Heart of a Punk Soul of a Rasta

Clinton Fearon - Mi Deh Yah.

To say Mi Deh Yah is as "solo" work is some what of understatement. Ex-Gladiator Clinton Fearon has composed, written and produced all the tracks on the album. He sings lead, and the harmonies (ably assisted by Reginald "Ire" Taylor). He plays bass throughout (which would seem obvious for Basie - but he does this for the first time solo). He plays rhythm and lead guitar in places as well as percussion and keyboards. Barbara Kennedy from the original Bogie Band times is on hand to add piano, as is Nelson Miller (long time Burning Spear collaborator) to add most of the drums. Mark Oi from the band "Publish The Quest" adds a few neat guitar riffs as well but essentially on Mi Deh Yah Clinton Fearon is in complete control. And it works!

There are some brief excursions on Mi Deh Yah, most notably on the Latin beats of "De Casa", but for most part the album sticks to the true and righteous path of ROOTS. Songs of truth and experience, reason and reasoning like: "Life is a Journey", "Rock and a Hard Place", "The Best" and "Working Man" make up the solid spine of the album. And around these is the flesh and blood: the soulful "Tell the World" - a touch Curtis Mayfield here; "Better Days" probably the most sublime and immediate track on the album; and the majestic mantra groove "Feeling Blue".

"Mi Deh Yah" apparently means "I'm Here" and Fearon certainly is "Here" and back with a mighty Tour de Force of album. And that's all there is to say really. You have to own it. It's out on MAKASOUND. Go get it from HERE.

Clips are from Mi Deh Yah and a wee bit of Gladiators too.