Look at the Heart

Zema

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 15, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 30, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Melchizedek
• ASIN: B00001ZWW2
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #525,900 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist
Zema (pronounced Zay-ma) is a veteran roots reggae artiste
sending out a positive, conscious and uplifting message as part of a
small number of women braving the reggae waters. Zema began her
musical career at the age of seven and she has been described as "the
female voice of conscious reggae." Her music has been called "healing
music for the 21st century." She has backed both as a vocalist and
keyboardist such internationally known reggae artists as Alton Ellis,
Leroy Sibbles, Delroy Wilson, Ras Michael, Joe Higgs and Carlton
Livingston. Zema recorded her self-titled first album of original
material at Channel One Studio in Jamaica. Her music has received
extensive airplay internationally. She has just finished her third
album, "Look at the Heart," showcasing her talents as singer,
songwriter, arranger and producer. Zema's deep spirituality and
talent are reflected in the quality of her original material which is
extremely well received wherever it is heard!

Band members are...
Eric "Zacky" Bernard - Assistant producer, keyboards, percussion, background vocals.
Ras Michael, nyabinghi master - Percussion and background vocals.
Michael "Haile Maskel" Ashley - Bass and pick guitar.
Patrick "Shaka Man" Houchen - Drums and percussion.
David "Likkle D" Trail - Riddim and lead guitar, percussion and background vocals.
Derrick "Debo" Brown - Background vocals.
Zema - vocals.

Product Description
"Look at the Heart" is Zema's third album and is filled with modern conscious roots reggae with soaring female vocals backed by top flight Jamaican reggae musicians, featuring guest appearance by nyabinghi master, Ras Michael, and mixed by legendary Jamaican engineer, "The Scientist," that will lift your spirit and keep you dancing.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dubroom Review, January 31, 2002

By	Messian Dread "DUBROOM.com" (Drachten, Fryslan Netherlands) - See all my reviews

When you liked Zema's album Stranger in the gates, you will absolutely love this one, because it contains everything that "Stranger" lacked: a full band with well known members such as Haile Maskel and Zacky Bernard (Twinkle Borthers), an all-stars list of guest appearances (Ras Michael), more songs, and more dubs, mixed skillfully by Scientist. Where the music on Stranger was catchy, the vibes on this one rock hard!
Again, Zema comes up with a varied style of riddims, but they all stay with the realm of High Quality Roots Reggae. You can hear that the musicians are all very experienced. The dubs are mixed by the legendary Scientist, I wish that he would have dubbed all the titles, because they're really more than worth it!

The album starts of with "Open Up", a solid track with a nice guitar riff reminding me of Black Uhuru in their "Anthem" era. After this comes the title track, a heartical call to the hypocrites who like to judge their brethren and impress others by calling themselves "leaders". Third title is a cover of Johnny Osbourne's "Give A Little Love", which in my opinion is much better then the original (sorry, brethren Johnny). Or take the next one, "Somebody Wrong", created after a traditional, with special guest appearance RAS MICHAEL, who can be considered as the conga specialist of Reggae Music. Track 5 is called "How Long", with nice (male) backing vocals. It's a heartical sufferer's prayer that I'm sure many can relate to. Next up, "Praise You". In a one drop stop style, this a righteous track filled with praises to the Most High. It comes with it's Scientific Dub mix, skillfully mixed in the style of Scientist Dubs Culture Into Parallel Universe. "Their Own Sight", the next track on the album, is a Steppers Beat over a really powerful lyrics based on an ancient prophesy. Also this track comes with an accompanying Dub Version by Scientist. Followed is the song called "Gain The World", again in a One Drop style. A crucial One Drop style, because the drummer really knows how to play this rather difficult rhythm. One Drop continues in the next track ("Who We Are"), that Zema wrote together with Twinkle Brothers' keyboard player Zachy Bernard, her husband, by the way. There's a little guitar solo in the track as well. The last vocal is my absolute favorite: "Praise Before Battle": a rub a dub tune that I played five times in a row when I first heard it. I just can't get enough from this one, it's so strong, both lyrical and musical. Too bad there is no dub from this one on the album.

Speaking of dubs, I already mentioned them, Scientist has dubbed two tracks on this album. They remind me much of his Dub album from Culture's Payday, also reviewed in the Dubroom.

All in all, I consider this to be one of the better recent roots reggae releases. The sistren is gifted with a great voice, sweet yet strong, schooled yet heartical. Zema belongs to the absolute top of female Reggae Singers, and I am not alone in this opinion. In every critique and review I read, the writers are talking highly of this album. This is a must for your Conscious Reggae Collection!

5.0 out of 5 stars ROOTS!!!, October 22, 2004

By	Danna Neely (Maui, Hawaii) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There has been a lot written about this album by more knowledgable reviewers, so I don't have many new words to add. However, I can say that I absolutely agree with them. ZEMA is, hands down, one of the best female reggae artists to ever bless the reggae scene. Traditional roots reggae is not dead in the 21st century! Buy it, you won't be disappointed.