On 'Survival Vibration', an all-acoustic project with every instrument played by Clinton Fearon himself, the roots reggae veteran reflects on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Jah Rebel
In the reflective opener ‘Where Do We Go’, he pointedly asks: “Where do we go from here?”. In ‘Freedom Change’, his voice resonates with urgency: “Everyone is hoping for freedom, everyone is praying for freedom, everyone is waiting for freedom…”, and in ‘A We Again’, a track alive with birdsong, recorded in New Caledonia, Fearon pleads: “When are you going to unlock the gates to global happiness?”.
Yet despite its thematic relevance, most of these songs were actually written before the release of his 2022 album ‘Breaking News’ (Baco Records).
An acoustic setting is hardly new territory for Fearon. He first explored the format in 2005 with the much-loved ‘Mi An’ Mi Guitar’, and returned to it in 2012 with ‘Heart And Soul’. But ‘Survival Vibration’ stands apart, Fearon explains, mainly because of the choice of instruments. While he used a Yamaha guitar for ‘Mi An’ Mi Guitar’ and a Martin for ‘Heart And Soul’, this time he opted for a James Goodall. And more than ever before, the bass takes a front seat, played, for the gearheads among us, on an acoustic Taylor.
“I gave a lot of space to the bass. After all, I’m a bass player!”, Fearon laughs: “This album could’ve just as easily been called ‘Mi An’ Mi Bass’!”
Founder alongside Jah Shakespear who transitioned to this role in late 2014. Previously worked as critic and reporter, balancing passions for music and Haile Selassie spirituality.
April 5, 2024