Title Artist Label Format Date

Rainbow Warrior Martin Jondo Homeground - Groove Attack Maxi-CD (EP) May 2, 2005

Track list

Rainbow Warrior Somehow Rootboy Intro Rootboy Raindrops You Acoustic Version Raindrops Seoul-Mix Rainbow Warrior Warrior Dub

Rating : from 5 (excellent) to 1 (poor)

Vocals : 5

Backing : 4/5

Production : 5

Sound quality : 5

Sleeve : 4

"Rainbow Warrior" is Martin Jondo's first solo outing. The now in Berlin living of Korean descent came to prominence (at least in Germany) through his appearance as support act on Gentleman and Mellow Mark tours, and his guestspot alongside Tamika on Gentleman's "Live" for the song "Rainy Days", and that well, that readers of Germany's riddim-reggaemagazine chose him as 2004's Newcomer Of The Year, without having even one solo release under his belt. I first noticed him for his wonderful "Wunderlampe" on Silly Walks' "Songs Of Melody", and now we have this 8 track EP as a teaser for his later this year scheduled album "Echo & Smoke". Produced by the Berlin based originally rap-producer, also involved in Mellow Mark's releases, Kraans de Lutin, who co-wrote all selections on this Homeground release. The titletrack "Rainbow Warrior" opening it already sets the tone for all tunes: over his heavy rootsy bassline Martin Jondo's voice, very reminiscent most of the time of Patrice's, backed by a one drop riddim with hints of rocky guitar, beautifully delivers the wonderful conscious lyrics about the need of being a rainbow warrior, a warrior of love. The skanking "Somehow" you the sunlight will come to your home / somewhere you find a place where you ain't alone / somehow wisdom will come and overflow / all your rainy days your teardrops and your mean heavy load is a tune that has very much its own potential as a single release, and that could have been taken as easily from Patrice's "Nile". After a short acoustic "Intro" it's the also heavy bassline and fat beats driven fire for every "Rootboy" who is rising bless bless / higher well Jah Jah children a go riding riding yeah yeah continuing the flow of great tunes, as does "Raindrops" pouring down my window / and they remind me of teardrops i shed on my pillow after it, about the beloved woman that has gone. "You" is an acoustic love song for Mama Nature that has the same urge felt as Patrice's acoustic tunes can bring across. Two very nice remixes close the album, the "Seoul-Mix" of "Raindrops" with its far-east accents in the mix, and its slow-soul-jam vibe, and the excellent dub of the title track "Warrior Dub". Anyone who has seen Martin Jondo live on stage or is fond of Patrice's (reggae) tunes knows why, else you have to trust my opinion that you must get this EP, and hope with me that his full lenght debut "Echo & Smoke" will be released rather earlier than later this year. Very impressive!