The Living Fire
Artist(s):
Chuck Fenda
Label: Greensleeves
Publisher(s):
Greensleeves
Studio: Greensleeves
Manufacturer: Greensleeves
Binding: Audio CD
MPN: 298
Format(s): Enhanced
List Price: $13.98
Our Price: $13.98
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Track Listing
1.
Interview
2.
Gash Dem
3.
Freedom of Speech
4.
Long Road
5.
Child of the Universe
6.
Change Your Ways
7.
Mother Earth
8.
Gwaan Plant
9.
Nah Laugh
10.
Coming Over
11.
Hold It
12.
I'm Praying
13.
Judgement
14.
World Need Love
15.
Put It on Me
16.
Working For
Customer Reviews
In continuing with what has to be one of the most unlikely of runs to reggae royalty of recent memory (and probably in all of modern reggae), former run of the mill average badman dj turned wicked roots sensation, Chuck Fenda brings forward one of the single most anticipated reggae releases of 2007, The Living Fire. The album, Fenda's sophomore effort after his 2004 outstanding debut Better Days, comes armed with one of (if not his biggest) Fenda's biggest hits to date, the awesome and controversial Gash Dem (and Light Dem). The song proved to be a monumental hit in the hardworking artist's career and Fenda used it to his advantage to push forward his next project, The Living Fire (as well as his label of the same name). He also used it to create the type of hype he was looking for surrounding him. After a 2005-06 which saw Fenda's names more in the newspapers and tabloids than on the local charts, Fenda's Gash Dem showed exactly what the artist could do when properly prepared mentally as he took aim on one of the most lethal social commentaries in all of reggae music since late 1996 when Anthony B dropped the now infamous Fire Pon Rome. Fender had rather controversially been dismissed (or dismissed himself, depending on who you ask) from the up and coming 5th Element label which included (then) singer Anthony Cruz and (still) singer and roots sensation Richie Spice. Now heading out solo, we get to see exactly what Fenda learned at 5th Element as he takes control on The Living Fire.
The New York born Chuck Fendah had previously garnered attention through his earlier work, during which he was labeled by many (myself firmly included) as a Bounty Killer clone. He, like many before him, during his time and since was the type of artist who had yet to show any ability whatsoever to distinguish himself, and had scored virtually no hits of substance, although near the end of his career as a hardcore dancehall artist he did find himself as one of the legendary King Jammy's house do's. His conversion (both literal and figurative) came in early 2000 when he sighted up Rastafari and like so many artists before him (namely Capleton and Buju Banton) his career almost immediately took a turn for the better. Shortly thereafter, Fenda would link with Devon Wheatley, founder of 5th Element Records which would even take him to the next step. Almost immediately Fenda was identified with the likes of Richie Spice and Anthony Cruz, with Spice, however, the duo would shine as both begin to build wicked wicked catalogues for 5th Element. Before leaving his flagship label Fenda would not only FINALLY release his debut album (something he had failed to do, despite trying a great deal) he would attain such great heights, scoring hits with tunes like Ruff Out Deh, No More Suffering, the wicked wicked The Prayer, Mama and most notably, I Swear over 5tH Element's dominant I Swear riddim. The conversion would take Fenda so far in such a short period of time that, despite his long time spent in the studios of NYC and Jamaica, his success (along with Spice's) was almost seen as an overnight sensation.
Fenda's unceremonious withdrawal (or removal depending on whom you ask) from the Element put an uncertain air around his career, and he has yet, even today to really comment on the circumstances of his departure from 5th Element (with local speculation saying from something as high tech and unusual as government involvement, to something as simple as a woman being between Fenda and his former camp). Nevertheless, his first album, Better Days, originally release by 5th Element, became a reggae underground classic and was released with Spice's Spice in Your Life (which held a similar status until re-released by VP Records in 2006). The album was armed with the biggest tracks of Fenda's entire career to date and set a well tall standard for all of its follow-ups to live up to. Better Days is one of the better modern roots albums you'll actually hear (particularly from a straight DJ). Through all of that, when he has managed to successfully plan his way to the studio to do a solid recording since leaving the Element, Fenda has continued to strive. Besides Gash Dem, Fenda has continued to score with healthy hits, and his name has continued to be one of the preferred for top island promoters as he still regularly is amongst the artists topping the bill at some of the biggest reggae stage shows throughout the Caribbean.
