From the joyful admonitions of "Know Yourself" from Close Encounters of the Third World (1978) and on to the dub noir of "Rebel Vibration" (1979) from 1979's Rebel Vibrations, the power of Creation Rebel was apparent even early on. That forceful vibe continued even on 2023's exemplary comeback album. It's a heavy dub that reached a kind of peak on 1980's epic Starship Africa, an album that served as an example of the very best of the On-U Sound sound. Maybe more than any group aside from African Head Charge, Creation Rebel have defined the appeal of this imprint, and offered up extraordinary and vital music for more than 40 years.
Collecting six albums on six CD's, High Above Harlesden 1978 - 2023 serves up the best of Creation Rebel. Not only that, but it's one of the rare releases I implore readers to buy and which I will label essential. It's that good. The tunes of Creation Rebel are such that they feel like a door opening to another world, and one taste of one record leads to you wanting more and more and more. Luckily, this superb set delivers riches aplenty.
Dub From Creation (1978), engineered by the legendary Dennis Bovell, finds Creation Rebel stretching out beats, letting a rhythm touch infinity. "Rebel Rouser" and "Liberation" soar on percussion from Doctor Pablo and drums from Eric "Fish" Clarke of Prince Far I's Arabs. The heavy hooks here are not quite as dense as they'd be on subsequent releases, and that gives this portion of the set an airy quality that makes it a good entry point for newbies.
Close Encounters Of The Third World (1978) has hooks to kill for from "Crucial" Tony (Singers & Players, African Head Charge, etc.), with numbers like "Mountain Melody" urging a casual listener to get up and dance, or at least sit and groove. That layered, heavy sound would reach a high point on Starship Africa from 1980. Here, Creation Rebel approached a kind of Afro-Futurism, using dub in a nearly symphonic fashion to conjure up soundscapes as removed from the dancehalls as they were tied to pure rhythm. Simultaneously, the ultimate On-U Sound release and the most radical one, this is still an extraordinary record.
Psychotic Jonkanoo (1981) is not my favorite Creation Rebel record, though its mournful melodies have a certain power. "Mother Don't Cry" is one of many impassioned offerings here, but the sound seems less adventurous to these ears, and the rhythms not as compelling. Still, it's light years ahead of what peers were doing in 1981, and still worth having. Loaded with bonus cuts and 2023's Hostile Environment (2023), this box continues to give and give over the course of six discs. It's as solid a run as any act had on the label, and very much head and shoulders above many who tried their hands at making dub a form as adventurous as jazz.
There's little more I can add except, "Buy this and listen!" It's all magnificent and the set is superbly done and a most welcome reissue project. This is a universe in sound, one which can entered from multiple points. Start with the pure music of Starship Africa (1980) and progress to the more accessible Hostile Environment (2023). Or start with that comeback record and work backwards to the group's earlier efforts. Everything here will blow your mind.
Out now via On-U Sound, High Above Harlesden 1978 - 2023 by Creation Rebel can be purchased via Bandcamp below or via the On-U Sound site.
[Photo: Creation Rebel Bandcamp]