Black Slate

Black Slate

UK Reggae Band releases first album since early 1980’s Available April 28, 2016 is the album Peaceful Demonstration by Black Slate. These ten tracks on were recorded on the Caribbean island of Antigua and chronicle the journey the group has taken since its inception in 1972. After 40 years in the music business, the deep roots reggae band returns with their first full-length album released since the album Six Plus One in 1982. Peaceful Demonstration is released on the on TCD Records the label named for Tony, Chris and Desmond, the original members of the band founded in 1972 in the United Kingdom. Each of the original members chose to take a hiatus from touring life to help raise their families and establish sustainable business ventures. Anthony Brightly remained rooted in the music industry, becoming a driving force in the advancement of Lover’s Rock and UK reggae in general through his work as a Disc Jockey, Club owner, Artiste Manager and event promoter, shaping airplay and artist growth both at radio and in the club setting. Chris Hanson has become a sought after mix and mastering engineer, adding his unique touch to thousands of songs over the past several years right up to the present. Remaining involved in the industry outside of their band experience as Black Slate, these musicians have observed the global reggae music marketplace and have returned to the studio to present roots reggae with an echo from the analog, live off the floor recording techniques of the 1970’s infused with a modern roots feel, with lyrics that reflect the current landscape. Track Listing:  Daylight, In The City, Look Into My Eyes, Predator, Feel the Love, Should I Stay or Should I Go, Build Mama Africa, I Can't Breathe, Peaceful Demonstration, Amun, Thinking Out Loud From the first strains of the lead track Daylight the lyrics recall the final stages of a party as the sun starts to rise over the lover’s rock tempo. Soulful vintage-style support vocals, moody keyboard lines fortify a sweet lament from the lead vocalist Gaven as the party is coming to an end. For In The City, Gaven sings “sirens in the city, day and night, sounding so alarming” a vibe that harkens to the era of Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye, a soul searching exploration of the modern times, lessons learned from the past. Also sung by Gaven is Look Into My Eyes with a Lover’s Rock feel as questions are asked from a romantic perspective. The one drop works the gratifying chord changes over stylized drums and percussion with organ builds. Predator cites the issues faced by the poor, and those predators that prey upon them. Delivered as a sparse nyabinghi drum and acoustic guitar lament, the refrain “can’t let them take our soul” raises the consciousness to another level. Feel the Love opens with soulful guitar lines that thread throughout the vintage vibes as the vocalist Gaven reflects on the lack of clarity in the relationship asking “Who’s going to pick up the pieces to make us one again? “ Next is a one-drop cover of Should I Stay or Should I Go which pays homage to Black Slate’s comrades-in-arms from the rich history of the UK music scene, the punk-influenced rock group The Clash who were deeply influenced by their reggae counterparts, right down to their name, a nod to the Sound Clash concept formed in early reggae dancehall trends. For Build Mama Africa the group draws for vintage Harry Belafonte and mento music for the chorus singing the chorus for “Dayo”: “Daylight come and I want to go home” in a repatriation-driven message for the Motherland. A Steppers-style rhythm drives a militant message of hope and the mission of rebuilding Africa. The song at just over 5 minutes has a lengthy instrumental outro with crash cymbals, intricate guitar lines and soulful organ progressions. I Can’t Breathe takes its name from the tragic last words of Eric Garner, the African-American killed by police who were in the process of arresting him for a misdemeanor type of charge and used excessive force. The bridge of the song’s lyric asserts what living in this “struggle I can’t leave” is like under the spectre “we really don’t know if we’re going to make it.” This tribute to Mr. Garner is the griot’s tale the current events inspiring the reminder in the lyrics “just want you to know Black Lives Matter just want you to know “Black Is Beautiful”. The title track, Peaceful Demonstration finds the band asserting their agenda for these times, the lyrics offers solutions citing Martin Luther King’s vision and advice to “no bother with your problem mind, its a waste of time.” Their demands being the right to “educate and free our minds”. Horns drive the clarion call as the lead vocal Gaven are supported with harmonies to further the demonstration of group demands. For Amun (See No Evil) a deep roots one drop rhythm is the backdrop for Jessie to sing the definition of the ancient Kemetic word meaning ‘see no evil’. A bonus track, a reggae cover of UK’s Ed Sheeran, the chart topper Thinking Out Loud closes out the set. About Black Slate: Black Slate was formed and based in the United Kingdom in 1972 and worked originally as a backing band, members would work with other Jamaican artists like Leroy Smart, The Heptones, Johnny Clarke, Ken Boothe, Dennis Brown, Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Maytals, Sly & Robbie and Peter Tosh. In 1975 Black Slate became their own group and had a hit in 1976 with the song Sticks Man. Black Slate had other successful songs during this period like Mind Your Motion, Boom Boom and the the massive world wide hit: Amigo. It was during this period that the British rock and roll explosion was happening and in reggae there was a parallel contingent happening with groups like Aswad, Steel Pulse, UB40 and Black Roots all taking off during this period from the years 1977-1979. It was also during this period that the “Rock Against Racism” movement was taking shape and Anglo bands like The Jam, Generation X and Adam and the Ants were teaming up with their Afro-British counterparts. Black Slate Band members: Anthony “Pure Silk” Brightly on keyboards, Chris “Music House”Hanson on rhythm/lead guitar and Desmond “Drummy” Mahoney on drums and percussion represent the first generation of members in Black Slate. Colin “Steam Fish” McNiesh on bass, Jessie “Energy” Brade on lead vocals, known as J.E.B. and Gaven “Magic voice” Creary also on lead vocals, known as G.M.B. represent the newer additions to the band line-up.

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