Thus, despite a releasing roster for the year which includes such names as Lady Saw, Bounty Killer, Stephen Marley and Capleton, Chuck Fenda's Living Fire is definitely without a doubt one of the most anticipated albums of 2007 by reggae heads. Besides being the album for Gash Dem (which was its original title, before Eternal Flame and finally Living Fire, Fenda's new signature call as well as the name for his label), Living Fire the album comes full of hard roots vibes. And although lean on the big I Swear-like anthemic type of tracks, it more than makes up for the lacking, based on the unique turns and twists the album makes without ever straying too far from the goals and teachings of HIM and the `poor people's defender', Fenda. The resurgent Greensleeves (which was sold last year to another owner which may explain its recent turn for the better) stepped up to do the distribution honors and they have a winner on their hands!
The best tune here is certainly Gash Dem. Poignantly riding Juke Box' hit Confessions riddim, Gash Dem is one of the hardest and harshest calls to judgment you'll ever hear (and that's saying a lot in reggae music!). One of the most controversial tunes in recent memory, the revenge laden but beautiful Gash Dem was banned on local radio stations and likewise in several other ports in the Caribbean. It did not stop the tune, however, from reaching the masses and being ultra in demand throughout 2006. The rather controversial video didn't help the case as well (well, maybe it did) as it was just as saturated in a similar vibes (the video is included here as well). Gash Dem's rather scathing follow up, the inferno that is Fenda's Freedom of Speech , is Fenda's personal recounting of how he felt and dealt with the controversy surrounding Gash Dem and as well as his fan's reactions. It actually is a much more interesting song lyrically just from what he says than from an actual vibes, but still BIG nevertheless and a tune definitely requiring several spins for the masses as it reached highly on the charts on its own might.
Apart from the two well known tracks (well there is one more well known track), The Living Fire gets very very interesting. Check, for example, Put it On Me, which is about. . . Exactly what you expect it to be about, but it flows sooooo nicely over one of the strongest one drops on Living Fire backed by a downright divine Dean Fraser saxophone playing throughout (so much instrumental (no pun intended) is Fraser in the tune that he receives a writing credit) on one of the most unlikely of combinations. Speaking of unlikely combinations, just give a listen to the odd almost electric acoustic vibe that is Child of the Universe which features of all people, dancehall poet the wicked Tanya Stephens alongside Fenda. The song is somewhat slow and again falls under the category of `listen to the words, don't try and feel the vibes'. Tanya is her usual brilliant self and Fenda does his best to hold his own, but I never quite got over the surprise of actually having the two on the same track! Another combination, and the real big deal of them all probably is Working For with Richie Spice. The former stablemates, having teamed up several times before (most notably for me, on the wicked wicked Fake Smile) Working For is much more of the same top notch material fans are used to coming from the duo. Spice's brand of critical mass singing at one time and bedside crooning on the other almost mirrors Fenda's laid back chanting and exploding DJ style and the two strike gold yet again with Working For.
Although Gash Dem is the best and biggest tune on the album, DO NOT overlook the absolute gem that is I'm Praying. Flowing over Gadaffi's relicking of Marley's Redemption Song riddim (now called the Old Pirates riddim), I'm Praying makes the best usage of the riddim that I've heard (with respect to Fantan Mojah & Merciless' combination High Grade), and is easily amongst the Living Fire's finest offerings altogether. It almost reminds me (not in sound, but in vibe) of the similarly title The Prayer from the Better Days album.
A couple of more standouts are wicked wicked Long Road! Long Road is a heavy heavy piece and probably with the exception of Gash Dem is the most lyrically most profound of all the tunes on Living Fire. In the same respect and not too far from the top of the heap of the album is the beautiful Nah Laugh. Nah Laugh is a track built strictly for the reggae heads. Sounding like something built directly in Tuff Gong, the song, with the heavy horn backing shows almost everything that is great about Fenda as an artist! The song shows him in his finest form.
Overall, I have to recommend The Living Fire by Chuck Fenda. What is missing here is a real dancehall piece which Fenda is capable of, and at times it may come off as slightly mechanical. but its definitely worth the price of admission. The album perhaps marks a change in Fenda's career as he is maybe becoming more and more lyrical and straying away from the hype which surrounded him during his tenure at 5th Element. All for the better perhaps, as with each and every passing album, Fenda is proving his pen amongst the sharpest and his bag of lyrics amongst the deepest in all of reggae. Definitely check it out.
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