Brain Damage meets Big Youth : "Beyond The Blue" 
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... a story in History

… or how to condense in a sound bite, the incredible and terrible journey, experienced by Martin Nathan and his longtime friend Samuel Clayton Jr, both gone to Jamaica in March 2020, for a collaboration with the legendary Big Youth. The context of a first and unprecedented world lockdown has only left them very little time to record the takes with the famous DJ, before they both contracted the virus. Martin Nathan was lucky enough to be able to get back to France, although had to remain confined and to take care of himself alone in his studio during five weeks upon his return. Samuel Clayton Jr, however, did not come back, struck down by the disease in Kingston.

The iron determination of the producer, supported by his label Jarring Effects and the Jamaican producer Stephen Stewart, did nonetheless bring the project to completion.

For his part, one thing is certain, Big Youth is in great shape! He brilliantly signs his return with that album, made up almost exclusively of new pieces, the first in many years! In the very words of the numerous prominent musicians and singers who witnessed the takes at Anchor studios in Kingston, he has lost none of his verve: « …you still get it, man! ». Sparkling and inexhaustible, distilling an amazing variety of vocal styles, that he created himself, he recalls at once “the old days”, the golden age of Jamaican reggae in the 1960 & 70’s, performs his version somewhat conspiracist, of the sanitary crisis, evokes his faith and tells about love … while perfectly merging into each universe offered by Brain Damage.

As if we are delighted to hear the elder’s shape and inventiveness, Martin Nathan is definitely not outdone and overhauls his style once again for the occasion. Always more musical, his compositions integrate diverse influences, hitherto untapped by him, like jazz, blues, ska, rock-steady … enhanced by the wonderful and smooth horn arrangements signed by Franck Boyron and his sidekicks, Baptiste Sarat and Fred Roudet. The whole, drawing on a production that left nothing to chance, surely is a new cornerstone of Brain Damage rich discography that keeps us wondering how far it will take us anew.

Samuel Clayton Jr, however, will be deeply missed. If one can hear him regularly and clearly as samples, throughout what will remain the last album he worked on, it is above all his mindset that Martin Nathan
strove to respect with that new musical and human adventure.

The emotion is audible, tangible.

- - - 

Credits : 

• Composed by Martin Nathan
• Written by Big Youth
• Recorded by Samuel Clayton JR & Stephen Stewart at Anchor Studios in Kingston, Jamaica
• Mixed by Martin Nathan at Rumble Inn in Lyon, France
• Mastering by Kobe at Loaded Studio in St Etienne, France
• Artwork by Ben Hito
• Production : Jarring Effects Label

Brain Damage meets Big Youth : "Beyond The Blue"

Brain Damage meets Big Youth - "2020 I Pray Thee"
From the album 'Beyond the Blue'

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Opening this Big Youth album – the first since more than a decade – here is one of his most powerful hymns, « I Pray Thee », unexpectedly revisited by Brain Damage. A padded atmosphere, with languorous jazz melodies, emphasizes the thundering incantations of the legendary Jamaican master. This being a perfect introduction to the unprecedented musical breakout concocted by both artists that, while in the middle of the pandemic, refuse to slump and know no bounds to the vitality of their art.

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... a story in History

… or how to condense in a sound bite, the incredible and terrible journey, experienced by Martin Nathan and his longtime friend Samuel Clayton Jr, both gone to Jamaica in March 2020, for a collaboration with the legendary Big Youth. The context of a first and unprecedented world lockdown has only left them very little time to record the takes with the famous DJ, before they both contracted the virus. Martin Nathan was lucky enough to be able to get back to France, although had to remain confined and to take care of himself alone in his studio during five weeks upon his return. Samuel Clayton Jr, however, did not come back, struck down by the disease in Kingston.

The iron determination of the producer, supported by his label Jarring Effects and the Jamaican producer Stephen Stewart, did nonetheless bring the project to completion.

