Topsy Turvy World

Topsy Turvy World

An astonishingly clear-voiced singer whose recordings exude an air of quiet authority and spiritual devotion, Kiddus I is perhaps best known for his memorable appearance in the 1978 film Rockers, a picturesque document of the Jamaican music scene that brought a new level of international exposure to acts like Gregory Isaacs and Burning Spear. But though Kiddus’ onscreen performance of “Graduation in Zion” was unquestionably one of Rockers’ most striking musical moments, he remained a relatively obscure figure, cutting sides for producers like Lee Perry and Joe Gibbs that seldom saw official release. The ‘00s brought about a revival of interest in Kiddus’ work. Still in fine voice, he took advantage of this resurgence to record new material, including Inna De Yard, the home-recorded Green Fa Life, and his most ambitious effort, 2013’s Topsy Turvy World. Recorded in Germany, Topsy Turvy World finds Kiddus collaborating with seasoned Jamaican instrumentalists (like Aston “Family Man” Barrett and Earl “Chinna” Smith) on a set of soulful roots tunes that recall the quiet intensity and righteous indignation of Kiddus’ vaunted ‘70s recordings.

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