ALBUM DESCRIPTION

***Don't forget to also buy "The 14 Days of Gravity" audio commentary companion CD.

Four years since their last original studio recording, WordSound&Power, Christafari delivers a hard-hitting, highly anticipated fifth career release with Gravity. Since the group's formation in 1989, Christafari has continued to appease their loyal fan base time and time again. Year after year, CD after CD, each offering has proven both satisfying and effective amidst a consistently transforming and evolving sound. Spearheading this inventive recording is group founder/producer/singer/songwriter Mark Mohr, who has set out to reinvent Christafari once again for a new generation of fans--and reinvent he has. With Gravity, this pioneering group has reached a new plateau.

From the first decibel, listeners are awakened by the hybrid sound of this clever musical concoction. Still packing the heaviest driving basslines to test your subwoofers, Gravity is deeply rooted in the traditional reggae sound--a sound further enhanced by the addition of three amazing female backup singers reminiscent of the late Bob Marley's "I-Three's." True to Christafari's signature sound, there are plenty of horn glazed tracks with live instruments, tasty keyboard and electric guitar licks, and rootsy acoustic guitar melodies. Unlike its predecessors, however, the musical scope of this recording branches outside the tiny island of Jamaica, encompassing the infectious sounds of the broader Caribbean. This diverse and unorthodox sound is an ambient hybrid of roots reggae, dancehall, soca, calypso, jamoo, ska, Indian chutney, salsa, jungle, hip-hop, and elements of jazz. While the sound is different in rhythm and tone, Gravity incorporates the old techniques of producers like King Tubby, Lee Scratch Perry, and the Scientist, delivering a heavy dubbed-out feel. According to producer Mark Mohr, "The end result is a diverse sounding psychedelic Caribbean dub album topped with vocals."

Gravity is a musical delicacy tenderly stuffed with the Word of God. Most songs contain direct verse-by-verse Scriptures straight from the Bible. Engineered in a dubwise fashion, the tunes on Gravity are replete with incessant delays and eternal reverberations. This masterful production is a continuous therapeutic sonic collage without a second of silence. There are no breaks in this nonstop album. The tracks are weaved together seamlessly via tantalizing interlude segments that capture the mood and message of the songs. Each track is a sub-plot in the grand story that makes up Gravity. Like a reggae-opera with various musical movements, the result is highly entertaining sonic art to feed your soul.

The word gravity has long been used to describe a serious or solemn matter--aptly suitable for this release. Though this album has its light side, the message is a sober offering of hope and healing to those in turmoil. Both living and active, these tracks are contemporary psalms with infectious melodies over syncopated rhythms and hard-hitting bass.

Regarding the title, Mohr said, "In the same way Newton taught us about the Law of Gravity, I believe the Bible speaks clearly of a spiritual law of gravity under which every living creature will fall (or bow) before the Almighty God. It's an inevitable occurrence that will either happen now with rejoicing or later in regret."

Jam-packed with tracks guaranteed to emanate pure niceness from your stereo, this record is heavy like lead. Be prepared to journey where traditional reggae and current dancehall has yet to explore. On Gravity, this relentless group has once again demonstrated their staying power. With a diverse sound, heavy hitting players, and a few guest appearances in the mix, we are confident that neither old fans nor new converts will be able to resist the gravitational pull on this irresistible fifth effort from Christafari.

Don't forget to check out the companion CD's for this album...

"The 14 Days of Gravity" - audio commentaries of each song on Gravity
http://www.gospelreggae.com/browse/albums/78da3337060000a3006b/Christafari/The+14+Days+of+Gravity+-+Audio+Commentaries.html

...and The Gravity "Version/Performance Soundtracks" - instrumental versions of each song on Gravity so you can sing along or perform the songs yourself:
http://www.gospelreggae.com/browse/albums/78dab330060000a5006c/Christafari/Version.html

MINISTRY STATEMENT

Christafari is far more than a band. Headed by Mark Mohr, an ordained minister, they are an evangelistic, counter-cult, drug aversion ministry, using reggae music and the spoken word to reach a wayward generation. "With this release, our desire is to bring hope to the afflicted, edify the body of Christ, evangelize the lost, and ultimately see all of our listeners gravitate towards the Word of God," said Mohr.

ALBUM REVIEW

May. 18, 2003 - REVIEW from CRITICAL REVIEW SERVICE.

This is one of the most awaited albums I can think of. It has been four years since their last album. CHRISTAFARI is a unique act--a creative reggae band that can jam with the best of them, a group that explores the scripture and interfaces with JAH in a way most Rastas can only dream of--yet are a popular CCM entity: musical missionaries, entertainers, and preachers that speak love as well as fire and brimstone.

On 'GRAVITY' I quickly discovered an amazing creation. This is a musically varied, technically tight, lyrically smart reggae 'opera' for lack of a better word. The songs seamlessly meld into a theme though the music and sound influences cover reggae, ska, dancehall, soca, salsa, hip-hop, Latin, calypso, and many many more. [I even caught some Mid-Eastern tones. Cut #13 on my Advance copy] Vocals are solid with some great female support and augmentation. The production here is clean, tight, and impressive yet not sanitized or aloof.

This album exudes cool beats and a fiery rhythm that percolates into a reality that melds faith and spirituality with heavy grooves, spicy percussion, and a dreamy ethos. Wow! It's a project that is a joy to listen to. Great melodies, lush Background vocals, percussion, rhythms, and a solid bass-line melted together by a superior producing effort, make this a landmark delivery. Each song is an experience and deserves its own review. I will let it suffice for now by saying that this work will become a classic. In its own way it is a masterpiece and clearly MARK MOHR founder/producer/pioneer, prepared well by working with other Caribbean artists in a wide range of genres over the last few years.

Each CHRISTAFARI album has brought something to the musical and spiritual table but this one is clearly the highlight after 14 years of a labor of love. Here world musics and a world vision make this the pinnacle for this band. Island gospel, reggae praise shine in a fresh way that will appeal to a broad international audience. This is the kind of music that fulfills the great commission as well as entertains. [An example is the bubbly "Here Comes the Morning"]

'GRAVITY' is a musical tour-de-force and is one of the best creations in the history of Christian music in my opinion. I highly, highly recommend this album, a work rooted in the solid rock. An awesome result. It gets my very highest recommendation.

(CRITICAL REVIEW SERVICE)