Singer Tarrus Riley will release his most personal project today at April 17, 2012. The 15-track acoustic album titled ‘Mecoustic’ is being released in conjunction with the France-based Soulbeats Records.
The project, which features collaborations with dub poet Cherry Natural and Riley’s father veteran reggae crooner Jimmy, will be available in European markets.
In a release, Riley revealed that the project was very personal and attention was paid to detail to ensure the material was properly recorded.
“We have some new songs and some old songs, and revisiting the old songs brought back memories. The whole experience of putting this project together was a learning experience again. These are songs that are very special and personal”, Riley said.
Mecoustic reveals yet a different side to Riley whose previous albums include Challenges, Parables and Contagious.
Riley worked with a top tier of talented producers and musicians on Mecoustic.
Real rich-quality music
“This is like good food. Real rich-quality music. This is something you want to have in your music collection”, said Riley.
Musician Dean Fraser (who is also Riley’s musical director), and Riley’s Blak Soil band, are among those who injected their talents into the project.
“This is a pet project between me and Tarrus. We just wanted the people to get a better understanding of words and meanings of these songs. While we were on tour, these ideas popped up”, Fraser explained.
He added, “It took us a year to finish the album. The direction musically is the same as always – good music. We want the fans that turn up their noses when hard-core reggae reaches them to get a chance to play this album that carries the same message with a more relaxing musical accompaniment”.
Songs on Mecoustic include Black Mother Pray featuring Jimmy Riley; She’s Royal; Devil’s Appetite; If It’s Jah Will; Marcus Garvey; Eyesight; Paradise;Pick up the Pieces; One Two Order; Africa Awaits; Other Half; Whispers and System Set featuring Cherry Natural.
Mecoustic is Riley’s first major release since 2009’s Contagious. The acoustic set will be available worldwide on June 26.
Tracklist:
01 – Larger than life
02 – Black mother pray
03 – She’s royal
04 – Devil’s appetite
05 – If it’s Jah will
06 – Marcus Garvey
07 – Eye sight
08 – Paradise
09 – Pick up the pieces
10 – One two order
11 – System set
12 – Africa awaits
13 – Other half
14 – Eyes sight (bonus track)
15 – Whispers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3xkNyxw-D8
