Irie Darlings - Tribulation

Review by Elijah Daniel

Album Review: Tribulation by Irie Darlings – A Reggae Gem from Norway Released in 1994, Tribulation by Irie Darlings is one of those albums that sneaks up on you. It’s not your typical reggae record—it’s got this quirky Nordic twist mixed with rootsy dub and ska vibes. Coming out of Norway (yeah, you heard that right), the album feels like a love letter to Jamaica but filtered through Oslo’s chill air. The result? Something both familiar and refreshingly different. The whole project was cooked up under Zone Productions, with some heavy hitters behind it—producer Donovan Joseph, executive producer Tor Olav Andreassen, and even mixing wizard Clive Hunt lending his magic touch. Oh, and let’s not forget Earl "Chinnea" Smith adding extra flavor to the mix. But what really makes Tribulation stand out are its tracks. Let me tell ya about two that stuck with me. First off, there’s “Tribulation (Kingston 94 Dub Version)”. This track hits hard right outta the gate. It's got this deep bassline that just pulls you in like quicksand. You can literally feel the echo bouncing off invisible walls, kinda like walking through an empty warehouse late at night. That’s the beauty of dub—it lets you get lost in layers of sound. What I dig most is how they’ve kept things raw yet polished enough for radio play. It’s haunting without being pretentious, which isn’t always easy to pull off. Every time I hear it, I’m reminded why dub is such a timeless style—it’s music that breathes. Then there’s “Bintou”, which flips the script entirely. Where “Kingston 94” leans dark and brooding, “Bintou” brings warmth and melody front and center. The lyrics flow effortlessly between Joof and Jervås, creating this hypnotic call-and-response vibe. There’s something almost spiritual about the way the horns swell in the background—it’s uplifting without trying too hard. Honestly, if this song doesn’t make you want to grab someone’s hand and dance barefoot in the sand, then maybe you need to check your pulse. What surprises me most about Tribulation is how well it holds up today. Sure, it came out nearly 30 years ago, but the production still sounds crisp thanks to mastering guru Craig Morris. And let’s give props to Sub "Hvor Er Folks Sans For Humor?" Topia for the artwork—it perfectly matches the vibe of the music: playful yet serious when it needs to be. At the end of the day, Tribulation reminds us that great music doesn’t have borders. Who woulda thought a Norwegian band could nail reggae so authentically? Maybe that’s part of its charm—it breaks expectations while staying true to the genre’s soul. So next time you’re cruising down a quiet road or just need something to lift your spirits, throw this album on. Just don’t blame me if you start craving ackee and saltfish after listening. Oh, and here’s a random thought—can we all agree that reggae should come with a warning label? Once it gets into your head, good luck getting it out.

Artist: Irie Darlings
Album: Tribulation

Norway

Reggae

1994

Rating: 4.0

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Download

Filename: irie-darlings-tribulation.zip

MP3 size: 30.8 mb
FLAC size: 156 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Tribulation	3:07
Tribulation (Kingston 94 Dub Version)	3:43
Tribulation (Real Down Town Mix)	3:59
Bintou	4:13

Video

Tribulation (Kingston 94 Dub Version) - Irie Darlings

Tribulation - Irie Darlings (Tribulation)

Images

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Catalog Numbers

Z94004

Labels

Zone Productions

Listen online

kuunnella verkossa
écouter en ligne
online anhören
escuchar en línea
ascolta in linea
lyssna på nätet
online luisteren
ouvir online
lytte på nettet

Formats

CD
Single

Companies

Role	Company
Mastered At	Strype Audio

Credits

Role	Credit
Arranged By	Clive Hunt
Mixed By	Irie Darlings
Artwork By	Sub "Hvor Er Folks Sans For Humor?" Topia
Executive Producer	Tor Olav Andreassen
Lyrics By	Joof (tracks: 2), Jervås (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 4), Døhring (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 4)
Mastered By	Craig Morris
Producer	Donovan Joseph, Earl "Chinnea" Smith

Notes

Recordes at Tuff Gong International, and Leggo's Recording Studio; Kingston, Jamaica. Mixed at Leggo's. Produced for High Times Records Ltd., Kingston, Jamaica.
Tribulation is dedicated to Mr. Nelson Mandela and the people of South Africa.

About Irie Darlings

Name Vars

Irie Darlings Band

Aliases

Manna

Members

Vegard Leite
Rocky Machine
Ronnie Dread
Roy Døhring
Bård Toftebakk
Bjørn Jervås
Even Høgseth
Harald Olaussen
Per Willy Larsen
Terje Larsen
Papa Abdou

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The album *Tribulation* by Irie Darlings is a hidden gem in the reggae world. Released in 1994 in Norway, of all places, it blends dub and ska with a unique Nordic twist. What makes it even more interesting? The track "Tribulation" has two killer versions on the album—a smooth "Real Down Town Mix" and a raw "Kingston 94 Dub Version." Plus, the artwork was done by someone with the quirky title "Hvor Er Folks Sans For Humor?" Now that’s a sense of humor you don’t see every day!