Nateva Feva- or maybe it’s just a sunburn.
Buntology Blog, 7/8/2010
http://buntology.com/2010/07/08/nateva-feva-or-maybe-its-just-a-sunburn/
The Alchemystics might be one of the most hardworking bands on the festival scene right now- these guys are everywhere! They played on Sunday in the barn and killed it- especially when they brought up a couple members of brother-band The Problemaddicts. They all did a cover of “I Don’t Wanna be a Player No More” and brought the house down. Their stage presence was incredible and I was about two cups of Sunset Blush away from jumping on stage with them because they looked like they were having so much fun. Of course, these dudes are all so nice they probably would’ve humored me for about three minutes before having security take me away. My only issue with the Alchemystics’ set is that it should’ve been longer and on the main stage.
Nateva Festival
View Skewed blog, 7/13/2010
http://viewskewed.com/2010/07/13/nateva-festival-day-3-saturday-july-4/
I ran out and caught The Alchemystics.
And, holy hell. I have no words. I walked into the Port City Music Hall and it was going wild in there. The place was packed, jamming reggae jam crazy dance party was going on. I caught the last two songs and the encore. It was out of control, great beats, high high energy…. they literally blew my head off. I was dumbfounded. My friend asked me what I thought of them, and I had no words. I could not speak. I was processing the crazy hip-hop reggae rage that just went down and I couldn’t speak. Wow. The Alchemystics. Yeah, these guys are on my radar up near The New Mastersounds, who I saw at Mountain Jam. Phewwwwwww.
Strange Creek Music Festival
Pop Matters Magazine, 6/2010
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/127003-strange-creek-music-festival-28-30-may-2010-massachusetts
The Alchemystics were another new band, to this critic anyway, that thoroughly impressed and made many new fans with a stirring set. The band’s sound is rooted in reggae, and infused with hip-hop and soul music. Similar to the Roots, this band employs real musicians playing rock instruments, guitar, bass, drums, percussion and keyboards, while several members add harmony vocals. To the mix they add the potent vocal stylings of an emcee (Force) and a reggae singer (Ras Jahn.) On “Mosh Up”, the emcee pranced from one side of the stage to the other, and from the front of the stage to the back, firing up the crowd with his effervescent energy. His raps flowed super fast off his tongue while Jahn soulfully tempered the lyrical flow. The percussion and keys stood out on the smooth conclusion to “Spread Hope”, and then the band tossed out Alchemystics Frisbee’s to a large crowd eager to snatch them up. Where the band excelled was in the songs with more musical rhythms, such as “Shine Eye Girl” and “Elements”, rather than the more hip-hop leaning songs, such as “Bangers N Mash” and “Fire”. The Alchemystics paid tribute to Bob Marley on an emotive cover of “The Heathen”, and then followed up with their soulful version of Damien Marley’s “Road to Zion”.
THE ALCHEMYSTICS
The Beat magazine (27th Annual BOB MARLEY and the Wailers Collectors issue, 08/09)
There are more musical elements crammed into the three–song two–dub sampler from the Alchemystics(Fundamental) than in many full length releases. High energy contemporary dancehall DJ hip-hop, roots lyrics and full-band arrangements from the seven-piece group make for an impressive debut. My own favorites are the slightly calmer dubs with some nice flute snaking through the “Peace of Mind/Piece of Dub” track especially. [www.thealchemystics.com] By Chuck Foster
THE ALCHEMYSTICS
Northeast Performer 11/08
The Alchemystics EP
Produced by Garrett and Demse for Northfire
Crew Productions | Recorded and mixed by
Garrett Sawyer, Northfire Recording | Mastered
by Jeff Lipton at Peerless Mastering
Reggae fans who are tired of listening to one pale Bob Marley imitation after another will have reason to celebrate when picking up a copy of The Alchemystics new self-titled EP. While reggae sensibilities form the core of the album’s sound, The Alchemystics are not content to rely on standard rhythms and trite chord progressions. Reggae beats are infused with hip-hop lyricism and techno innovations to create a sound that is polished and refreshingly unpredictable. The album opens with “Shine Eye Girl,” an energetic love song that relies heavily on dance beats and hip-hop-style rhymes. Just as the beat threatens to become a little too comfortable and the lyrics a little too predictable, the bridge steps in to introduce a new key, mellower rhythms and more melodic vocals. As the bridge moves seamlessly back to the song’s original style, everything seems to speed up, giving the music an increasingly urgent feel. “Bangers N Mash” continues in the hip-hop vein with more aggressive vocals and a minor key that gives the track a darker sound. Piano is featured heavily and techno tendencies become more apparent. “Peace of Mind” marks a return to traditional reggae rhythm and vocal styles with lyrics that impart messages of both hope and despair over the state of the modern world. “Piece of DUB” is an instrumental track with prominently featured hand drums, woodwinds and melodica. The final track, “Ghetto Red Hot DUB” takes on both reggae and Latin rhythms with mandolin, Spanish-style guitar and trumpet interludes. The minor key and techno effects give the track a downright sinister feel. This track, perhaps more than any other, highlights the band’s versatility by demonstrating a mix of styles and instrumentation. In a world where musicians seem increasingly content to follow established formulas, it’s encouraging to find a band that can defy boundaries with skill and grace. The Alchemystics is a worthy addition to any collection, reggae fan or not. (self-released)
-Leslie McIntyre
The Alchemystics
Valley Advocate
According to vocalist Garrick "Force" Perry, it's always a dicey proposition to open a newspaper or punch up a Web site that is supposed to include a feature of his Amherst-based hip-hop band, The Alchemystics. It's not that they don't appreciate people taking the time to interview them. And like any band, goodness knows they could use the exposure. It's just that "The Alchimstics, The Alchamatics, you name it, they butcher it," Perry explains. "It's to the point where we are actually thinking of changing our name to a symbol."
He's joking, of course. But if a moniker maneuver would make life easier for both the band and Valley editors, may your friendly, neighborhood Nightcrawler suggest The Altruistics? Quite frankly, he's seldom witnessed a band so willing to lend its sounds to so many causes and events.
"We appreciate that, and that's particularly important for us because of all the negativity associated with hip-hop and the stereotypical images you'll find in the media," Perry says.
Images that The Alchemystics, Mystafine , Soullution and more hope to break down with a positive, uplifting Reggae/Hip-Hop Fest this Friday, May 12 at the Northampton Center For The Arts. The following week, May 19, Perry and company can be found at the Northampton High School, this time performing a benefit show for the Northampton Survival Center.
"A friend of mine from the Florence Learning Center contacted us about it," Perry says of the latter. "Since a number of us have performed at or taught at local schools, we immediately signed up to support it. Plus, I hear one of the kids is a yo-yo champion, so how do you beat that?"
For more info on the band or the new CD they've completed after two years of tinkering, visit the Alchemagics site at myspace.com. Just kidding--It's www.myspace.com/alchemystics. Had you going there a second, Garrick, didn't I?
by Gary Carra