Send "Bedouin Soundclash " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Blaremagazine |
 To some, the idea a successful reggae group could emerge from Toronto is ludicrous. However to Bedouin Soundclash fans, it’s an idea that’s not out of the ordinary. As a newly restructured trio, Jay Malinowski and company introduce their fourth studio attempt, Light The Horizon, a collection of ten songs characterized by their branded fusion of reggae beats entwined with alternative rock. The album’s single, “Mountain Top” has claimed success on local charts and casually added to the immense anticipation built over the past few years for another release.The 34 minutes run by quickly, but not without a few stoplights focusing on outstanding moments. “Brutal Hearts”, a vocally haunting duet featuring French Canadian songstress Coeur de Pirate, is just a sample of how the group is musically refreshing. Harmonies do appear crisp and modern but they’re not alone. The incorporation of brass instruments, an unusual percussion setup and the ska-welcoming ukulele dangle the group away from Canadian mainstream and cover all bases, from mellow jam sessions (“Follow The Sun”) to inspiring chants (“Elongo”) and sentimental serenades (“No One Moves, No One Gets Hurt”). Reassurance that the vibrant sound has yet to leave the city, Light The Horizon proves the sun’s just rising on a future that’s hardly bleak....full text |
| Musicomh |
| The notion of Canada tends to conjure up images of nice cerebral people, snowy mountain tops and mounties on horseback (think of the cop from Due South). But reggae? Hardly. So the thought of a reggae/folk band from Toronto would probably not get the regulars at the Notting Hill Carnival too excited. However, even if their style is not the most exciting, by mixing elements of indie/folk music with reggae, Bedouin Soundclash have created a surprisingly fresh, very listenable sound. The three-man group (consisting of lead singer and guitarist Jay Malinowski, bassist Eon Sinclair and Sekou Lumumba on the drums) have been together since 2001 and have since been successful in the alternative music charts and in the roots/reggae scene. They are good enough to be recognised by other modern day reggae stars, such as Damian Marley but generally, despite their success, are not credited with being a genuine reggae outfit. This is simply because the group have found that their most popular songs, such as When The Night Feels My Song and St Andrews, are generally the ones that sound more folk/indie rock than the ones that lean more towards a reggae sound. Funnily enough, this pattern repeats itself with the group's newest album, Light The Horizon....full text |
| Altpress |
| The last few years have been both cruel and kind to Bedouin Soundclash. The reggae/world-music trio saw some incredible chart successes in their home country of Canada and in the U.K. with 2007’s Street Gospels, culminating in nominations for several Junos (the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy), and several European festival appearances. But, as things wound down, so did relationships within the band. Founding drummer Pat Pengelly left and frontman Jay Malinowski exorcised his inner demons with a solo album (2010's Bright Lights And Bruises). Now that they are back together with a new drummer (Sekou Lumumba), Bedouin seem ready to shed their previous skin and move forward. For the first time in years, they are working with a producer other than Bad Brains member Daryl Jenifer, opting instead for Philadelphia-based funkster King Britt. At the same time, they have almost completely divested themselves of any musical concepts that could be considered at all unpalatable by their fans and listeners. It makes for a work that is easy on the central nervous system, but doesn't leave behind any residue that would make it a regular staple in your iTunes rotation. Much of this lax feeling spurs from the fact that Lumumba is a far less inventive drummer than his predecessor. The Toronto native has a strict regimen of bobbing reggae beats and quick-pattered fills that fit the songs well, but don't challenge his bandmates in any way. In response, Malinowski settles in with reverb-sweetened rhythm guitar lines and loping, lover's-rock vocals. Too, Britt has encouraged the band to embrace that more R&B-influenced sound, stuffing much of their dub and Afrobeat elements into the background. On occasion, it pays off dividends, as with the lovely "Brutal Hearts" (a duet with a young singer named Beatrice Martin) and the album's string-drenched ballad "Elongo." But all too often it feels like the band are ignoring the part of their name that gives them carte blanche to experiment and toy with expectations....full text |
Bedouin Soundclash lyrics
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