Why 2014 was the best reggae year in a long time

The roots revival announced itself last year. Some people even say that the roots never left, and they have a point. Rhytmically and lyrically the singers and dj's have always remained loyal to their roots, to reality and rastafari. But my roots are situated in the late 70s when musicianship still prevailed. Yes, you can also be creative with computers and drum machines. And yes, great beats and riddims where made in the last decade. But I still prefer real musicians, and real songs, preferably with uplifting lyrics. And I've got those in abundance in 2014.

Protoje and Romain Virgo already sang about a 'Reggae Revival' in 2012, the announcement of a new era (though not the best tune). Young bands like Pentateuch and Raging Fyah called memories of the glory days of Third World, Steel Pulse, Peter Tosh and other big names that then lifted reggae to a higher level. They presented songs and arrangements as we mostly heard from America and Europe since the late 90s. With Chronixx (album of the year!), Dre Island, Jesse Royal, Kabaka Pyramid and Iba Mahr, a whole class of talented singers and songwriters announced themselves, who conquered the hearts of roots fans all around the globe. Later we could also add Jah9 and Mica Shemaiah. And off course No-Maddz (concert of the year!), a group out of category with a high hipster content, but even though pure Jamaican. In 2014 all those positive vibrations came together. In the studio's, in the concert halls and at the festivals. We did shout before that Reggae Geel had never been better (wich also means that the festival keeps on growing). But it was just the warm wave of new names that made the difference, and that young and old reconciled. With Damian Marley as beloved headliner, the man who knows how to blend dancehall and roots like no other. It's no coincidence that the Marlys (Damian, Stephen, and to a lesser extent Kymani and Julian) are so closely associated with the roots revival. They have integrated and renewed reggae and dancehall in the Jamaican sound system culture in their own way, something their father never succeeded to do.

And speaking of soundsytems: 2014 was also the year when the European dancehall scene was overshadowed by sounds that serve dub, roots and steppers. Civalizee organised another Hotel Jamaica, but it was still the dub events, large and small, that attracted the most people, and received the highest ranking. There are even new sounds built in Beljam, there appear new roots mc's on stage and with Crucial Alphonso and Unlisted Fanatic we've got some of the best dub wizards around, hailed and praised in all corners of the world. And that also applies to Pura Vida. Bregt De Boever continues to amaze with remakable collaborations, in 2014 with Jah9 and Lee Perry. Heart Wash, Saimn-I and Man T have released beautiful albums en some cool riddims are made in Belgian studio's, more reggae and dancechall, in line with the dominant tendency in Jamaica.

For all those reasons we have experienced the finest hours this year in a warehouse in Amsterdam, where King Shiloh actually invited David Rodigan. The Ram Jam Master wove a wonderful tapestry of old and new roots, dub and instrumentals, Marley and Lee Perrys, and it all sounded even more beautiful and powerful and clear on that palatial new sound of Shiloh. One soul, one aim, one destiny, one love. I wish dancehall and ragga sincerely all the best but I fear that the torch has now (temporarily?) been taken over by Rastafarians and dubheads. In my humble opinion they made 2014 the best reaggae year since 1978 (or 1998, for the twenties and thirties amongst you).