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Marema (Lion Eye, 2000?) I have to give the guy credit, Lon E has the guts to try something new. In his case, the something new is a sound that mixes '70s R&B lounge music love songs with Latin-esque guitars. Coming from a musician with an extensive background in reggae (predominantly in the New England area), this music took me aback, to say the least. With his deep, heartfelt vocals, many of Lon E's songs are reminiscent of Isaac Hayes' borderline schmaltzy yet still captivating slow jams from back in the day. Now, the question arises: Is this reggae? I'd have to say "no" on several tracks on Marema, such as "The Door," "The Novel," "The Postcard," "Somewhere," and the title cut. All of these songs except "Somehow" (which is straight pleading '70s R&B) utilize a Latin rhythm that separate them from Isaac Hayes, but that still doesn't make them any more "reggae." "Troublin Me" and "Pum Pum" and their respective dubs, meanwhile, are the only legitimately reggae tracks here, but I still don't really enjoy them any more than the other tunes, which, despite their genre identity crisis, can nonetheless prove entertaining. I think a song like "Strength" is where Lon E should focus his efforts. More than any other song on Marema, "Strength" fuses reggae with the lounge sound in a fairly cohesive mix that is innovative while remaining true to the reggae sound. |
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