It had been since 2014's (!) 'Love Situation' that Tarrus Riley last treated his fans to a new long-player, but with this twelve track 'Healing', written and recorded during the current COVID-19 pandemic, he now finally returns with a new album.
Tarrus Riley: "I did a lot of self reflecting, like the world is doing. What I had to do not to panic, and keep my sanity, is to express myself. Not all of it is inspired by COVID-19. This project is about life itself: a soundtrack for our lives now, and maybe what is to be our lives.".
For this album Tarrus joined forces with producer Shane Brown and his right-hand man Dean Fraser. To state that 'Healing' came about in unique circumstances would be an understatement, as at the time of recording, Jamaica had set a curfew starting at 3 pm. Tarrus wrote songs on his guitar and sent vocal samples to Brown, who in turn tried to find matching riddims. Every day Tarrus then drove to Brown's studio in Kingston, more than an hour's drive from his home in southeast Jamaica, to record his vocals before the lockdown started again; an experience he likes to describe as "preparing for war". Dean Fraser and bassist Glen Browne occasionally accompanied him in the studio, while guitarist Mitchum 'Khan' Chin and drummer Kirk Bennett forwarded their contributions from their respective homes.
In title track 'Healing' Riley wonders aloud what the world will look like post-COVID-19:
Staring at these walls
Wrestling with my thoughts
Is Jah still with me?
Isolated and quarantined
Still I Believe
That Jah is with me
What will
This new world be like
Without a simple hug
So tight and warm and snug
What will
This new life be like
Without a simple kiss
Jah knows I'd hate to miss
Love is the vaccination (oh, Jah love)
Stronger than medicine
Could never be a sin
Jah-Jah, please intervene
World leaders trying to lead
But you've got the remedy
Healing
We need a healing
Healing
Can't you feel it?
Oh, healing
We need a healing
Cause the world is bruised and bleeding
What will
This new world be like
Without being with your friends
And the family gathering
What will
This new life be like
We have to separate
Can't even celebrate
Love to every nation (only can love)
Stronger than medicine
Could never be a sin
Jah-Jah, please intervene
I'd want to make my shield
But you've got the remedy
Healing
We need a healing
Healing
Can't you feel it?
Oh, healing
We need a healing
Oh, the world is bruised and bleeding
Oh, the world is bruised and bleeding
The world is bruised and bleeding
World is bruised and bleeding
We need the healing
Bring on the healing
We need the healing
Bring in the healing
We need it
I feel it (healing)
We need it
I need it (healing)
You need it
The song also features an excellent accompanying clip directed by Ruption (RD Studios), in which post-apocalyptic images of the quarantine in Jamaica are interspersed with scenes of recent Black Lives Matter protests and cameos of, among others, Konshens, Kemar Highcon and Jamaican producers Shane Brown and Kareem 'Remus' Burrell.
Vocal guests on the album include the aforementioned Konshens, Dexta Daps, Teejay and Rvssian, and Tarrus' children, Akilah-Joy, Tsehai and Mekiem, make an appearance in 'Remember Me', an ode to the Most High over a nyahbinghi riddim and with a prominent role for Zoë Brown's flute: "I'm in quarantine, and it's a song I would sing around the house. It reminds me of a devotion that kids sing in school in the morning. It's about a man asking God: "I know your hands are full, but, if wishes do come true, please try to grant one of mine. Remember me!".".
With 'Poor Immigrants', an update of 1981's 'Poor Immigrant', Tarrus pays tribute to his late father, Jimmy Riley. Tarrus concludes with 'Blessings', a much-needed message of hope: "There is a blessing coming, when you least expect it!".
We can only hope and meanwhile enjoy this successful COVID-19 soundtrack!