For last year's release 'Full Victory', Colah Colah joined forces with American expat Kyle B., now residing in China. However, Colah Colah's networking skills are relentless, and 'I-Frequency' is yet another collaboration, this time with German producer DJ Michael Berth.
By Jah Rebel
He takes us on a lengthy riddim ride through Jamaican reggae and dancehall history, featuring digital reinterpretations of riddims like War (‘Break Free’ feat. Lamek), Sleng Teng (opener and title track ‘High Frequency’), Punany (‘Pretty Baby’), Rumours (‘Nicest Love’ with Foxy Brown, the Jamaican singer, not the American rapper), Jay Ride (‘Champion Sound’), and Real Rock (closing track ‘Time Fly’).
A notable mention has to go to ‘Lumpenproletariat’, a track over the Bam Bam or Murder She Wrote riddim, surprisingly referring to a term from Karl Marx, who used it to describe a group of people who didn’t fit his classic dual division of society into bourgeoisie and proletariat, but operated on the margins and benefited from the capitalist structure (think criminals, the homeless or sex workers).
The only track on ‘I-Frequency’ that falls short of expectations is ‘Close To Me’, a duet with Silvan Sparks.
And of course, a Colah Colah album wouldn’t be complete without his steadfast theme of networking, highlighted this time with ‘Network Up’.
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.
June 18, 2024