Start Rootfire Radio

powered by Spotify

Album Showcase: Lion Heights – “False Reality”

Exploring new music is always an exciting adventure, particularly when it introduces a captivating blend of roots reggae, dub, and rock. Such is the case with Lion Heights out of Austin, Texas, whose recent full-length album, False Reality, presents a stunning representation of their “outlaw reggae” sound. Through their seamless integration of diverse influences, Lion Heights has crafted a unique and compelling listening experience that is soulful and thought-provoking.

The title of the record, False Reality, stirs plenty of images around in the mind, but Lion Heights bassist and singer, Dane Foltin, cites the 2014 Ferguson unrest  as the driving inspiration behind the album. Foltin states, “During the Ferguson riots, I was seeing them create false narratives and fake enemies. It was so clear that fear and misinformation was the main tactic used by the media and police.”

The first track of the album, “Better Weather,” immediately gets the toe-tapping with its irresistible energy and passionate rhythms. With a vibrant blend of horns, drums, and bass, it  creates a captivating soundscape that immerses listeners in a blissful and tranquil realm of sweet reggae music. Its use of climbing keys makes a great tune that pairs perfectly with a blue sky and a fat doobie.

The next track, “Smile,” is simply fun in every sense of the word. Its use of a bouncy bass flows into the ear canal like a steady river stream, and with it comes a swell of rhythm and melody.

Though maybe not intentional, the following track, “Screw Face Dub,” expounds on this radiant swell with a hypnotic drum line and a delightful array of organs.

“Reggae on the Rise”  delivers listeners a love letter to roots reggae music that will prompt a persistent pound on the chest. Sometimes, with contemporary reggae, listeners can equate the music with partying, which is never wrong. Still, Lion Heights told Rootfire they intended to preserve the sound of reggae music and the messages of love and revolution behind it. “Reggae on the Rise” precisely meshes old sounds with new sounds.

Bringing about a revolution sometimes starts with a simple message, and the track “Step Forward” does exactly that. The empowering tone and lyrics prompt people to question the present reality of our skewed society. The opening lines state, “In this time we need no coward,” which immediately perks the ears when paired with its anthem-esque power chords.

In the words of Foltin, “Not every song has to be reggae,” and Lion Heights confirms that sentiment within “One Night,” which brings more of a subdued R&B vibe to the album and makes it all the more sonically complete. The bass’s low rumble and the drum’s tick set a groove that slaps, especially when dancing with a special someone in a dimly lit room.

Meanwhile, the title track, “False Reality,” begins with a mighty cry from Dragon Ball Z‘s Goku, requesting the power for the incredible spirit bomb. The pungent lyrics paint a disastrous picture of today’s society. Foltin further illustrates the backstory of the lyrics by saying, “The way that corporations and America and outside forces try to manipulate our minds through what we see. There’s tons of stuff about this, so I’m not saying anything new, but what I am saying is that I feel affected by it, and I’m tired of it, and I need to speak to it and put it in my art.”

The austerity in his tone of voice showed the fatigue of a systematically failing society. He continued by saying the inspiration stemmed from the Ferguson unrest  and other early uprisings; he hashed the first verse within a quick writing session but then sat on it for years, until a friend evaluated the song’s message and together with Foltin came to terms with the idea of a false reality.

“Life is Not a Race” incorporates all that is great about the music of Lion Heights. A steady beat, conscious message and an array of instruments flow throughout, each shining wildly as they wail from the start of the song until the very end, where a guitar solo treats the ears.

Next, “Ain’t What it Seems” transports the listeners with its soft acoustic opening before breaking into a quick, snappy drum roll and bass line. The instruments complement the vocals and lyrics so perfectly that it almost feels haunting with the organ ringing on throughout the song’s first half. Around the two and half minute mark, “Ain’t What it Seems” takes the music and the listener’s ear into a whole other dimension with the bouncing of the bass, guitar, and vocals ping-ponging between the left and right ear better than Forrest Gump did when he played China as part of the ping-pong diplomacy program.

A personal favorite off the album, “Take My Heart,” tells the story of leaving love behind, but with that love also came deceit. The baritone harmonies completing the line “I tried to give you my love, I gave it away for free, I wanted to give you my all, but you only left me… wasting my time” simply feels pleasantly plump within the ear. The track feels much like a Gregory Isaacs tune in all the right ways.

Aside from the “Smile” remix, the final song of the album, Resting Place,” beautifully showcases the band’s ability to bust out some blues and a ballad on demand. The jam plays like a religious ceremony with its wailing organ and strumming guitar.

Back when remixes at the end of an album were considered a bonus, tracks treated listeners with a wild variation of a song.  The remix of “Smile” to close out the album is a remarkable remembrance of those times. The additional vocals of  Fyah Sthar and Ras-I Dre, two artists out of Jamaica, spices things up better than grandma’s meatballs. Guaranteed.

False Reality is a treat for the ears that beckons multiple listens. Lion Heights has every right to define “outlaw” reggae because these guys are doing it their way, blending reggae with multiple layers of other genres, and killing while doing it. Be sure to check out Lion Heights as they celebrate the release of False Reality with a tour throughout the Northwest and Southwest.

5 1 vote
Article Rating
Writer
Brendan is a writer based out of Tampa Bay, Florida with a true love for the written word, history, and, of course, music. He has been covering the local reggae scene professionally since 2018 when he first began as a contributor to a local Tampa Bay alt weekly. Even before then, Brendan has loved music and writing and dives deep into discographies and tries to discover new music daily. His love for music started when he was young, where his parents would play all different types of music, but it wouldn’t be until later in his teens when he discovered reggae music and this historic legacy it holds.

Tagged as:

Leave a Reply

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x