Born in 1947, this Jamaican band has maintained a roots reggae that is as close to its origins as any group still in activity. It was the remarkable Count Ossie who established a rasta/reggae sound based on percussions that have survived centuries of slavery and persecution on the Caribbean island. His first recording “O’Carolina” in 1960 became a hit that was later resurrected by Shaggy. In 1972 the Mystic’s album Grounation shook the foundations of reggae music. 25 years later, Carried Beyond proved these pappies still have a few lessons to give to the new starlings of the Jamaican scene.
Part ONE : Producer and manager Brother Sam has been part of the Mystic adventure since the early Sixties. He and his fellow-travellers describe the prejudice and hostility the band overcame to continue their music based on the three drums, the bass, the fundeh and the repeater. And we also hear from the controversial Capleton, whose homophobic lyrics fuelled a campaign to boycott his music that ended in June 2007.
Part TWO : The Abyssinians were part of a memorable evening of reggae at the Zenith concert hall in Paris in mid-2007. Backstage they reveal their antagonism with Coxone in Jamaica. We also have further exchanges with the livewire Capleton and the pioneers of reggae music, the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari.
SETTING : The 2007 Printemps de Bourges festival devoted an entire evening to Jamaican music, from the pappies who helped invent the reggae genre, the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, to the fiery dancehall style exported by Capleton. Two generations, two philosophies that who met in this town in central France. They music and philosophy are explored in this two-part radio programme first broadcast by World Tracks, a weekly show produced by Radio France International.
Print
Add to My Mondo Mix
Send
Add to your blog
Post a comment 
mondomix rss