Musicians

Introducing Bad Slave — Babylon Ketch Dem Fraid

Be pleasantly surprised. Just when you thought you might have heard Jamaican music in all its variations, a new artist shows us that there's still room for magic. Raging Desire, is the apt title of an album that no one would expect, from the least expected person. But, don't even say a word about its integrity, here is a record for all seasons. From start to finish, the album is an interesting musical outfit, offering a full body of retrospective lovers rock type grooves, dusted and polished country and western takes, not to mention some eager and ready dancehall baselines. His easily adaptable alto sound is more that an accessory. It is the most crucial weapon in the kit. With this voice there is no camoflauge as he sings out crytal clear. Every stone is turned as his vocals pour seemlessly over the tracks, much like a robust and well aged bottle of vintage.

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Not much for photos, we had to catch bad slave ...

Bad Slave is the name given to the artist born Bertham (Bob) Saunders. What's in a name like Bad Slave anyway? Well, this is your truest of rebels. His anti-establishmental retorts cannot be overlooked, to say the least. My introduction to his music was with the track titled Life On The Road. Not your everyday artist, I thought. On the said track, the artist lends his vocals to mild country and western undertones without threat of over shadowing the lyrics. At first, the track might easily be interpreted as a musician lamenting on the down sides of touring, yet it is a documentative account of harsh Jamaican street life. It is also a square account of his life in prison.

Here is an artist that has been living long enough to recall Reggae's Channel One glory days. Though he was present at some of the critical stages of Jamaica's music recording history, the singer resisted the lure of the music business, which he believes can at times be the equivalent of chasing a myth.

Born into less than favourable financial conditions, the singer spent most of his teens roughing it out. By age twelve, he found himself motherless. Her death shook his already unstable upbringing and saw him being carted from relative to relative. He moved from his native St Catherine to Kingston, where he attended Excelsior High School. By age seventeen, he found himself months away from being a father. With the ultimate of responsibilties on his shoulders, survival instincts kicked in. He found himself in America where he, like many others, took to hustlling. The law would eventually catch upon him and after a few years of isolation and introspection, the decision was made to one day make music more than just a fleeting passion, but a career.

It's been several years since his return to Jamaica but Saunders has spent most of his younger years supporting his family. Now that his children have all grown up, he has turned his undivieded attention to the recording studio.

As an older artist in the business, he has a remarkably keen appreciation for new music. He also has that perfect vantage point, between the old and new school music. "Music is like technology, it doesn't stay one place it is always changing. So I don't fight for lyrics, I fight for melodies. That is how your music improves with the strength of your melodies." What's so profound about the music of Bad Slave is the simplicity with which it is delivered. He has your attention immediately, without the fancy tricks. Bad Slave is also the title of a track that forms a character sketch of our persona in focus. On this track, he speaks of priceless life skills like farming and carving as he implores youths to stay on the lawful path. By the way, what's beautiful about this track is that it was recorded some twenty seven years ago, listen for yourself. Just like Saunders' voice, it has not aged a bit.

What's so illuminating about an artiste like Bad Slave is that he has enough years on him as a music fan to remember when "singers were singers" and enough youthfulness as an artist to delve into each song with that well needed exuberance of youth. In other words, he seizes every opportunity to incorporate new music forms into his work. Just by listening, one can tell that this is a man that thoroughly embraces the concept of perfection and his melodies ring out exactly that way. Gotta Leave is one example. He turns this typical story of love and loss into a fair of seamless lyrical juxtaposition and vocal prowess.

While the issues visited on the Raging Desire set are not entirely original, the musical treatment is unlike anything we have seen in a while. Saunders also mans the post of producer on this his first full length studio effort. One of the most glaring tracks on the album is Mineral, a bitter account of Jamaica's crime ridden state. Its crucial and irristable dub style lends the perfect tone.

Musically, Bad Slave desires to connenct with his listeners on a spiritual plane. But forget Ms Cleo this is the real deal. "I am not a tv artist and my music is far more than sex and badness." he says. With the internet on his side and a multitude of fans looking for something diffferent, he has a lot of plusses to his favour. There is that nostalgic elment that comes out in his music. He harps back on that era of singers like Alton Ellis and such, still there is that newness with which he shines on tracks like Fire In the House. Tranquil, satisfying, motivating and danceable are just some of the adjectives that the artiste wants to accompany his music as he endeavours to create cross-generational works of art.

So much for the past. No better time than the present and Bad Slave is surely edging his way into a bright musical future.