Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars – Rise & Shine CD
Good music is good music no matter what your pre-image of the music is when you hook into an album. Seeing the image of the band on the cover in traditional dress I expected an album of predominantly African music – maybe Malian or possibly Hilife and the first track, ‘Muloma (Let Us Be United)’ bore that out with strong chants and Hilife guitar styles and I was settling down for some fine sounds. Then my ears are treated to a stunning piece of Roots Reggae, very much in the style of Marley or Abssynians, with ‘Global Threat’.
I am now confused: am I listening to a fine piece of World music or am I listening to Roots Reggae with all the political and religious imagery – truth is I am simply enjoying what I am hearing too much to care what style they are playing or which pigeon hole my iPod will put them in.
The music reflects their struggles simply to stay together and the diversity in age and origins all adds to the music – probably the cause of their variety but absolutely a massive influence on their togetherness as a band of refugees.
‘Living Stone’ combines the best elements of African and Reggae calling for a place of peace for all the world’s homeless and dispossessed and ‘Jah Mercy’ is a wonderful prayer to God for his mercy as mankind goes about destroying his creation and these two songs get to the heart of the spirituality and belief of the various elements that make up the band
But this isn’t all that they are about because there are also pieces like ‘Tamagbondorsu’ that could only come out of the shanty towns and refugee camps - nowhere else can create such uplifting music in the midst of such unfairness and mistreatment and the song aims to turn the mirror back on the unworthy rich who are so jealous of the talents and joy of the people they ignore.
‘Bute Vance’ is a medley of traditional songs that serve to show some of the tribal origins of the Allstars and it sits a little ways away from some of the other music until you begin to see that this is not linear music – it does not follow a single path but rather brings all of the different components together and if you ignore the traditional you will also ignore one of the things that make you what you are.
There are plenty of ‘Worthy’ albums and causes but rarely does a worthy cause also align itself to music that is great rather than a chore. The album is absolutely magnificent as The Refugee All Stars seem able to move into any style they want, with equal ability, but they are at their best when they are playing together with no obvious ‘point person’ and allowing all their shared history to add to the music. World Music at its absolute best.
Label: Cumbancha
Country: US
Media Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)
Sleeve Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)