Review. Ministry Of Echology. Wanderer: Lithuanian reggae? Yes, perfect Lithuanian reggae!

Anyway, Ministry Of Echology is worth to listen to. Two albums (Notes & Quotes, 2014 04 03 and Wanderer 2016 01 14, https://ministryofechology.bandcamp.com) just in two years (it’s interesting what did the band do from 2009 when it began its activity), 19 songs. Yes, and a remix album, Version Excursion (2014 11 17) with 11 song versions from the first album.

For me, the second album is much worse than the first – a little bit too slow and sluggish. Only one song is really cool – “Dance It Away”. And, of course, epic “Wanderer”. The new album has only 7 songs (and only 27 minutes of music), the first one 12. Maybe they should call “Wanderer” EP or just a prolonged single before releasing a full album? Anyway, guys had to wait for couple more years. Of course, it’s just my opinion, as I am not a reggae maniac. So, as Lithuanian reggae Ministry of Echology is perfect. As world class/Jamaican, just a mean band. The problem is that nobody plays such music in such cold and dark countries as Lithuania.

Look at the Lithuanian reggae webpages: https://www.facebook.com/reggaelt and https://www.facebook.com/groups/ddubb. Here you can see that reggae movement began only in 1994 or 1995 (bands Lipnūs Macharadžos Pirštai, Vibracijah, Russian language project, Green Sun Club, the best known Lithuanian rastaman Hokshila, also very good musician Shidlas, punk ska band Dr. Green, new names / sound systems Kaya, Jahzrockers, Zion Explorers, Champion Sound, Shotta Sound, Soulstar). Lithuanian is different than, say, France – too small and too Lithuanian to have a music magazine about reggae and similar music.

Both albums of Ministry Of Echology were released by cult Lithuanian music company “Zona” https://zonarecords.bandcamp.com.

Zona’s mastermind David Bluvstein has a good taste and since 1991 it had released (together with sublabels BMK, TABU Records, Tundra Records, Zona Editions) lots of legendary albums: Sa-Sa. (the first Lithuanian punk rock band), Antis (the highest quality rock music), Kertukai (big beat classics), punk, indie, rock bands WC, Marichuana, Turbo Reanimacija, Flaxon, Sumerland, Empti, SH, Dog Bones, Lygiailyja, BIX, Šiaurės Kryptis, Bovy, Premjera, Merlin, FF, Sexual Giant, IR, Mountainside, Baltic Tribe Project, Volis, Svastikos Sukitės Greitai, Poliarizuoti Stiklai (rock’n’roll forever), Sweet Energy (sophisticated electronic music), Hilda Blues Band (blues), compilations “Kitaip”, “Antraip”, “Shekit”, “Geras”, “Balts Bite Back!”, “Kablys”, “Death Comes”, D. A. 17 (new wave), even legendary Foje (the best Lithuanian band ever forever), Pompa (very famous fun-rap project), Saulės Laikrodis (the first Lithuanian progressive rock band from 1970-80s), Lemon’s Joy (now – Lemon Joy, synth-pop), Dr. Green (punk ska), Bitės (funk rock), Spički (great Karelian-Russian-Lithuanian punk/indie energy), Hiperbolė (nostalgic rock), Kikilis (country), Svara (Indian classical), Juozas Milašius and Dalius Naujokaitis (experimental), Naj (noise), Siela (gothic rock), Echidna Aukštyn (new age, experimental), Pievos (neofolk), 4Bidden 3Quency (techno), Ne Taip (parody), Marukas (parody).

As we see, Zona is the name you really must remember (and some of the albums are still available from its bandcamp).

And also one should remember that Lithuania has some perfect reggae. Not much, but the quality of music is pretty good.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/ministryofechology
https://ministryofechology.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/ministryofechology
https://www.youtube.com/user/ministryofechology
http://www.reggae.lt/moe