"Walk The Walk" - Brain Damage

Brain Damage
Brain Damage "walt the walk"

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  • artist:Brain Damage
  • featured artist:Horace Andy, Winston Mc Anuff, Kiddus I, Willi Williams, Ras Michael
  • release year:2015
  • style(s):Reggae
  • country:France
  • formats:Audio File / Digital, CD (Compact Disc), LP / Vinyl
  • record posted by:Jarring Effects
  • label:Jarring Effects Label
  • publisher:Jarring Effects Label
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The initial idea of the project was to involve certain actors of this famous generation that contributed in the 1960s / 70s to create what reggae is, and by extension, the dub. Five veterans of the genre line then up behind the microphone, all contemporaries, but with totally diverse sensibilities and backgrounds. Nowadays still superstar for some of them like Horace Andy whose tone is recognizable miles away, and who is used to collaborate with Massive Attack, kind of forgotten for some others like Kiddus I that yet was, in 1978, the hero if a key scene in the cult film « Rockers », all of them have kept their talents unimpaired. This being the case of Willi Williams, author of the timeless hit "Armagideon Time", covered by The Clash as so many others did, but also of Winston Mc Anuff who never ceases to amaze us by collaborating with French artists in a marked contrast to reggae vibes (Camille Bazbaz, Fixi, Java). Lastly, the dean Ras Michael, which was for so many years one of the ambassadors of Nyabinghi traditions on an international scale, continues to blow us away by his vocal interventions imbued with so much spirituality, and by this unique style of percussion-playing. For the span of one studio session, all of them succeed in blending into the musical universe suggested by Brain Damage, and undertake the stylistic exercise submitted by the artist: writing most of their lyrics on the theme of their childhood, the childhood, youth and education. The outcome of these meetings is unique, a singular combination of maturity and genuineness, doubtless resulting from the open-mindedness and talents of each protagonist.

BRAIN DAMAGE
With more than 11 albums behind him already, Martin Nathan ventures since 15 years into many artistic and stylistic experiments, under the name of Brain Damage. Alternately dark, atmospheric, aggressive or poetic, his universe seems to be constantly evolving, what may be the key to his project longevity.

Acclaimed as one of the founders of the French dub scene, he presents, early in 1999, the first dub live-act of its kind in France. After producing the famous « Brain Booster » track, embryo of the French dub-steppa, he forges connections with some masters of the style in the UK (Zion Train, Alpha & Omega, The Disciples). 2002, in London, alongside the singer Tena Stelin, he composes the standard « Genetic Weapon », — still recently taken over by OBF Sound System —, and produces afterwards his two first albums on the Parisian label Hammerbass. 2006, always accompanied by the bassist Raphaël Talis, he joins the label Jarring Effects. A trilogy of three experimental and conceptual opuses follows, developed in collaboration with a host of international artists (Black Sifichi, Mark Stewart, Hakim Bey), openly breaking the codes and blowing up the very boundaries of the style, where he was a bit hastily catalogued.

After his sidekick left, 2011 marks the beginning of a new chapter, prompting into new directions the project that becomes more polymorphous than ever. Martin Nathan balances then collaborations (High Tone, Vibronics, Sir Jean) and his solo works, getting always closer to the roots of his favorite style.

2015 the realization in Kingston, Jamaica, of a part of his upcoming album seems to confirm it. His friendship with Samuel Clayton Jr, sound engineer and internationally respected producer (Steel Pulse / Toots & the Maytals) was decisive in the choice of this destination. This essential figure in Jamaica indeed opens the doors of the mythical Harry J Studio (Bob Marley / Burning Spear) to Brain Damage, and enables improbable connections with legendary artists for unforgettable studio sessions.

Kiddus I
Born in 1944, Kiddus I became a legend in 1978 in the most famous cult movie of reggae "Rockers", he played a key scene when he voiced the title Graduation In Zion at Harry J' recording studio. Kiddus I was always surrounded with all the legends of reggae as he was a visionary and many greats including some that are no longer with us like Bob Marley, Jacob Miller and Peter Tosh .
While artists such as Burning Spear, Inner Circle or Gregory Isaacs could use the film as a springboard for an international career, you should not hear any Kiddus I long player for long time. The reasons are tragic and funny at the same time: the master tapes of his recordings from 1978 got lost as he calls himself today with a charming self-deprecation "The Most Recorded But Never Released Artist".
In 2004, he finally released his first album because of the label Makasound.

Winston MC Anuff
Born in 1957 in a pastor family he begins by singing Gospel. During the 70's, he released 2 albums which haven't been hits, even if some tracks are lately famous as "What Man Saw". Because of the label Makasound releasing his albums Winston Mc Anuff is late well-known in France. The man nicknamed Electric Dread begins an intense artistic activity with the album "Nostradamus" but also with a range of projects far from reggae with French artists as Camille Bazbaz, M, Java or Fixi the accordionist

Horace Andy
Born in 1951 in Kingston, Horace Hinds begins his singer career at the age of16. He was renamed Horace Andy by Coxsone Dodd, a tribute to the equally legendary former Paragon-turned-solo star Bob Andy. Justin Hinds is cousin is also famous at this time. The next few years saw Andy regularly in the reggae charts with further singles for Dodd. He leaves Dodds and collaborated with Phil Pratt, Derrick Harriot, Ernest, Jo Jo Hoo Kim, Harry J, Niney and many more. Andy's most successful association with a producer, however, was with Bunny Lee in the middle part of the 1970s.
In 1977, Andy emigrated to Connecticut and immediately linked up with Hungry Town labelhead Everton DaSilva. The end result was the classic "In the Light" album and its equally seminal dub companion remixed by Prince Jammy. Andy next set up his own label, Rhythm, and worked with Don Carlos, Chaka Demus.
In 80's he moved to London where he met Jah Shaka.
The 1990 saw Andy's profile further raised when he began collaborating with Bristol trip hop pioneers Massive Attack, going on to contribute to all five of their albums

Willi Williams
Born in 1953 he started to work with Coxsone Doff in 1968 and had founded with his 2 friends the famous sound system "Tripletone". He produced artists including Delroy Wilson, The Versatiles, Rhythm Force (well known as Wailers). Through much of his career, Williams split his time between Kingston, Jamaica and Toronto, Canada, where he formed a close association with Jamaican keyboard legend Jackie Mittoo. He met up with Coxson Dodd and Williams voiced the breakthrough track "Armagideon Time" in 1979. Punk legends The Clash helped internationalize "Armagideon Time" in 1979 as a b-side to its "London Calling" single and a standard part of its live performances.
Then he recorded at Studio One many singles and albums as " Armagideon Time " and "Messenger Man".
t the beginning of the 90's he collaborated with the English Jah Shaka for 2 albums and produced the others on Drum Street Label. Currently the compilation "From Studio One to Drum Street " has known an international success.

Ras Mikael
Born in 1943 Michael George Henry grew up in a Rasta community. In the 1960’s Ras Michael worked at Coxsone Dodd’s legendary Studio One as a session musician and created his own label Zion Disc. Ras Michael is well known for being the first member of the Rastafari movement to host a reggae radio program in Jamaica. He also performed with Bob Marley, Lee Scratch Perry at the famous Black Art Studio.
With his band "The Son of Negus" he released many albums and became well famous because of the traditional drumming, dancing and chanting of the Nyabinghi Rastaman. Nowadays he lives in the Rastafarian International Marcus Garvey Cultural Center in Los Angeles.