By Richard Johnson—-
REGGAE revival frontman Protoje is declaring that his latest CD Ancient Future, which went into general release yesterday, is his best work yet.
“Without a question and a shadow of a doubt, this is my best work. When you look into the freedom with which we went about the project and the writing and production work, everything just puts it at the top of my list,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
“It is a journey through time. It combines the music of the ’70s and ’80s while at the same time it is fresh and modern, hence the title. The project is also intensely personal as I felt free to speak about things I wanted to speak about,” Protoje continued.
The 11-track project was produced by Phillip ‘Winta’ James of Overstand Entertainment and is Protoje’s third set following his debut Seven Year Itch and the follow-up Eight Year Affair.
Speaking at the Jamaican launch of the CD in the gardens of the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in St Andrew on Monday, James said his association with the artiste on this project came after he sent Protoje a beat for a song he wanted him to record.
“And here we are today. This record has been an adventure. It is a concept and based on music from a time in Jamaican music that truly fascinated both of us,” James told a venue packed with fellow artistes, musicians and well-wishers.
Among the tracks featured on Ancient Future is the lead single Who Knows, which featured fellow reggae revival act Chronixx, who was in attendance.
Collaborations are nothing new for Protoje. One of his biggest local hits is Rasta Love, a duet with Ky-Mani Marley.
On Ancient Future there are five collaborations. The first track Protection features up-and-coming act Mortimer. This song, Protoje states, set the tone for the entire project.
“It show seh we nuh inna no joke ting is real reggae music we dealing with,” he told his audience at the launch.
Young neo soul/reggae artiste Sevana shares credits on two of the tracks — Love Gone Cold and Sudden Flight, which also includes the vocal skills of Jesse Royal. Another act often cited in the reggae revival camp is Kabaka Pyramid and his contribution comes on the final track on the set The Flame.
The sound of the album is quite eclectic, reflecting influences of hardcore drum and bass, dub, ska, lover’s rock and early ’80s dancehall sounds all blended seamlessly to tell Protoje’s personal story.
Protoje has name the track Who Can You Call as his favourite from the set, noting that the song came to him when he was confined to bed after hurting his back.
The artiste — who is the son of singer Lorna Bennett, best known for her 1972 cover of Breakfast in Bed — is committed to taking this project to the furthest.
“I am really pushing this project. Working hard to ensure that the public hears my music and sees the hard work I put in.”
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