Mikey General – African Story African Glory

When it comes to unique-sounding veteran artists, Mikey General stands out from the pack. His individual sound and spiritual messages make him an artist worth listening to. With a long career and many songs and albums under his belt, British-born Michael Taylor relocated back to Jamaica when he was only two years old in 1965. Signs that Michael was a natural with a microphone and performing started not long after the move, imitating songs he heard on the radio and television. His first recognition came through singing at school and in the church choir.

At 16 years old he started working with major Kingston sound systems such as Killamanjaro, later becoming good friends and working closely with Phillip “Fattis” Burrell and his Xterminator Crew. Many people associate Mikey with Luciano, and the two first met as far back as 1993 at Castro Brown’s New Name Studio. Mikey and Luciano did not just become friends, they also became in-house artists with Fattis. Mikey’s natural talent as a singer and performer should never be overlooked because of his association with Luciano. Out of the many albums released over the decades, two of my favourites are Spiritual Revolution and the powerful Exalt Jah. Red Gold Green, Stronger Rastaman and I’m Just A Rastaman are also worth hearing and are worthwhile additions to any Reggae lover’s collection.

Mikey contacted me to ask if he could come to the Pauzeradio.com studio and drop off a copy of African Story African Glory so I could listen and feature it on the radio shows. I did not hesitate for a moment to take him up on the offer, and on the sixth anniversary of the Unique Reggae Mix Show, Mikey General visited the studio and we finally met for the first time. This added to the excitement of listening to the album. I must say, as much as I am always happy to meet artists and listeners alike, having a hard copy of a CD in your hand is much more satisfying than simply being sent an MP3. The quality of the CD was clear from the moment Mikey took it out of the bag, along with a poster.

Already hyped, I waited until the evening to give the album a proper listen before reviewing it. African Story African Glory starts with Unbelievable, and what a way to begin. This is definitely one of my favourites from the album. The song blesses us with good vibes and smooth, silky vocals that are pleasing to the ear, mind and soul. Deep, penetrating lyrics combine with a tight, crisp and musical riddim to create a serious tune that I am sure will have an impact on anyone who listens.

Moving on to the second track, Mikey joins forces with Toussaint for the powerful and educational I Blaze. The classic-sounding Roots riddim fits perfectly, while the message of the song should help clear up some of the confusion surrounding the subject, which is obvious from the title. Both vocal performances are solid and the two artists complement each other extremely well. The lyrics flow naturally, while the hooks catch the ear and help the listener absorb the message.

When I first read the tracklist and saw a song called Myspace, I was a little apprehensive because I have heard songs based around MySpace before and was not impressed. Hearing this one was a pleasant surprise. It has a very clever structure, with a catchy vocal range and an equally memorable riddim. The mellow, musical beat works well with hooks and choruses that touch on issues surrounding modern life.

African Story steps the pace up slightly with a thumping, bass-driven Roots riddim accompanied by more tight and on-point vocals from Mikey. The message hits home, reminding us of our roots. The lyrics, vocals and strong riddim combine in a way that almost hypnotises the listener into absorbing the meaning behind this deep and powerful track.

Excited about the rest of the journey, I moved on to One Bright Day. Again, we are given a sweet-sounding Roots riddim that is easy on the ears and combined with a smooth, flowing vocal performance. This song highlights Mikey’s true vocal ability, with uplifting lyrics, catchy hooks and harmonies that give the track plenty of depth. Guide Me adds even more quality to the album, with its classic upbeat riddim, deep bassline, creamy vocals and crisp production. It is a solid tune and, more importantly, keeps the album consistent.

Streets Of Glory takes things down a notch, slowing the pace slightly. Once again Mikey delivers a powerful song where the lyrics and riddim fit perfectly together. Innocent Blood continues the high standard, combining a steady Roots riddim with an important theme to create another strong tune.

I knew before listening that the album had a Lovers element to it, and Empress flips the script to show us this side of Mikey with one for the ladies. The song is well thought out and expertly produced, while the vocals and lyrics feel genuine and, like the rest of the album, ooze quality. The riddim complements the vocals perfectly and makes this another one of my favourites.

Keeping the love theme moving, Yene Mar featuring Lutan Fyah is the second combination on the album and another tune for the ladies. The strong, sincere lyrics carry real power and stay in the mind, while both Mikey and Lutan deliver solid performances that work naturally together.

Not Impossible picks the pace up again, this time for the Dancehall lovers. Mikey switches onto a natural-sounding and musical Dancehall riddim. It is not one of my personal favourites because I prefer the Roots side of the album, but the lyrical content is uplifting and reassuring. It also shows Mikey’s versatility and ability to deliver his message over different styles of riddim.

All Over The World, featuring Ifa Tunde, keeps the pace moving and carries an important message to listeners worldwide, as does much of African Story African Glory. The two artists make a good combination, although for me this is not one of the strongest tracks on the album because the riddim feels slightly weak. The vocal performance and lyrical content do make up for that.

Take Me Away brings the pace back down with a beautiful and intriguing riddim that fits the lyrical content perfectly. This is a big tune, not just because of what is being said but because of the way Mikey delivers it, something that remains consistent throughout the album.

Don’t Stress Yourself rolls out over a progressive Roots riddim with a sweet, flowing sound. It is good to hear a song dealing directly with stress, because more artists should highlight the subject. In daily life people rush around constantly, and this song reminds us to slow down and recognise the damage stress can cause. It is something almost everyone can relate to in one form or another. Deep tune, delivered in fine style. Tight production, lyrical content A+++, vocal delivery A+++, and another firm favourite from the album.

Rounding off the journey is Pep In Your Step, a great tune to complete the album with. I do think it could have been slightly longer than two minutes, but it is still a very good song. The slow-paced riddim has a natural bounce while keeping things mellow right through to the final seconds of African Story African Glory.

My top five songs from the album are:

1. Unbelievable

2. Empress

3. I Blaze feat. Toussaint

4. Don’t Stress Yourself

5. Take Me Away

To summarise African Story African Glory, I have to say that it is a brilliant album covering a wide spectrum of Reggae, including Roots & Culture, Lovers and Dancehall. The production overall is of a very high standard, with the exception of one weaker riddim. The songs carry powerful drive and important lyrical content, with deep, real-life and uplifting messages.

Mikey’s on-point vocal performances help bring the whole project together as a quality piece of work. There is one song that I feel could have been improved simply through a stronger riddim choice, but that does not stop African Story African Glory from becoming one of my favourite albums of the year.

It is also good to see the album presented in a hard plastic CD case, with simple and subtle artwork inside the sleeve that works extremely well. A worthwhile addition to the Pauzeradio.com CD archive, and an album that is certainly setting the standards high for others to follow.

Label: Qabalah First Music
Distributed by: High Power Music Inc.
Copyright: 2012 Mikey General
Release date: 03/12/2012

Mikey General African Story African Glory review by Gav Pauze, 18/12/2012