For his part, one thing is certain, Big Youth is in great shape! He brilliantly signs his return with that album, made up almost exclusively of new pieces, the first in many years! In the very words of the numerous prominent musicians and singers who witnessed the takes at Anchor studios in Kingston, he has lost none of his verve: « …you still get it, man! ». Sparkling and inexhaustible, distilling an amazing variety of vocal styles, that he created himself, he recalls at once “the old days”, the golden age of Jamaican reggae in the 1960 & 70’s, performs his version somewhat conspiracist, of the sanitary crisis, evokes his faith and tells about love … while perfectly merging into each universe offered by Brain Damage.

As if we are delighted to hear the elder’s shape and inventiveness, Martin Nathan is definitely not outdone and overhauls his style once again for the occasion. Always more musical, his compositions integrate diverse influences, hitherto untapped by him, like jazz, blues, ska, rock-steady … enhanced by the wonderful and smooth horn arrangements signed by Franck Boyron and his sidekicks, Baptiste Sarat and Fred Roudet. The whole, drawing on a production that left nothing to chance, surely is a new cornerstone of Brain Damage rich discography that keeps us wondering how far it will take us anew.

Samuel Clayton Jr, however, will be deeply missed. If one can hear him regularly and clearly as samples, throughout what will remain the last album he worked on, it is above all his mindset that Martin Nathan
strove to respect with that new musical and human adventure.

The emotion is audible, tangible.

- - - 

Credits : 

• Composed by Martin Nathan
• Written by Big Youth
• Trumpets by Fred Roudet
• Recorded by Samuel Clayton JR & Stephen Stewart at Anchor Studios in Kingston, Jamaica
• Mixed by Martin Nathan at Rumble Inn in Lyon, France
• Mastering by Kobe at Loaded Studio in St Etienne, France
• Artwork by Ben Hito
• Production: Jarring Effects Label

Beyond The Blue

2020 I Pray Thee

Brain Damage meets Big Youth - "Beyond The Blue"
From the album 'Beyond the Blue'
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

... a story in History

… or how to condense in a sound bite, the incredible and terrible journey, experienced by Martin Nathan and his longtime friend Samuel Clayton Jr, both gone to Jamaica in March 2020, for a collaboration with the legendary Big Youth. The context of a first and unprecedented world lockdown has only left them very little time to record the takes with the famous DJ, before they both contracted the virus. Martin Nathan was lucky enough to be able to get back to France, although had to remain confined and to take care of himself alone in his studio during five weeks upon his return. Samuel Clayton Jr, however, did not come back, struck down by the disease in Kingston.

The iron determination of the producer, supported by his label Jarring Effects and the Jamaican producer Stephen Stewart, did nonetheless bring the project to completion.

For his part, one thing is certain, Big Youth is in great shape! He brilliantly signs his return with that album, made up almost exclusively of new pieces, the first in many years! In the very words of the numerous prominent musicians and singers who witnessed the takes at Anchor studios in Kingston, he has lost none of his verve: « …you still get it, man! ». Sparkling and inexhaustible, distilling an amazing variety of vocal styles, that he created himself, he recalls at once “the old days”, the golden age of Jamaican reggae in the 1960 & 70’s, performs his version somewhat conspiracist, of the sanitary crisis, evokes his faith and tells about love … while perfectly merging into each universe offered by Brain Damage.

As if we are delighted to hear the elder’s shape and inventiveness, Martin Nathan is definitely not outdone and overhauls his style once again for the occasion. Always more musical, his compositions integrate diverse influences, hitherto untapped by him, like jazz, blues, ska, rock-steady … enhanced by the wonderful and smooth horn arrangements signed by Franck Boyron and his sidekicks, Baptiste Sarat and Fred Roudet. The whole, drawing on a production that left nothing to chance, surely is a new cornerstone of Brain Damage rich discography that keeps us wondering how far it will take us anew.

Samuel Clayton Jr, however, will be deeply missed. If one can hear him regularly and clearly as samples, throughout what will remain the last album he worked on, it is above all his mindset that Martin Nathan
strove to respect with that new musical and human adventure.

The emotion is audible, tangible.

