ANTHONY JOSEPH, The Rich Are Only Defeated
When Running For Their Lives
sortie le 7 mai 2021 sur Heavenly Sweetness
ENGLISH
Making the rich run and hug the poor. Nice statement, indeed. The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running for The Lives is the 7th album of Anthony Joseph (Heavenly Sweetness). Nice statement made with a captivating voice. Words subtly stated to the rhythm of brass, keyboards and percussions in solid support. Once again, the man from the Rubber bands handles the words with a brilliant grace. We know that he is a poet, a writer. From the original Caribbean to the England that shelters him, Joseph draws bridges. Two cultures for a single essence of creation. Clearly. Edward Kamau Brathwait and Anthony McNeil, two poets from the Caribbean, hold the banners, that is Kamau and Language (Poem for Anthony McNeil). But this record is above all 6 deeply chilling and joyfully dancing tracks. Shabaka Hutchings and Roger Raspail are welcomed guests here. Calling England Home, with its ethio litany, sets a wintry atmosphere, the impression of being on the banks of the Thames and rubbing your hands in search of warmth. The coldness is bathed by the percussions and the familiar sax of Jason Yarde. The lyrics question, dry: “How long do you have to live in a place before you can call it home? “. Transcendent. Then, just after. Disturbing, the unstoppable groove of Maka Dimweh that wraps the eardrums. Unstoppable and a little more free to propel the sharp words of this story of life of a Guyanese soldier. To extinguish the record without extinguishing the flame, The Gift plunges its shattering vibe into mourning. Poignant and beautiful. Free and militant, The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running for The Lives promises some pretty endless runs.
Faire courir les riches et câliner les pauvres. Il y a pire profession de foi.The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running for Their Lives est le 7ème album d’Anthony Joseph (Heavenly Sweetness). Profession de foi, empruntée à CLR James, faite d’une voix captivante. Mots subtilement énoncés au rythme des cuivres, claviers et percussions en soutien solide. Une fois encore, l’homme des Rubber bands manie les mots avec une grâce brillante. On le sait, c’est un poète, c’est un écrivain. De la Caraïbe originelle à l’Angleterre qui l’abrite, Joseph trace des ponts. Deux cultures pour une seule essence de création. Clairement. Edward Kamau Brathwait et Anthony McNeil, deux poètes from les Caraïbes, tiennent les étendards, c’est Kamau et Language (Poem for Anthony McNeil). Mais ce disque, c’est surtout 6 titres profondément glaçants et joyeusement dansants. Shabaka Hutchings, autre mixeur d’origines caraïbéennes, et Roger Raspail jouent les guests de luxe. Calling England Home, avec sa litanie éthio, cale une atmosphère hivernale, l’impression d’être sur les bords de la Tamise et de se frotter les mains en recherche de chaleur. La froideur est baignée par les percussions et le sax familier de Jason Yarde. Les paroles questionnent, sèches : « How long do you have to live in a place before you can call it home ? ». Transcendant. Puis, juste après. Troublant, le groove imparable de Maka Dimweh qui enveloppe les tympans. Imparable et un peu plus free pour propulser les mots tranchants de ce récit de vie d’un soldat guyannais. Pour éteindre le disque sans éteindre la flamme, The Gift plonge sa vibe bouleversante dans le deuil. Poignant et magnifique. Libre et militant, The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running for The Lives promet de jolies courses sans appel.
