DESCRIPTION:
I do not own the rights of this song, just uploaded because I like it.
One of the best modern Reggae album.

TRACKLIST
01. Intro
02. Island
03. Save All the Kids
04. Don't Leave Me Today
05. Hily Place
06. Wasn't It You
07. Mao Interlude
08. Iron Man Wang
09. The Great Wanderer
10. Addicted
11. 2 Of Them Interlude
12. To Them
13. Everything You Are
14. The Ogoni Interlude
15. Ken Saro Wiwa
16. Let There Be Light
17. If

STORY
In winter 2007 "SMOKE" (the current line-up is Alessandro Soresini on drums, vocals and production, Gianluca Pelosi on bass and production, Marco Zaghi on sax, flute and production and the South African singer Séan Daniel Martin, who became Smoke's official singer in summer 2006) entered the studio to celebrate their second album "ROUTES"…! A side project, a collaboration with Europe's most reputable soundsystem, POW POW MOVEMENT from Cologne, spawned a 7-inch release of "Save All The Kids" on the POW POW label.

"Routes" marks the breathtaking return of this Milan-based band; it sets the bar for future reggae productions. The album skirts passing trends adroitly (dancehall..? Raggaton..?) The style is reminiscent of a pre-digital era, where digital instrumentation wasn't the be-all it is today; the vocals are strictly melodic (may remind some listeners ad music lovers of early Horace Andy) and the clever lyrics contain mature ideas.

Songs like "To Them" (a condemnation of the Apartheid system in South Africa, Séan's mother country), "Ken Saro Wiwa" (the story of a man killed by the Nigerian military regime for having fought against the environmental devastation caused by the Shell oil company), "Ironman Wang" (a reflection on the consequences of the Maoist regime through the journey of a young Chinese worker) and "Save all the kids" (a hymn to the protection of children's rights inspired by Ishmael Beah's book 'A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier') have the purpose of focusing listeners' attention on issues that afflict the planet and that are all too often ignored in the media. Other songs like "Let there be light" (inspired by the book of Genesis), "The great wanderer", "Every thing you are", "Island", "If" emphasize the values that all living beings share and speak of the on common desire for universal harmony. Every track lives on its own light, but at the same time works as a fundamental key for the record's completeness.

"Routes" is a stunning and complete work, a circle that closes disclosing the artistic and spiritual maturity of "SMOKE". "Routes" is an exquisite and splendid blend of modern roots reggae with a vibe heavy influenced by soul. "Routes" is a 17 cuts album, destined to become one of those unifying albums which everyone plays to death… !!!

Label: ECHO BEACH
Title: "RENEGADE ROCKERROUTES"
Artist: SMOKE
Format: CD
Catalogue: Echo Beach CD072
Release date: (20.02.09)
(17 tracks - 73 minutes playtime)