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RAS Portraits (RAS, 1997)
Mystic Revealers are poised to become the next Steel Pulse. Not only do they have similar vocals, but they often display a similar musical style, as evidenced in "World War Three," "Space and Time," and "Got to Be a Better Way." While these songs are all good, Mystic Revealers have yet to have that one big hit (as Steel Pulse did with "Handsworth Revolution") that puts them in Steel Pulse's league, in terms of both quality and popularity. One song that is good enough to be that hit -- and a song that is distinctive enough to separate them from Steel Pulse -- is the slow, acoustic guitar and African drum-heavy -- "Righteous," a truly captivating tune. Also excellent and un-Steel Pulse-like is the funky cover of Bob Marley's "We and Dem" (although the credits curiously list MR's lead singer Billy "Mystic" Wilmot as the writer). Until the band finds that hit, though, they will have to struggle to escape from the shadows of better-known groups like Steel Pulse. This compilation of tracks from Mystic Revealers' first 4 albums (one of them being a dub remix album) shows, however, that they have all the components to do so.
| Track Listing 1. Space and Time 2. Remember Romeo 3. Saw You Smiling 4. Righteous 5. Religion 6. Religion Dub 7. We and Dem 8. Got to Be a Better Way 9. Space and Dub 10. Dem Problem 11. Mash Down Apartheid 12. World War Three |
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This One's For Jah (Mesa, 1997) I must admit, it took me a few listens to get into this album. This is probably because Mystic Revealers' style -- and Billy Mystic's voice in particular -- can be so "soft" sometimes, it's hard to take them seriously. Let's face it, Billy Mystic's vocals have all the force of Kermit the Frog singing "Rainbow Connection," and when combined with the happy-go-lucky melodies of songs like "Try Try," "Keep On Loving Jah," and "This One's For Jah," it can be too sugary to bear. It's especially odd considering the righteous messages that Mystic Revealers incorporate into their tunes, making it sound like the Muppets singing about Jah. That said, the group nonetheless seems to always manage to overcome their soft, pop-laden sound with catchy hooks that draw you in whether you want it to or not (See "Prophecy," "Musical Garden," "All Over the World," and the ballad "For a Long Time."). The best tracks on This One's For Jah, though, are the ones that avoid that softness pretty much altogether: "When You Feel It" features magnificent roots horns and harmonies, while "Chant If You Chanting" has dub-like melodicas, African drums, and atmospheric echoes. "Sheshemani" meanwhile eliminates Billy Mystic's singing voice completely, as it incorporates sporadic vocal chanting over a vicious roots instrumental beat. The best cut here, "Warning," not coincidentally, features guest vocals by Iqulah and Chachi, who make this a rousing, hard-hitting modern roots jewel. |
| Track Listing 1. All Over the World 2. When You Feel It 3. I'm Gonna Tell You 4. Chant If You Chanting 5. Try Try 6. Girls Song 7. For a Long Time 8. Warning 9. Prophecy 10. Keep On Loving Jah 11. Musical Garden 12. Sheshemani 13. This One's For Jah |
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Crossing the Atlantic (Mystic Reggae Sounds, 1998)
Perhaps not appreciating the selection on RAS' "best of" Portraits collection, Mystic Revealers released Crossing the Atlantic on their own label. Featuring cuts from the same RAS albums as the RAS Portraits set (except for Space and Dub), this album does indeed choose a better line-up of songs, although it almost negates this edge by throwing in unnecessary DJ versions of some of the tracks. The tunes that stand out as being overlooked by the RAS album are headed by the folksy, Wailers-esque, harmonica-driven "Simple Living," the smooth "Unity," and the funky bass and horns of "Judgement Day" (Of course, "Righteous" is my favorite song here, but it is also on RAS Portraits.). Mystic Revealers' likeable Steel Pulse crossover-but-not-too-crossover sound is evident throughout tracks like "Border Line" and "Children Crying," while Billy Mystic's soft-edged vocals bring a Mighty Diamonds-like sound to certain tunes. However, a cover of The Beatles' "Revolution" proves to be a misstep, while the addition of DJs in "Got to Be a Better Way" and "World War III" detract from the power of the songs. Still, DJ appearances by Sizzla on "Tell Them" (AKA "I and I") and Kulcha Knox on "More Problem" are enjoyable, and Crossing the Atlantic goes a long way to showing that artists know their own music better than record labels do.
| Track Listing 1. Unity 2. Better Way featuring Angie Angel 3. Simple Living 4. Border Line 5. Children Crying 6. Justice featuring Luciano & Mikey General 7. Revolution 8. More Problem featuring Kulcha Knox 9. World War III featuring Souljah 10. Tell Them featuring Sizzla 11. Righteous 12. Stand Up Strong 13. Religion 14. Judgement Day 15. Africa Is Free 16. Jah Works |
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