C-Sharp issues 'The Invitation'
Published:Sunday | November 13, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer
C-Sharp had decided on the title of their sophomore set, to be launched officially in two days, long before doing a song with Busy Signal which just happened to have the same name.
Two of the band's members started doing projects with producer Shane Brown which led to his charge, the Busy one, putting together a band. In turn, C-Sharp lead singer Chevaughn Clayton ended up opening for Busy Signal on tour, that upping the ante for a collaboration.
"We always thought about it. We respect him," Clayton said. "The music was there, we were listening to it and we started writing. And we said that this is the track that Busy should be on."
That track turned out to be The Invitation - just like the predetermined album title - and comes in third on the 12-track CD, with the bonus track, No More, long having made its mark. That song about a single woman's singular struggle is the only track which those who have followed the band will be already familiar with.
The Sunday Gleaner got the in-studio run-through at Grafton, Vineyard Town, St Andrew, and heard not only a mixture of musical styles resting on a foundation of rock-solid drum-and-bass reggae, but also many other C-Sharp members' voices sharing lead time with Clayton's - bass guitarist Aeion Hoilett, keyboard player Dwain Campbell (whose voice-changing manipulations at the band's most recent Redbones concert brought the house down), and guitarist Lamont Savory. Randevon 'Randy' Patrick is on drums.
It starts with Family Man, the Michael Sean Harris penned tale of a father's struggle which starts with near strains of R&B before the rockers hit. Reggae My Song is a thumping roots romp, simultaneously the band's rockers commitment to itself and a statement of product to the listener. The sharing of lead vocals starts on Reggae My Song and is featured liberally throughout the album.
After the serendipitous title track the album goes reflective in pace, lyrics and delivery with Missing Peace, Dean Fraser, Nambo Robinson and Dwight Richards delivering the horns. Heart of a Child, which has an intriguing arrangement in which the trap set and hand drums have an extended conversation, precedes the first of two covers, the unflagging Book of Rules. There is another change of pace with the almost lilting Better Day Comin which features the superb voice of Bunny Rugs, renowned as Third World's lead singer and who has a brace of solo albums to his credit.
The band is not afraid to take risks, not with a track entitled Jezebel and focusing on one lady's not-so-fine qualities.
The second cover is Get Lifted, made popular by John Legend, I'll Be There swings along in flying cymbal tempo and features a strong guitar solo. Nurse is healing for a world of love hurt and Somewhere, coming before the bonus track, literally sings Jamaica's praises.
Clayton said putting more C-Sharp voices on lead (they all sing harmony) "is something that we did not talk about. It just happened, touring as C-Sharp since 2006. It is just part of the dynamics of C-Sharp. To deny it would be unfair". Playing together as a unit and not a backing band has made a lot of difference between The Invitation and the first album as well. "On the first album it was just one drop. This one has a lot of fusion," drummer Randevon 'Randy' Patrick said. And, broadening their focus, "we put different personalities, instead of just us".
C-Sharp recorded over 20 songs to narrow The Invitation down to 12, plus the bonus track.
"We went all out for this, to ensure it covers all grounds, goes across all barriers," Clayton said. "For the album, we created a sound and we hope it works."