If hurricane season 2006 seems unlikely to match it's devastating predecessor, consider the perfect storm that is Elan's debut LP Together As One. A chance encounter with a Virgin A&R in a L.A. nigh-club inspired the Beverly Hills native to put his ideas of combining soul and dancehall reggae onto DAT, which in turn lead him to a chance encounter with Wailers' guitarist Al Anderson, who happened to live 2 blocks from the studio where he was recording. Anderson eventually recruited the young singer to step into the largest shoes in reggae music, singing Bob Marley's lyrics live as the Wailers' front-man. This in turn lead to a chance encounter with Tony Kanal of No Doubt who came to check the Wailers' at L.A.'s House of Blues -- and ultimately dropped Together As One this summer as the debut release on his new Kingsley label.
As if determined not to squander the incredible opportunity handed to him by the universe, Elan pulls out all the stops for his debut, combining his eerily Marleyesque vocals with guest shots from Cutty Ranks, Assassin, Tami Chynn and Gwen Stefani. The product credits likewise are a who's who of reggaematical scientists including Tony "CD" Kelly, Sly & Robbie and of course Kanal. Although the one drop riddim of "My Kingston Girl" comes closest to true Jamaica soul, the Stefani duet "Allnighter" best shows the range of Elan's influences-roots, R&B, dancehall, new wave-arriving at home in the hills of suburban California or the hill above Kingston.
Photo by Evan Agostini
