For lovers of the chill rhythm and succulent vibes of modern reggae, GrooveGalore Muzik’s latest album will be an absolute treasure. 15 covers of renowned and loved classic rock anthems rearranged and rethought to fit into the most chill and inventive of reggae beats, My Reggae Rockin Journey is an entertaining and healthy offering.
Based in Jamaica’s Montego Bay, it is safe to say that the music on this album is appropriately reggae, hailing from the genre’s historic cradle. Featuring fantastic guitar input from Rudy Valentino Jr. alongside project founder Paul Kastick’s voice, the covers on this album are basically structured to fit into the traditional reggae-related beats, giving them exceptionally neat production that is done in house, for results that are invigorating and greatly rewarding.
Not all the covers featured on the album could be contained within the tight framework of reggae, with some of them working better than others. Def Leppard’s ‘Breathe a Sigh’ makes for a gorgeous reggae tune, while Poison’s ‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn’ could not totally relinquish its 80s glam rock roots. The album’s lead single and namesake, Whitesnake’s ‘Here I Go Again’, sounds like a beautiful pop tune that has always been reggae-infused. GrooveGalore’s treatment of the legendary rock anthem is commendable, and the result is a beautifully balanced cover that’s true to the song’s timeless melodies, as well as to reggae’s immediately distinctive stylistic flairs.
This album’s mixes and artistic interpretations of infamous hard rock hits from the 80s and 90s display the fantastic musical capabilities of GrooveGalore Muzik. A powerhouse collective and a brilliant producer, the songs here are lush and rich with layers and parts, and the mixes are wholesome and energizing. Listening to the album is a fantastic experience that can only be topped by going back and rediscovering all the wonderful songs that are so lovingly covered on it.
