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Black Slate was
formed and based in the United Kingdom in 1972 and worked originally as
a backing band, members would work with other Jamaican artists like
Leroy Smart, The Heptones, Johnny Clarke, Ken Boothe, Dennis Brown,
Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Maytals, Sly & Robbie and Peter Tosh.
Track
Listing: Daylight, In The City, Look Into My Eyes, Predator, Feel the
Love, Should I Stay or Should I Go, Build Mama Africa, I Can't Breathe,
Peaceful Demonstration, Amun, Thinking Out Loud
From the first strains of the lead track Daylight
the lyrics recall the final stages of a party as the sun starts to rise
over the lover’s rock tempo. Soulful vintage-style support vocals,
moody keyboard lines fortify a sweet lament from the lead vocalist Gaven
as the party is coming to an end.
For In The City,
Gaven sings “sirens in the city, day and night, sounding so alarming” a
vibe that harkens to the era of Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye, a soul
searching exploration of the modern times, lessons learned from the
past. Also sung by Gaven is Look Into My Eyes with
a Lover’s Rock feel as questions are asked from a romantic
perspective. The one drop works the gratifying chord changes over
stylized drums and percussion with organ builds.
Predator
cites the issues faced by the poor, and those predators that prey upon
them. Delivered as a sparse nyabinghi drum and acoustic guitar lament,
the refrain “can’t let them take our soul” raises the consciousness to another level.
Feel the Love
opens with soulful guitar lines that thread throughout the vintage
vibes as the vocalist Gaven reflects on the lack of clarity in the
relationship asking “Who’s going to pick up the pieces to make us one again? “
Next is a one-drop cover of Should I Stay or Should I Go which
pays homage to Black Slate’s comrades-in-arms from the rich history of
the UK music scene, the punk-influenced rock group The Clash who were
deeply influenced by their reggae counterparts, right down to their
name, a nod to the Sound Clash concept formed in early reggae dancehall
trends.
For Build Mama Africa the group draws for vintage Harry Belafonte and mento music for the chorus singing the chorus for “Dayo”: “Daylight come and I want to go home”
in a repatriation-driven message for the Motherland. A Steppers-style
rhythm drives a militant message of hope and the mission of rebuilding
Africa. The song at just over 5 minutes has a lengthy instrumental
outro with crash cymbals, intricate guitar lines and soulful organ
progressions.
I Can’t Breathe
takes its name from the tragic last words of Eric Garner, the
African-American killed by police who were in the process of arresting
him for a misdemeanor type of charge and used excessive force. The
bridge of the song’s lyric asserts what living in this “struggle I can’t leave” is like under the spectre “we really don’t know if we’re going to make it.” This tribute to Mr. Garner is the griot’s tale the current events inspiring the reminder in the lyrics “just want you to know Black Lives Matter just want you to know “Black Is Beautiful”.
The title track, Peaceful Demonstration finds
the band asserting their agenda for these times, the lyrics offers
solutions citing Martin Luther King’s vision and advice to “no bother with your problem mind, its a waste of time.” Their demands being the right to “educate and free our minds”.
Horns drive the clarion call as the lead vocal Gaven are supported with
harmonies to further the demonstration of group demands.
For Amun (See No Evil)
a deep roots one drop rhythm is the backdrop for Jessie to sing the
definition of the ancient Kemetic word meaning ‘see no evil’. A bonus
track, a reggae cover of UK’s Ed Sheeran, the chart topper Thinking Out Loud closes out the set.
In 1975 Black Slate became their own group and had a hit in 1976 with
the song Sticks Man. Black Slate had other successful songs during this
period like Mind Your Motion, Boom Boom and the the massive world wide
hit: Amigo.
Black Slate Band members:
Anthony “Pure Silk” Brightly on keyboards, Chris “Music House”Hanson on
rhythm/lead guitar and Desmond “Drummy” Mahoney on drums and percussion
represent the first generation of members in Black Slate. Colin “Steam
Fish” McNiesh on bass, Jessie “Energy” Brade on lead vocals, known as
J.E.B. and Gaven “Magic voice ” Creary also on lead vocals, known as
G.M.B. represent the newer additions to the band lineup.
The father of keyboardist Anthony Brightly, George Brightly managed the
band back in the day, he was also a promoter, DJ and wholesaler. The
band started off going by the name Young Ones From Zion. Guitarist
Chris Henson came up with the name Black Slate when working at a telecom
service, choosing the name from a type of cable which was used in
transmission and communication. The name Black Slate stuck as it was
this type of slate that was used to write on in school like a
chalkboard.
It was during this period that the British rock and roll explosion was
happening and in reggae there was a parallel contingent happening with
groups like Aswad, Steel Pulse, UB40 and Black Roots all taking off
during this period from the years 1977-1979. It was also during this
period that the “Rock Against Racism” movement was taking shape and
Anglo bands like The Jam, Generation X and Adam and the Ants were
teaming up with their Afro-British counterparts.
The band began to grow weary of touring to this degree. Three of the
original members chose to take a hiatus from touring life to help raise
their families and establish sustainable business ventures. Although
the original lineup’s lead singer and bass guitarist decided to carry
on with touring with a new lineup. The rest of the band started
families secondary businesses and decided to remain at home in the UK
and build businesses
Some of whom were already pursuing careers outside of the band, in
particular Anthony Brightly who was a well-regarded DJ often leaving
performances to crowds of 500 people to go and spin records to a crowd
that was twice that size. As a DJ Mr. Brightly would become a driving
force in the advancement of Lover’s Rock and UK reggae in general
through his work as a Disc Jockey, Club owner, Artiste Manager and event
promoter, shaping airplay and artist growth both at radio and in the
club setting. In 1987 Mr. Brightly also became the manager for sound
system collective Stone Love Movement and was instrumental in shaping
their career globally to become the biggest touring sound in the world.
Original member Chris Henson became a sought after mix and mastering
engineer, adding his unique touch to thousands of songs over the past
several years right up to the present. He founded Music House Dub
Cutting, Mastering and Processing which over the past 25 years has been
responsible for 80% of the mastering in reggae albums including releases
such as the recent EP by Chronixx ”Dread and Terrible”.
Mr. Brightly relocated to the Caribbean island of Antigua in order to
raise his young boys in a different environment outside of the UK. When
these original members’ children began college, they determined it was
time to hit the road again.
Recent tours have included performances in the UK and the US at Austin
Reggae Festival and additional Northern California club dates.
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