Escape
From Babylon – Alborosie’s debut album on
Greensleeves Records
Escape
From Babylon – Alborosie’s debut album on
Greensleeves Records is the realisation of this
rising reggae star’s calling as a consummate singer
/ songwriter. A virtuoso from a very early age,
Alborosie’s story starts in Italy where at 15 he
becomes a founding member of a reggae band called
Reggae National Ticket. Signed to BMG Italia, they
enjoyed huge success and record sales in excess of
200,000 units. Already wanting to leave his
“Italian Babylon” Alborosie decided to quit the
band, get rid of all his possessions and move to
Jamaica. Looking to find a place he could call his
spiritual home, Alborosie immersed himself more
fully into the music, the people, the vibe and
culture of the island.
“My
destiny was to follow a journey similar to the early
days of many great talents and musical legends
before me”.
It was tough at the beginning. Alborosie found
work in a studio working as a mixing engineer but
struggled for a few years despite gaining a lot of
experience. A chance meeting with Gee Street
Records founder, Jon Baker led to a steady gig as
house engineer and producer for Jon’s Geejam Studios
in Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica. While at Geejam
Alborosie became an ‘in-demand’ producer for several
international artists and remixing music for J
Records, Mario, Angie Stone, UB40, Manu Chao and Les
Nubians (Virgin) to name a few.
Alborosie then embarked on making a name for
himself as a reggae artist. Alborosie’s self-penned
singles “Herbalist” and “Kingston Town” released in
2008 did well in Jamaica and across the waters in
the UK with strong radio support. A tour followed
where Alborosie headlined major festivals in Europe
(Rototom, Uppsala etc). Meanwhile back in Jamaica
artists were queuing up to work with him. He
released “Call On Jah” and “Rastafari Anthem” in
late 2008 and collaborated with some of the island’s
biggest artists including Luciano, Michael Rose,
Morgan Heritage, Ky-Mani Marley, Jah Cure, Beenie
Man and most recently with Etana on the superb
“Blessings”.
On his new album “Escape
From Babylon”, Alborosie offers an exceptional album
paying his respect to his heroes from Reggae’s
golden age (Black Uhuru, Burning Spear, Steel Pulse
and Bob Marley) and infusing this timeless music
with a touch of modern roots and dancehall. The lead
single “Mama She Don’t Like You” is a humorous ska
laden track with enough feelgood elements for a
great crossover summer hit. On the
thought-provoking “America”, Alborosie sings about
power, globalisation and war set against an upbeat
rockers rhythm. “One Sound”, a collaboration with
Gramps from Morgan’s Heritage offers a powerful yet
simple message: “One Love, One Heart, One Sound, One
Destiny”. On the closing “Likkle Africa”, a
beautiful melodic song is stripped down to a
Nyabinghi drum pattern. Alborosie gives an
impassioned chant: “Only Jah can set my Africa
free”. We assume that the Escape From Babylon is
still his final goal. “Escape From Babylon”
produced by Alborosie and C. “Specialist” Dillon
stands as a classic album in the making with lush
production and heartfelt song writing. Just like
Bob Marley and Burning Spear before him Alborosie
hopes to join the pantheon of Reggae artists that
have won a Grammy not from publicity and hype but
from heartfelt song writing and simple beautiful
music.
Alborosie hits the road for a summer tour in
support of “Escape From Babylon” with an extensive
45 date tour (June – August 2009). He is scheduled
to appear at Italy’s Rototom Festival and there are
also dates at major festivals in Germany, France,
Scandinavia, Holland, Spain and London. The hottest
thing to come out of Sicily since Mount Etna,
Alborosie is ready to erupt!
Escape
From Babylon : Departure 15 June 2009!
http://www.myspace.com/alborosie
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alborosie/77861255084
http://twitter.com/Alborosie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alborosie
