Bob Marley - Is This Love (cover)

Before I start it, I have to admit, dear Reader, that I'm not really a fan of reggae and I probably won't be ever.

Though I have to be careful with these statements like "I'll [insert here any modal word] never..." because Life (the Universe, the everything, the gods, etc.) has proven numerous times that I should be careful with stating that I'll (probably/likely/apparently/etc.) never. It happened here, at this point of my life. It happened again, recently. Generally my experience is that the more sure I am in myself, the more surely Life will place an uppercut on my solar plexus instantly.

So, let's just say reggae is not really my style, probably because I'm too aggressive for it. Don't take me wrong, I will not refuse it, when I'm offered a listen. I just prefer when the music tears off my face and/or it's so complex that it gives butterfly kisses to my intellect.

Yes, that's why I love Cygnus. I get both from them.

I remember when Cygnus covered this Bob Marley song, I got excited. Not because of the original one, but because I always love when my favorite musicians try out genres other than rock or metal (may it be pop, rock opera, rockabilly or 70's disco). Also because I could be sure that the result would be more than wonderful.

I was right.

I remember, I had to listen to the original to be able to compare them. Perhaps the world will forgive me

or not

if I say that I loved and still love the cover much more. Not just because they are my favorite band but also because it's full of creative musical ideas that are their trademarks.

One of the things that kept me and still keep me thinking is to find out what kind of a challenge it means for a rock musician to play reggae. These are merely my own thoughts and I might be totally wrong seeing and hearing things as I do, so if any of you there think I'm on the wrong way, please, correct me.

Seemingly there's no great challenges ("seemingly" is the keyword here). Both are mostly 4/4, reggae has a range of approx. 80-110 bpm. Rock is much wider in this sense, but for an experienced and skilled rock musician - like our Colombians - this rate doesn't and will never mean any challenge.

But.

If I hear it well, the biggest - or one of the biggest - differences between reggae and rock is that the latter has the emphasis on 2 & 4, while reggae on 1 & 3. This very characteristic musical emphasis gives reggae this very typical vibration, along with the rate. I just wonder how a rock musician takes this seemingly small 

we all know that all that seems to be small is in fact much more complex if we take a good look at it

difference, whether it's really small or it actually takes preparation, learning, strong focus and generally much more work than it seems at first sight.

The first thing I got to like in this cover was the flavor. Every musician plays with a certain special character in this song.

Needless to say, the very first thing that came in my direction with a sweeping power was the rhythm section. It has a deep (and seriously radioactive) taste, the way these wonderful musicians handle their instruments, the impressive self-confidence Ruxx plays the reggae's rhythm while Deneb this time put away the pick and decided to play the bass with his fingers.

These together. The drums and the bass. The rhythm section. When you have a big mug of hot coffee topped with whipped cream and you get a serious shot of vanilla sauce onto it all. Steaming, rich, sweet, with deep flavor, warming up both your body and your soul. You drink it with tiny sips, letting yourself feel shamelessly and unapologetically every single little aroma. Every sip warms you more and more. And you're happy.

If you give me just these two, the drums and the bass, I'm already happy.

But it's not all.

There's the tiple, too.

These men know very well what they can sweep me off my feet with. Strong rhythm section, deep musical flavors, radioactive bass... and tiple. I can't resist. Why would I anyway? I love them all. I love them each separated, too. 

This is what makes me happy. Simple? Yes and no. Yes, because it requires only 3 instruments. And no, because I'm happy only when they are held and played by these musicians.

Reny gets the leading melody, the keyboard determines the theme, Blu's guitar is escorting it while Ruxx and Deneb give them a massive, heart-warming basis. And then the humane voice enters.

Ruxx is singing and it's something very special. I have already noticed that he has a fantastic talent for certain genres. Whether it's blues, a powerful rock aria or grunge, or like this time reggae, it's as if it was in his blood. He feels them, he is vibrating together with the music and he interprets it in a way as if his voice would be another instrument of the band.

And how fkin lucky I am to be able to witness it...

The guitar and the tiple are playing hide-and-seek with each other, as the former is giving the stable empowerment for the song, while the tiple playfully shows itself for a second, then it disappears.

This kind of teasing is one of my soft spots. Every single time it brings me goosebumps.

The song flows like the waves of the ocean on an especially bright and beautiful day. Ruxx's voice is full of sunshine, the bass growls gently and you just enjoy the music these four musicians make. The tiple again appears, now teasing your heart through your auditory meatuses and when you have goosebumps all over and tears in your eyes, the brasses appear.

The original song also has some faint brasses, but here in this cover they get much more emphasis. They appear shyly, first just accompanying the humane voice, humbly hiding behind it. But as the song goes on, they come further step by step, taking the listener by the hand, leading them to the catharsis. This time the catharsis isn't that sweeping like in covers made earlier, now it gently takes the listener's hand and pulls it in the middle of the music, where you feel all the instruments, all the humane voices as well as each and every flavor. They shine on you. 

And you are happy.