Search - Gentleman :: Another Intensity

Europe's Real Big Man. . .

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 08/28/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The European reggae scene has always been a breeding ground of reggae talent. Due in part to being bolstered by the UK which boasts one of the largest populations of expatriated Caribbean natives in the world, second to only, of course, the Caribbean itself, Europe has arguably produced the second best brand of reggae in the world. There are literally dozens of UK acts which have made a dent in the reggae world and have become household names; most notably names like Steel Pulse, Macka B, Aswad and Misty in Roots have all not only been at the foreground of UK and European reggae, but throughout the world and including here in Jamaica. They have also `produced' the likes of Dennis Bovell, Jah Warrior, Stingray, Mafia & Fluxy, the Mad Professor and even most crucial, Jamaica's legendary Xterminator head Phillip `Fattis' Burrell (as well as Xterminator stalwarts Mikey General and Prince Malachi) who was actually born in the UK. Countless other names, especially he who has been king of UK reggae over the past fifteen years or so, the incomparable Maxi Priest (and of course I'd be doing a disservice were I not to mention Saxon sound and it's legendary roster of dancehall DJ's) have bolstered the overall European scene as well. Europe has also, rather oddly been a bastion of particular Jamaican artists (and not just those who are at well advanced stage of their careers) who for one reason or another have yet to find their vibe and hardcore fan base in the West but have become valued singers and performers on the Euro scene. In the past few years, however, with the sensational growth and expansion of the music, other sections of Europe and artists from other walks of life have caught the vibe of reggae music. France is currently building a vibe which is exploding all over the world, gifted with some well powerful performers in all aspects of reggae (many of whom come from the FWI, Martinique and Guadeloupe primarily), France is definitely the most diverse reggae scene in all of Europe. Check Holland: It speaks to volume that the recently released Jah Cure made his first public performance in over eight years in the Netherlands and also, the country has had one of the greatest presence of internet resources and publications for reggae music. I could continue talking about countries such as Switzerland and Sweden and even Spain who is now emerging with several nice artists and is becoming a preferred touring destination for Jamaican artists as well, Europe historically and definitely currently has been an area where reggae music has been ridiculously strong.



And then there's Germany. Germany has quietly (and unexpectedly) been a breeding ground for some of the strongest European reggae talents for nearly a decade. While certainly the reggae scene there is not quite as prolific as either the UK or now as France (and probably not as prolific as Holland either now that I think of it), but the German reggae scene has, instead, seemingly focused most of its attentions on producing certified European reggae superstars. German band Seeed has made quite a dent on the scene but definitely the very first name that enters the consciousness when speaking of reggae from Germany is Gentleman. Arguably armed with the strongest bit of not only vibes but popularity for any European reggae artist to emerge since Maxi Priest over fifteen years ago, Gentleman has become one of the most popular reggae artists in the entire world. Having attracted an attention so great that MAJOR label Sony Records of Germany signed him to an exclusive deal, Gentleman has joined names such as Damian Marley, Shaggy, Sean Paul and Beenie Man as being the current crop of true worldwide superstars of the current reggae scene, he has truly gotten that large. Unlike Seeed and Nosliw and other reggae talents from Germany, Gentleman has made his music more worldly accessible by choosing to voice his music, not only in English but, for the most part in Patois as well (also have to mention French talent, African born Lyricson who also chooses to voice in English and is the most well known modern roots talent in France). Also, unlike his compatriots, he has been amongst the very few modern reggae talents from Europe to make headway in Jamaica having come here several times to perform on some of our larger stage shows as apparently the reggae vibe bit him in his teens while living on the island. My own acknowledgement of the artist is a sign of Gentleman's level of exposure as he is rather routinely lumped in with Jamaican artists in terms of albums and compilations, he also voices many of the same Jamaican riddims for the same batch of world class Jamaican reggae producers, and I became aware of Gentleman during my time living abroad. Before this, his newest album Another Intensity, Gentleman has released three other very well done and very well received full length albums (and I think two live albums and a whole heap of EP`s as well, pretty much every time he has a decent song, he releases an EP for it!). His first was the very strong Troddin On from 1999 a nice introduction to the artist (and an album which had more than a few people wondering if Snow had made a comeback with a new look when seeing it on reggae shelves); Gentleman's second album was the first I actually checked from the artist, the very well done Journey to Jah which featured several high profile combinations with the likes of Capleton, Morgan Heritage, Luciano and most expectedly a tune named Man a Rise which featured a combination with amongst all people, dancehall don Bounty Killer, while Troddin' On was his official debut, JtJ from 2002 was undoubtedly Gentleman's coming of age. 2004 saw the release of best work to date, the downright brilliant Confidence, which has reportedly sold over one million copies worldwide.



