Ziggy Marley
One Bright Day
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One Bright Day' is another good reggae album from the group that last year released Conscious Party, which understates the case considerably. As the children of the late Bob Marley, David "Ziggy" Marley and the Melody Makers practically carry the mantle of reggae all by themselves. There's been a tremendous void in reggae since the death of the elder Marley, both musical and spiritual. Other artists, like Black Uhuru and Bunny Wailer, have recorded some tremendous music, but none have shown a leader's consistency. The Melody Makers trade on the brand name, yet this is a formidable band even if you toss aside ideas about tradition. Ziggy sounds as much like his father as Julian
Read More Lennon sounds like John, but Ziggy has found a way to use that as a springboard: He accepts the familiarity and tries to add something new. At his best, Ziggy displays a voice that is his alone. The new album's strongest track, "Black My Story (Not History)," is a devastating take on international perceptions of African history, buttressed by harmonies that owe as much to the Zulu vocal groups of Azania as they do to the classic Trojan harmony groups of the late Sixties. The broad evocations continue on the title track, which expands reggae to a more Americanized pop form, with fine results. One Bright Day is satisfying and sometimes moving, but the Melody Makers still occasionally echo their father too distinctly for their own good: The new "All Love" is a virtual rewrite of Bob's "One Love." Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers have established themselves as a worthwhile band on their own: They don't need to give us throwbacks to interest us. (RS 560) JIMMY GUTERMAN |
