious, spiritually minded tone. There are classic Rasta themes, such as 'Worth His Weight in Gold,' a song based on the teachings of Marcus Garvey, and songs that overtly address social and political issues. 'A Who Responsible?' takes on the history of racial injustice, 'Leggo Beast' is an indictment of prostitution, and 'Man No Sober' looks at alcoholism. Yet for all its seriousness, „True Democracy“ has a light, danceable vibe, exemplified in the party anthem 'Ravers,' one of Steel Pulse's best tunes. Though sometimes overlooked in favor of the early Island albums, this is one of the band's most consistent and enjoyable releases.

„Although the group's first three albums are generally considered their finest, there is a very strong case to be made for including Steel Pulse's Elektra debut in their core collection as well. Where Reggae Fever had found the band moving from hardcore Rasta politics into lover's rock and party anthems, True Democracy marks a return to more ideological subject matter; the cover art, which shows singer David Hinds reading the Bible to his rapt bandmates, is a dead giveaway. Their sound might be a little bit slicker than before, but it's also harder and the lyrics less compromising -- 'Leggo Beast' denounces adultery over a stripped-down one-drop beat; 'Man No Sober' inveighs against drunkenness; 'A Who Responsible?' uses a dour trombone line to call down judgment on Babylon. But the mood is lightened somewhat by 'Your House,' a gorgeous love song, and by the exalted 'Chant a Psalm.' This is one of Steel Pulse's most satisfying and fully realized albums.“ (Rick Anderson, AMG)

Ronald 'Stepper' McQueen, bass
Steve 'Grizzly' Nesbitt, drums
Selwyn 'Bumbo' Brown, keyboard, vocals
Phonso Martin, percussion, vocals
David Hinds, guitar, vocals
Basil Gabbidon, lead guitar

Recorded 1981 at “Feedback' Studios, Aarhus, Denmark
Engineered by Dennis Thompson, Ole Lauritsen, John Nielson, Dennis Thompson Produced by Karl Pitterson

Digitally remastered

Keine Biografie vorhanden.

Dieses Album enthält kein Booklet