In Search of the Lost Riddim | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1998 | |||
Length | 70:14 | |||
Label | Palm Pictures[1] | |||
Producer | Ernest Ranglin, Ira Coleman, Bart Fermie | |||
Ernest Ranglin chronology | ||||
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In Search of the Lost Riddim is an album by the Jamaican musician Ernest Ranglin, released in 1998.[2][3] It was among the first releases from Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures label; Blackwell's Island Records had signed Ranglin in the 1950s.[4] The album title refers to Ranglin's decades-long absence from making music in Africa.[5]
Ranglin supported the album by playing North American shows with Baaba Maal.[6] The album was a success on the Specialist albums chart in the United Kingdom.[7]
Production
Recorded in Dakar, Senegal, with members of Maal's band, the album was produced by Ranglin, Ira Coleman, and Bart Fermie.[8][9][10] Ranglin wrote three of the 11 songs.[11] Maal sang on "Minuit" and "Haayo"; Maal and Mansour Seck also played guitar.[12][13] Dion Parson played drums on the tracks.[14] A balafon was used on a few tracks, as were koras and tamas.[5][15]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
The Age | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Houston Press | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Orlando Sentinel | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Orlando Weekly called the album "an intoxicating aural bath that matches Ranglin's eclectic six-string leads and fills and the steady bass work of Ira Coleman with traditional percussion and string instruments and luxurious chanting and singing."[18] The Guardian deemed it "a gently rhythmic, refreshingly original and contemporary-sounding fusion that is both joyful, subtle, and remarkably classy."[19] The Sydney Morning Herald considered it "a beautifully recorded album—an all-acoustic session using just percussion, stringed instruments and vocals—with the relaxed, celebratory atmosphere of musicians reaching across the diaspora to find common ground."[20]
The Financial Times labeled In Search of the Lost Riddim "a lovely, sunny sound, all tinkling guitars and delicious variations of rhythm."[21] Newsday wrote that "Ranglin's fat, juicy notes on his electric guitar blend in perfectly with the acoustic accompaniment of the Senegalese musicians."[12] The Observer noted that "the music is filled with Ranglin's melodious warmth and easy good nature."[22]
AllMusic wrote that "the English bass and drums style gets all mixed up here with reggae and Afro-pop, resulting in a scintillating dance party."[16]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "D'accord Dakar" | 4:35 |
2. | "Up on the Downstroke" | 4:37 |
3. | "Minuit" | 8:57 |
4. | "Ala Walee" | 6:23 |
5. | "Cherie" | 5:52 |
6. | "Haayo" | 10:16 |
7. | "Anna" | 4:12 |
8. | "Nuh True" | 6:17 |
9. | "Wouly" | 6:05 |
10. | "Pili Pili" | 5:44 |
11. | "Midagny" | 7:16 |
Total length: | 70:14 |
Charts
Chart (1999) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA)[23] | 85 |
References
- ↑ Schurman, Dewey (November–December 1999). "Soundwaves...". Islands. 19 (6): 33.
- ↑ "Ernest Ranglin Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ↑ "Ernest Ranglin". NPR.
- ↑ Newman, Melinda (16 May 1998). "Blackwell's Islandlife has wide-ranging goals". Billboard. 110 (20): 1, 97.
- 1 2 3 Gettelman, Parry (24 July 1998). "Beautiful Marriage of African Elements". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 13.
- ↑ Shuster, Fred (7 August 1998). "Rhythmic nomads". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L5.
- ↑ "The Official UK Charts: Specialist – 8 August 1998". Music Week. 8 August 1998. p. 25.
- ↑ Oumano, Elena (4 July 1998). "Palm debuts with Maal, Ranglin". Billboard. 110 (27): 11, 87.
- 1 2 Poet, J. (13 August 1998). "Rotation". Music. Houston Press.
- ↑ Lien, James (August 1998). "Reviews". CMJ New Music Monthly (60): 46.
- ↑ Chapman, Geoff (29 August 1998). "Baaba Maal joins Jamaican experiment". Entertainment. Toronto Star. p. 1.
- 1 2 Lipp, Marty (16 August 1998). "World Music". Newsday. p. D18.
- 1 2 Reilly, Terry (11 September 1998). "Album of the Week". Entertainment Guide. The Age. p. 8.
- ↑ Davis, Clive (2 August 1998). "On Record – Jazz". Features. The Sunday Times. p. 17.
- 1 2 MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 629.
- 1 2 "Ernest Ranglin - In Search of the Lost Riddim Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. Muze. p. 767.
- ↑ "Review - In Search of the Lost Riddim". Orlando Weekly.
- ↑ Denselow, Robin (10 July 1998). "Hot African strummer". The Guardian. p. T020.
- ↑ Guilliatt, Richard (11 September 1998). "Ernest Ranglin In Search Of The Lost Riddim". Metro. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 7.
- ↑ Aspden, Peter (24 July 1998). "Intoxicating results from blend of styles". The Arts. Financial Times. p. 18.
- ↑ Gelly, Dave (16 August 1998). "Jazz CDs". The Observer Review Page. The Observer. p. 10.
- ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 229.