- - - 

Credits : 

• Composed by Martin Nathan
• Written by Big Youth
• Horns by Franck Boyron 
• Recorded by Samuel Clayton JR & Stephen Stewart at Anchor Studios in Kingston, Jamaica
• Mixed by Martin Nathan at Rumble Inn in Lyon, France
• Mastering by Kobe at Loaded Studio in St Etienne, France
• Artwork by Ben Hito
• Production : Jarring Effects Label

Brain Damage meets Big Youth - "Tomorrow Is Another Day"
From the album 'Beyond the Blue'
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

... a story in History

… or how to condense in a sound bite, the incredible and terrible journey, experienced by Martin Nathan and his longtime friend Samuel Clayton Jr, both gone to Jamaica in March 2020, for a collaboration with the legendary Big Youth. The context of a first and unprecedented world lockdown has only left them very little time to record the takes with the famous DJ, before they both contracted the virus. Martin Nathan was lucky enough to be able to get back to France, although had to remain confined and to take care of himself alone in his studio during five weeks upon his return. Samuel Clayton Jr, however, did not come back, struck down by the disease in Kingston.

The iron determination of the producer, supported by his label Jarring Effects and the Jamaican producer Stephen Stewart, did nonetheless bring the project to completion.

For his part, one thing is certain, Big Youth is in great shape! He brilliantly signs his return with that album, made up almost exclusively of new pieces, the first in many years! In the very words of the numerous prominent musicians and singers who witnessed the takes at Anchor studios in Kingston, he has lost none of his verve: « …you still get it, man! ». Sparkling and inexhaustible, distilling an amazing variety of vocal styles, that he created himself, he recalls at once “the old days”, the golden age of Jamaican reggae in the 1960 & 70’s, performs his version somewhat conspiracist, of the sanitary crisis, evokes his faith and tells about love … while perfectly merging into each universe offered by Brain Damage.

As if we are delighted to hear the elder’s shape and inventiveness, Martin Nathan is definitely not outdone and overhauls his style once again for the occasion. Always more musical, his compositions integrate diverse influences, hitherto untapped by him, like jazz, blues, ska, rock-steady … enhanced by the wonderful and smooth horn arrangements signed by Franck Boyron and his sidekicks, Baptiste Sarat and Fred Roudet. The whole, drawing on a production that left nothing to chance, surely is a new cornerstone of Brain Damage rich discography that keeps us wondering how far it will take us anew.

Samuel Clayton Jr, however, will be deeply missed. If one can hear him regularly and clearly as samples, throughout what will remain the last album he worked on, it is above all his mindset that Martin Nathan
strove to respect with that new musical and human adventure.

The emotion is audible, tangible.

- - - 

Credits : 

• Composed by Martin Nathan
• Written by Big Youth
• Horns by Franck Boyron  
• Recorded by Samuel Clayton JR & Stephen Stewart at Anchor Studios in Kingston, Jamaica
• Mixed by Martin Nathan at Rumble Inn in Lyon, France
• Mastering by Kobe at Loaded Studio in St Etienne, France
• Artwork by Ben Hito
• Production : Jarring Effects Label

Tomorrow Is Another Day

... 𝟮𝟬+ 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝘂𝗯 & 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 ...

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗹𝗯𝘂𝗺 '𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵' : "𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲" 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭


With more than 14 albums and 750+ concerts behind him already, Martin Nathan ventures for 20 years now, into many artistic and stylistic experiments, under the name of Brain Damage.

Acclaimed as one of the founders of the French dub scene in the late 1990s, he soon appears as a major influence for a whole generation of musicians. But the artist is definitely not among those who forever rest on the models he founded, and he constantly reinvents himself, as his myriad projects flow, especially multiplying always more prestigious collaborations with figures like High Tone (fr), Vibronics (uk), Horace Andy (Ja), Harrison Stafford (usa), or Big Youth (jam) more recently.

Along with his many productions, it is also with his truly live and explosive performances, that Martin Nathan has grown a solid reputation throughout the international scene, and it is exceptionally rare to see an artist celebrating his 20th career anniversary, with so much vitality and creativity.