2007 brings us the highly anticipated follow up to Confidence, the nicely titled Another Intensity. If you have never heard Gentleman, the artist I most frequently relate his style of voicing to is Jr. Gong. Imagine a lighter version of Damian Marley in a more melodic style, relying more often on his singing and chanting chops than on the pure DJ style who is more versatile but less gifted in terms of lyrics, but not shabby either. Overall, musically Gentleman is definitely very close to Jr Kelly (who was also on a track on the very packed with combinations Journey to Jah album, tune named Danger Zone). While Another Intensity doesn't quite stack up to the sickly high level set by Confidence, you can definitely add it to the slew of fine fine reggae albums of 2007 and it checks in as probably one of the easiest listeners of the year despite coming in at a very packed seventeen tracks sans any interludes (you hear that Mavado!). Another Intensity is chock-full of things that fans of Gentleman would just be very interested in hearing. It follows the same vibe of its two most immediate predecessors, Confidence and Journey to Jah in that you have a whole heap of a nice combinations (Confidence featured such names as Anthony B, Barrington Levy and Ras Shiloh) and even outdoes them on some fronts (but still not as solid as Confidence, though very very comparable to Journey to Jah which is saying a lot).The first thing reggae fans will notice here without a doubt is the tune Lack of Love which is a combination of MAMMOTH proportions featuring Gentleman alongside the legendary Sizzla Kalonji. The song, which was recorded in Sizzla's own Judgement Yard studio doesn't disappoint at all and is definitely my choice for the best song on Another Intensity altogether. Could I have chosen an artist with whom Gentleman should voice for the new album, would have definitely chosen Kalonji, Lack of Love is a very strong and uptempo track which showcases both artists near their best and Sizzla doesn't fly off the handle which he tends to do on combinations (see Cocoa Tea's Pass it Over and Natty King's Thunder a Roll), the result of which is Another Intensity's standout and best track and one that is sure to draw a great deal of attention (next album, I want a Jr Gong combination and a Pressure Busspipe combination as well). Also topping the list of tracks in terms of being high profile is Different Places, which was the official first single (and the title of Another Intensity's EP, which reached in June). Different Places re-links Gentleman with oft-producers Al.Ta.Fa.An on their very strong horn laced Senior riddim. The song is among the most catchy on the album, very easy to see why it was chosen as the first single, and just an all around lovely song to listen to and enjoy. Speaking of easy to listen to and enjoy, check no further than the very wicked and lovely Soulfood. Soulfood come off as a very entertaining almost pure chant (love to see a Fantan Mojah combination as well next album) and definitely possesses the single best hook on Another Intensity, definitely one to check out.



