Who knew? All these years, waiting patiently through endless disappointments for one of Bob’s umpteen children to finally ascend to Roots Reggae’s throne, and the real heir apparent was laboring in the obscurity of far-away islands like Dominica and St. Maarten.
Nasio Fontaine has been the darling of the Reggae intelligentsia since the mid ‘90s release of his criminally overlooked Reggae Power album. And while Reggaematic is late to the coronation, we’re also adding our voice to the chorus singing his praises as Reggae’s Next Big Thing.
Living In The Positive is the latest album from Nasio, and damned if it isn’t the best “pure” Reggae album we’ve heard in years. If you’ve been lamenting the death of classic Reggae, conscious lyrics and upful melodies, Living In The Positive is nothing less than a cause for celebration.
Nasio has obviously spent countless hours studying the Bob Marley canon, because even Julian and Damian can’t sound this Marleyesque. Listen to the subtleties: Nasio’s phrasing, vocal inflections and ad libs are all eerily reminiscent of Robert Nesta. But the Marley-isms are only occasionally distracting, because Living In The Positive is chock full of the sort of easygoing charisma, intelligence and soul that just can’t be manufactured.
Start at the beginning, and work your way through the album. There are no bad tracks on Living (with the possible exception of “Rise Up,” which veers into arena rock n’roll territory). The title track, full of old-school horns, congo drums and guitar solos(!), overcomes generic lyrics to become a rousing anthem. Nasio’s earnestness and sheer presence take the song, and the listener, to a special place.
“African Spirit,” a heartfelt plea for guidance and strength from the ancestors, is undeniably good music. “New Song” and “Riding On” are two of the most upful, bouncy sufferer’s anthems’s we’ve heard in ages. “New Song” takes Morgan Heritage’s “Down By The River” metaphor to a new level, and “Riding On,” which is reminiscent of Bob’s “Ride Natty Ride,” should get you through any tribulations that you’re facing.
Nasio also gives us a sweetly sung and refreshingly innocent love song in “Herb And Loving” (It actually makes more sense if you imagine the words as “Urban Loving” instead). The purity of Nasio’s emotion harkens back to an era before “pump up har pum pum” sentiments robbed Reggae of its romance.
Nasio’s backing musicians also draw heavily on the sounds of old-school reggae, with a soundscape that is equal parts Wailers and Burning Spear. With the exception of “Rise Up,” Living features nothing but classic roots, rock, reggae. Take it or leave it.
THE VERDICT: Why isn’t Nasio bigger than he is? Well, anemic promotion and distribution would be the first reason. Living is his best marketed album to date, yet advertising is almost nonexistent, and finding his album in your local record store is an iffy proposition at best. Nasio has also been living in Dominica and St. Maarten – hardly hotbeds of Reggae music. Hopefully, this album changes things. Living won’t win Reggae music any new converts, because it doesn’t really break any new ground. But if there is any justice, it will win Nasio legions of new fans. If you love classic Reggae, hail the new king.
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