World Reggae "Various Artists"

::World Reggae ::

"If music is the universal language, then reggae is its most widely spoken dialect." As the liner notes to this latest Putumayo release assert, reggae has unprecedented global commercial appeal. It is fascinating that the music of a marginalized group from a tiny island in the Caribbean has entered the mainstream enough to warrant a reliable slot on any index of genres. That easy to feel, up-beat groove has been manipulated to varying aesthetic results and for various political agendas. World Reggae, along the same lines as an earlier Putumayo release entitled Reggae Around the World, certainly illustrates these varying aesthetic results.

The CD gets off to a slow start with "Pas de Problèmes," by the French band Kana. The listener is urged to "just be yourself." I would not say that anything about this track resembles the Toots and the Maytals, as the liner notes profess, however the groove is pleasant enough. It was the whiney singing and accompanying cheese that thwarted this reviewer's attempt to just be himself. Digging the hole deeper is Apache Indian with "Om Numah Shivaya." Sung in fake patois, "the lyrics are inspired by Apache Indian's personal quest to define his identity in a multicultural world where traditional definitions of religion and culture have to be reevaluated." Good luck with that one, Apache.

Majek Fashek steps in to save the day with something almost skank-worthy. The talking drum's presence in "African Unity" counters the specter of those ubiquitous synthesizer lines that so often taint otherwise enjoyable compositions. Maria de Barros follows with "Riberonzinha," a Cape Verdean reggae excursion done with the smoothness often cited as characteristic of the island's music. Alpha Blondy, a reliable exponent of "world reggae," gets a deserved slot to do his thing. A track from Chis Combette of French Guyana is an interesting addition. Combette's "Babylone Buildings" features the sitar, played by Mungal Patasar (a Trinidadian), an amusing addition to the reggae ensemble given the history of East Indian indentured labor in the Caribbean. Combette's voice sounds a little like a Francophone Sting, assign your own connotations there.

The real standout of this compilation is the Algerian collective Gwana Diffusion. "Ya Laymi" finds a happy medium between the worlds of raï and reggae. The bass line is sufficiently phat and the singing executed with intention. One can hear conversation among the instruments and the Algerian flavor comes across without overstatement.

Of the countless reggae compilations out there, World Reggae is but a drop in the proverbial bucket. The strength of this particular release lies in its promotion of lesser known reggae fusions. There is no lack of interesting reggae outside of Jamaica, and maybe World Reggae will give some leads on where to find it. As for the general ideological thrust this collection, I suppose one could feel some warm and fuzzy sense of international empowerment by listening to this rather diluted, if well intentioned sampling of reggae's "world" manifestations. After all, it's "Guaranteed to make you feel good!" If you would like to board this "global musical journey from the Caribbean to Africa and beyond," go ahead, chirp down Babylon.