It wouldn't quite be a Gentleman album were it not more than just a one combination so there are other very solid pieces as well. Check the very solid Jah Love with oft Gentleman sparring partners Daddy Rings and Jack Radics. I can't honestly say that I've heard all three on the same track before but the song definitely works, coming as a very fine track very late on the album. Another combination, and one of the most unlikely is with reggae pop songbird Diana King. I (and thousands of other twenty something year old Jamaican males) will always have a soft spot in my heart for Diana King and its just a treat hearing her on the track keeping her hat in the reggae side with Gentleman on the very nice The Light Within. The other combination is with Alborosie, another European (from Sicily) who has made his way into reggae. I've yet to really make up my mind what I think of Alborosie, yet one has to admit his popularity is very large and continuously growing even here in Jamaica where he ranks as one the most spinned non Jamaicans currently on the radio stations here. Their combination, Celebration is probably actually the second best combination after Lack of Love, you have to give credit where its due. Missing is Revolution, the wonderful combination with Trini Empress, Queen Omega, would have been quite a nice track to include on Another Intensity, yet hopefully later this year, Queen Omega will benefit if it is included on her fifth release.



Other tracks on this very stocked album to check include the very nice changeup Round the World. Every album needs at least two or three changeups I think. A song which is not expected to come from the artist or a song which almost completely goes against the vibe of the album, this is usually done by an unusual combination (Gentleman specializes in those so I don't think that can be it here) or just a different style and Round the World is definitely Another Intensity's head changeup. It follows in the line of tracks like Leave Us Alone and Long Face, as it finds Gentleman in almost complete DJ style. Also check up on the very familiar sounding Missing Days, a very beautiful track in that almost signature Gentleman style of vibes, a very nice and inspiring track for the people. Hosanna! Check Hosanna, definitely my choice for second favorite on Another Intensity. Its probably (along with Soulfood and Lack of Love) one of the tunes here that I spin the most and one that needs to be heard. Another Intensity ends with the very solid Sin City which sounds like something straight out of Tuff Gong studios and is a truly excellent way to put a cap on this very strong album.



Overall, Another Intensity is one of the several really high profile releases to reach in 2007 and it lives up to the hype. Gentleman also has a penchant of making a brand of reggae (much like Jr. Kelly and also Warrior King, I'd throw in there I think) music which, although it rarely ever leaves the genre in terms of vibe, it remains very very accessible to those who don't typically listen to the music. Therefore, I'd probably go as far as recommending Another Intensity to those maybe just getting into the music as a wonderful starting point to enjoying the vibes, even much more than other ever so slightly more harsh albums by Gentleman. Even middle of the road fans, this one will probably complete your conversion, you'll be straight on to a Midnite album after this one. To the initiated fans, this one will be a very easy listen for you, I found myself nearing the end of listening and wondering where had all the tracks going, only to discover I had already heard them all. Another Intensity is another fine piece from arguably Europe's brightest reggae star."

Nothing Much Else I Can Add

S. Mann | NC | 08/29/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After Achis's thorough review, their is not much else I can add. This is the album I have waited for all year, and it does not disappoint.



After listening to this religiously for about a week now, I would rate it slightly below "Confidence" in terms of the artist material. "Another Intensity" works wonderfully as a studio album, as the majority of the riddims are totally original. Other than the lead single "Different Places" (Senior Riddim) and the very mellow and terrific "Serenity" (Legal Riddim) I had not heard any of these riddims before.



The "Lack Of Love" combo with Sizzla is definately the highlight of the disc, and doesn't disappoint. I like the heavy DJ style on "Round The World" as well, and if there is one disappointment about the album, is that Gentleman does not deejay as much as his previous releases.



While thoroughly complete as an album, individually there may not be quite the number of "hits" as on the Confidence album. This in large part may be due to the fact that the production avoided using popular riddims of the year, or the all too tiring "classic" riddims, that seem to be filling most releases in the last few years.



I will give Achis some dap as well comparing his to Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, as I have often felt this as well. Personally I think Gentleman is far more talented than Jr. Gong, both as a deejay, and especially as a singer. His singing talent is more refined than the youngest in the Marley clan.



For those who have yet to get on the Gentleman bandwagon, this album should be a nice intro to the artist. For fans who have been following Gentleman for the past 9 years, "Another Intensity" will satisfy the fanbase, given the 3 years since "Confidence" was released.



While probably not the top release of 2007, this no doubt will be an inclusion to any top 10 reggae/dancehall album of 2007."