2 years after the remarkable surgery that saved his life from an acute stomach infection 6months in hospital and diagnosis with meningitis paralyzing the facial nerves in his face and limiting his sax playing while living in Madrid/Spain. Rebelinx a year after received the gift of life Kidney transplant. He finally returned from his European film tour in 2006 on the brink of a renewed vision. During his recovery, the producer, director of film and music producer of the soundtrack “Fade to Black Blood Child’ and ‘Dope New Soul Cats’ decided to focus his talent and learn the new operating system by Apple/Logic. Under the guidance of local Juno nominee, musician, producer, engineer Joey Turco he delivers a virtuosic solo album wrought with experimental intrigue. The album became a work in progress to his passion for music with an energetic blues & roots vocabulary and soulful melodic inventions, accompanied by beat box and an electric synthesizer.
The experimental album from Rebelinx, an intrepid project incorporates lyrics and beat box that blends elements of jazz, reggae, spoken word, and indie pop, and offers some agreeable surprises. Fistula signals the absence of Linx previous work with producer Chris Guy aka ‘Clev’ from the original roster of Clev $ Linx, but welcomes Joey Turco for his place, who puts in his experience on the mix. The material on this recording was inspired by many factors, but perhaps the most significant of them has to do with the challenge of recovery in poetic forms picked by Linx now Rebelinx to write the lyrics for each tune.
With words inspired by and dedicated to St. Pauls hospital nurses & doctors ‘Fistula’ is a pure delight. It kicks off with a spirited vibe “Don’t Stop The Music” where Linx beautiful voice effects takes us to the realms of his dance roots. To the final section of the albums wide-ranging beat box “What Up Digga [Remix]” what has exclusively become a journey in life along side electronic drums as his backdrop. Playing like a funk opera lament, “Drop On By” features regular small groove activity and sparse chords with Linx vocals atop. This pattern is dismantled and renewed with a view for unison melodies as well as improvisations on the keys. Both “Shouldn’t Of Left Her” and “Beautiful” denote fleeting tempo shifts (duple to triple) and feature Linx easy, elastic vocals at the fore. The former piece launches into pitch-bending vocals before gradually adding rhythm and intimate drumming, the latter introduce a ruminative discourse that anticipates the simple 4/4 groove. Linx turns up the distortion levels on “Big Culture Moves” & Iandi Jah, a ragga endeavour with alternation of tranquil and explosive passages. Further experimenting and inventing self in “Can’t Wait No Longer” a swift improvisation crammed with sinister notes and intervals, and Linx, who sings beautifully in the company of “Won’t Let You Slow Down”, are engaging. His mighty presence also juices up “What A Chameleon”, whose beat tones conjure his own Inspired power of Herbie Hancock ‘Head Hunters’ version of “Chameleon”.
The Fistula album is a shape shifter full of musical constellations that include an uncommon poignancy in the poetic vocal parts, with heavy ragga and dance passages, electronic disturbances, and some neo-psychedelia.
Rebelinx, who always takes the music to another dimension with such extraordinary talent, creates another powerful album. And, damn, how life is one big experiment!