ROIR 8294
In America, due to stiff penalties for growing, sighting a 10 foot tall ganja plant is too rare. Catching a live performance from the band called 10 Ft. Ganja Plant has also been an illusive blessing for but a few lucky audiences, since they only play limited and secretive runs. Comprised of rotating members of the John Browns Body family, a hard touring reggae group on its own, the musicians have busy schedules to work around. Fans have been held mostly to the few limited edition 45s, a self-produced CD and — with this current release — a trio of studio CDs under the wing of ROIR Records; we take what we can get.
Bass Chalice, their new crop, is a green hit all the way through, sweet like trees grown in Jamaicas own soil. With whispers of a tour in the works, the anticipatory buzz of being able to hear cuts from this album performed live is extra enticing and builds excitement with each listen.
Holding true to tradition, 10 Ft. Ganja Plant still doesnt release its members names, other than to state that the band features members of John Browns Body. It’s so noble that they choose not to name drop (if its possible to name drop your own name) to sell discs that I just cant cut this one down. Focusing on a more traditional dub and roots approach than John Brown’s body, the album has a very live feel. If the tour rumor holds up, everyone can see who plays and sings what, for themselves.
Blood Money, Engine Trouble, Suits and Masks and Burning James are all instrumentals, thick in dub resin and a strong passion for rhythm. All are mind-numbingly hypnotic with a body moving force. And although a lot of dub reggae turns monotonous for many people who arent heavily into the style, 10 Ft. Ganja Plants creativity gets everyone the first time they try, and keeps them at the pipe. Swedish Prison runs along the same format, but is notable here for the horn sections heady donation to the project, and the album-closing title track is so nice. Spin this one in the halls; the people will dance!
Last Dance features smoothed out vocals from a lover singing to a lover who is about to leave. All he asks is for one more caring go round: Can I have this last dance? To Each asks another good question, If you were born to sing, why wont you sing all day and all night? Like a mushroom sized trichrome (the great bearer of THC) on a skunky female thats ripened through yearlong summers, this ones a knock out. Free up an hour or so for the effects to ease off before you go about your day, or just spin Bass Chalice on through the nightIt cant hurt ya.