Label: Don Hartley Music
Produced by: I-niverse
Mixed by: I-niverse
Mastered by: Mighty Drop
Vocals/Lyrics by: Don Hartley
Backing vocals (Song of Creation) by: Amelia Harmony
Backing Vocals (Orthodox Soldier/Mother Zion/The Third Day) by: Don Hartley
Guitars (Song of Creation) by: Tuff Lion
Congas (Orthodox Soldier) by: Mighty Drop
Artwork by: Pikcha
Release date Bandcamp: 04/01/2024
Release date: 05/01/2024
This album emanates a scriptural and spiritual vibration that is positive and transformative. The title track ‘Song of Creation’ is a distillation of psalm 104: the creation psalm that poetically summarizes God’s creation of the world, as found in the book of Genesis, while ‘Orthodox Soldier’ is a reflection on the personal and internal struggle each one must go through to ‘gain Christ mind’ (Phil 2:5).
‘Mother Zion’ picks up the baton with an interpretation of psalm 87, and is a special dedication to the mother of Christ God. She is likened to the ancient holy Mount Zion for ‘she shall not be moved’ as her place in the holy narrative is ever ensured. The final track ‘The Third Day’ gives the writer’s intimate reflection on the price of love he believes is paid on his behalf in the crucifixion of, “My Lord! What wouldn’t you do for me?” Though it recounts the dark cloud of suffering, the song carries the silver lining of triumph of the rising on ‘The Third Day’.
All this is underpinned by heavy and positively pulsating bass lines and mystical melodies inna steppers and one drop style from roots reggae producer and selector I-niverse. The title track ‘Song of Creation’ is further enhanced by the smooth, mesmerising backing vocals of Amelia Harmony and the soul stirring guitar plucks and riffs from the maestro himself, Tuff Lion. The congas on ‘Orthodox Soldier’ is provided by Mighty Drop out of the Netherlandsand while Don Hartley provides his own haunting backing vocals on ‘The Third day’. A must for roots reggae collectors.
Tuff Lion: a past member of Midnite, the backing band of acclaimed roots reggae artist, Akae Beka (Vaughn Benjamin) and is also a recording artist in his own right with well acclaimed releases to his name.
Amelia Harmony: a UK-based artist well known on the roots reggae and dub circuit for her sweet harmonic melodies coupled with conscious vibrations. Her collaboration with roots reggae stalwart Earl Sixteen on Mamma is ever memorable.
I-niverse: UK-based selector and roots, reggae dub producer having releases with the likes of Earl 16, Amelia Harmony, Sista Sherin, Zion Irie and Murray Man’s Mellow Vibes Label as well as with myself Don Hartley. He is now currently working on numerous projects with artists both from the UK and overseas.
Don Hartley: Jamaican Roots Reggae artist from a Rastafarian background in the Twelve Tribes of Israel now stepping it as an Orthodox Christian in the United Kingdom.
His musical journey has acquired him some of the most philosophical roots anthems that easily recommend him as a truly unique purveyor of the genre. With a career spanning over three decades, he has successfully teamed up with the likes of Manchester UK’s Nucleus Roots to produce some truly conscious and teachable roots reggae classics like ‘Run Come Quick’, ‘Deep Roots’, ‘Irie Meditation’ and ‘Step It Up Rasta’.
Works with other producers include ‘Let Your Light Shine’ (2018) with Creation Fam out of Paris, ‘Rivers of Babylon’ (2018) with Lewis Bennett Dubs as well as ‘Power and Glory’ and ‘Envy Not’ with Rod Chaplin’s MessenJah Music label (2021-22). More recently he teamed up with DJ STP on two solid drum & bass mixes.
The journey continues today with more unapologetic roots reggae entwined with traditional biblical themes advancing the righteous message.
-
Song of Creation
-
Song of Creation Dub
-
Orthodox Soldier
-
Orthodox Soldier Dub
-
Mother Zion [2024 Version]
-
Mother Zion Dub – [2024 Version]
-
The Third Day (My Lord) – [2024 Version]
Amelia Harmony, Don Hartley, Don Hartley Music, I-niverse, Tuff Lion
Albums, Dub, Reggae