Subajah – Architect

When it comes to authentic Roots Reggae, Subajah is certainly defining himself within that category, and this latest album release does more than prove it. Architect is a solid mix of deep, meaningful lyrics and messages, performed excellently and accompanied by incredible musicianship, all produced to an extremely high standard.

It is easy to hear that real instruments are used throughout this album. The structure and composition help create a vibration that, for me, is what Roots Reggae is all about: upliftment with truth, rights, faith and real-life experiences.

The album’s title track, Architect, opens the project and is pure fire. It gives us a strong indication of the musical journey ahead. Subajah’s distinctive vocal talent combines with a laid-back and cleverly constructed riddim to create a formidable combination that will have you singing along in no time. The Dub version of Architect features the well-known Addis Pablo, son of the legendary Augustus Pablo, and will instantly have you pressing repeat. This is exactly the sort of music we like to feature here on Pauzeradio.

Farmers is placed next and slightly picks up the pace while keeping the live, Roots-driven edge to both the production and lyrical content. Subajah delivers another life lesson, accompanied by beautiful backing vocals and an array of instruments. Like the rest of the album, it stays completely true to the Roots Reggae sound. Farmers also comes with a Dub version.

Taking things down a notch, Good Morning brings a laid-back, swinging feel. In true Subajah style, this track is not only moving but has a beautiful atmosphere, touching on the struggles of life. It is both motivating and inspiring, offering guidance on how to move forward through troubles and strife with strength from the Most High. The riddim has a patterned bassline and a smooth, slow bounce that holds firmly onto the true sound and overall feel of the album. By this point, it is clear that the high standard set by the opening tracks runs consistently throughout Architect, not only lyrically but also through the production and presence of live instrumentation.

Another treat comes with Afrika Is Callin, featuring Youssouf Dibate. It has a slightly different edge and creates a sweet, melodic combination that suits the message perfectly. The two vocal performances work extremely well together, while the live instruments are soft and pleasing to the ear, creating a dreamy and almost hypnotic atmosphere. This track not only shows the direction of Subajah’s music, but also the depth of his ability and the amount of work that has gone into this project.

Walls Of Babylon is a track I am already familiar with and was probably the second song that introduced me to Subajah’s music back in 2016. I love this song. Returning to the strong and warm Roots sound, the title gives us a clear indication of the theme. The vocals sit within a melodic and rhythmic arrangement, held firmly together by tight production. Walls Of Babylon is also included in a Dub version.

Moving on to Jah Garden, we are given another musical treat. Subajah’s distinctive vocals sit beautifully over a sweet Roots riddim, creating a sound that is difficult to describe in its full depth. As with the tracks before it, the balance between the vocals and instruments is extremely strong. The composition and production are bang on point and set a very high standard. A true testimony to faith and belief, this track takes the listener on another journey and is genuinely addictive to listen to. Jah Garden also receives the Dub treatment, which is a welcome bonus.

Along The Way features the distinctive sound of Lutan Fyah, and what a combination this creates. Both Subajah and Lutan bring completely individual styles to the track, and because of that their performances balance each other perfectly. The riddim is progressive but still holds firmly onto its Roots foundation. Once again, we are given a story designed to inspire us to keep moving forward in life. More live instrumentation creates a different feel here and helps reinforce the true purpose of the album: to uplift, strengthen, inspire, motivate and share knowledge. Incredible, to say the least.

The next track, Steady, is another combination, this time featuring Meta Dia from Meta & The Cornerstones. The track carries a steady bounce, and once again the vocal combination is formidable. Subajah and Dia match each other poetically, while the progressive, bass-driven and highly musical riddim gives the song real depth. The story is not only contained within the lyrics but also within the music itself, drawing the listener further into the life messages being passed on.

Hold You gives us a completely different message, focusing on love and adoration. It switches the feel of the album slightly while still holding together the structure and character of the project. A clever riddim adds extra meaning to the words, and the use of live instruments helps create a sweet love song that reveals yet another side of Subajah’s musical talent.

Pushing forward, we are blessed with Keep It Royal featuring Bongo Kanny. A driving, deep bassline works alongside a combination of instruments while the lyrical message encourages us to keep things royal throughout our journey in life. Subajah and Kanny both have distinctive and defined voices, while subtle female backing vocals are cleverly placed throughout the riddim. Once again, the production is tight, crisp and bang on point.

Win Or Lose is another cleverly constructed track and showcases Subajah not only as an artist but also as somebody using music to teach life lessons. The song carries us into an almost dreamlike state, musically progressive and designed to put strength into the listener. Its message encourages us not to give up and reassures us that we can reach where we want to be when searching for truth. The dynamics of the instruments and vocals build gradually, creating an energy that genuinely makes the body tingle and the mind expand.

Next comes Free Minds, another one of my favourites from the album. Straight away, an authentic Roots beat is presented smoothly beneath Subajah’s velvet vocals. True Roots Reggae has a particular movement, feeling and vibration to it, and Free Minds carries that power. The title already says plenty about the song’s meaning, and I am sure every listener will interpret it slightly differently, both spiritually and mentally. The production is extremely strong, allowing us to glide through the message before a fluid instrumental break in the final quarter gives us time to reflect on the lyrics. Subajah then returns to reinforce the message.

Words is the final original track on the album before the Dub versions of Jah Garden, Farmers, Walls Of Babylon and Architect. It is another powerful addition and carries a slightly different feel from much of the rest of the album, while still maintaining the same high standard.

In summary, Architect is without doubt one of the best albums I have heard in 2017 so far. That is not only because of the lyrical content and production, but also because of the quality and variety of the instrumentation.

It is obvious that a great deal of work has gone into creating this album. After listening from beginning to end, I feel motivated, energised and inspired. I love the diversity in the melodies, basslines and instruments used throughout each song. The journey is smooth, flowing and pleasing to the ear, while at the same time we are learning through Subajah’s life experiences and the deeper messages within the music.

There are very few ways I could see this album being improved. From the track placement and artist combinations to the range of instruments used, this is exactly what I love about authentic Roots Reggae.

It is a must-play for radio and club DJs who genuinely support the genre. I have been waiting a long time for an album where I would give every single track five stars out of five.

Top works from Subajah, the Architect Band, all of the featured artists and everyone involved in creating this album.

Subajah Architect review by Gav Pauze for Pauzeradio