THE PATH.
Morgan Heritage are more than just a legendary reggae band. They're a revolution, a family, a force of nature, and a crew of five independent artistes on a musical mission. With Full Circle, their seventh album for VP Records, Morgan Heritage connects with reggae's past while blazing an uncharted path into a musical future beyond categorisation.

Morgan Heritage is comprised of vocalist/ keyboard player Una Morgan, vocalist Peter Morgan and keyboard player/ vocalist Roy "Gramps" Morgan, rhythm guitarist "Lukes" Morgan and percussionist "Mr. Mojo" Morgan. But Full Circle is much more than the sum of its musical parts: it's the sound of Jamaican dancehall systems and New York hip-hop boom boxes and New England pop radio and California punk rock mosh pits, all fused into an unprecedented, harmonious whole.

When they're not touring the world, the band currently divides its time between Brooklyn, New York, and St. Thomas, Jamaica. Lukes, Una, Gramps, Mr. Mojo, and Peter Morgan-all children of roots reggae icon Denroy Morgan draw on new wave, punk, hip-hop, dancehall, R&B, but manage to ground all of their musical explorations in the sound that's in their blood: roots reggae. "The most important thing about 'Full Circle,'" says Una, "is that we were able to be creatively free and not worry about anyone trying to put us in a box. It's a manifestation of the journey we've been on all our life. From listening to Journey and U2 to Capleton and Sizzla, we've been able to absorb all those influences and put it on wax, so you can hear it."

Born in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and raised in Springfield Massachusetts, Denroy Morgan's children were brought up with intensive vocal and instrument training, and exposed to a wide variety of musical influences. Since forming in 1990, the band has scored with the hit singles "Let's Make Up," Don't Haffi Dread," "Down By The River," "She's Still Loving Me," "Regee Bring Back Live," and "What We Need Is Love." A much-talked about performance at Jamaica's Reggae Sunsplash festival in 1992 led to the band's first recording contract with MCA, and their major label debut, Miracles, was released in 1994. The following year, Morgan heritage travelled to Jamaica to record their follow-up, and began working with legendary Jamaican producers Lloyd "King Jammy" James and Bobby "Digital" Dixon. The results could be heard on their second album, "Protect Us Jah," an album that took the band in a far more rootsy direction; it was a sound they and their fans felt more at home with.

After twice being invited to perform as the only non-punk rock band on the Vans Warped Tour, Morgan Heritage gained new fans and, from playing alongside acts like Good Charlotte and Newfound Glory, new influences. "The tour helped Morgan Heritage to explore a new side of ourselves," says Lukes. "We got nothing but love from those kids-you see them in a mosh pit and it looks so aggressive but they have a good vibe. So the rock edge you hear on "Full Circle" reflects the impact of doing those tours."

"Our music really is roots," says Peter, "and it has an almost revolutionary vibe to it. It's more underground and reggae is the underground part of black music."

THE MUSIC.

Recorded between Jamaica and New York, as well as on their tour bus, "Full Circle" was produced by Morgan Heritage along with a who's who of Jamaican Producers. "We had a lot of fun getting to express ourselves musically ," says Gramps. "We grew up listening to so many styles--actually more rock and R&B than hip-hop and reggae. We used to listen to Duran Duran, Van Halen, Tears for Fears, Nirvana--other than the Wailers and Steel Pulse, we were really influenced by these rock bands. As well as R&B singers like Tina Turner, Freddie Jackson, Guy, New Edition and Stevie Wonder. And of course, growing up in the suburbs, you can't help but listen to the radio, so we loved Journey and Phil Collins."

"We're reaching out musically more on this album," says Peter. "We're bringing a a rock edge, to roots music. 'Full Circle' shows the completion of our musical journey-it's really our first album that shows the complete diversity of Morgan Heritage."

The album begins with "Jah Comes First," which mixes a roots lyric with state of the art production, seamlessly fusing Jamaican music's past and present. "It's what we feel," says Una. "God is the single most important thing, because no matter what we've added or what we've been given, none of this would be possible without him."

Other standout roots tracks on "Full Circle" include "Hail Up The Lion (Uncomfortable)" and "Armageddon Calls," which injects a stiff dose of rock guitar into the groove. Similarly, "Move On" offers a traditional message of unity and revolution over an old-school reggae beat, while "Mek Wi Try," featuring Jamaican roots artist Bushman, is a cool, percolating ode to an upful and righteous life.

"U've Got Me (Senorita)" showcases an entirely different side of Morgan Heritage: a slick club-friendly body-rock with equal parts Latin and reggae elements. The re-mix, featuring Sizzla, Bounty Killer, and Morgan Heritage's siblings L.M.S., kicks the heat up even higher. "That's a real dancehall track," says Lukes. "That's the first time we did that."

"Be Sure" finds the crew dipping into more romantic territory, proof that politics and love can coexist, while in "Temptation," Morgan Heritage brings ethics to the forefront. With a smooth R&B vocal over a sizzling reggae beat, "Your Best Friend" again demonstrates the group's gift for inventing musical hybrids.

"Gangsta Groupie" flexes some hip ska skills on the topic of a certain risk of life on the road.

"How They Thinking" is a 21st century dancehall/hip-hop gem with a positive, socially conscious message, promoting the value of education instead of endless bling. And "Enough is Enough," a lush R&B ballad, calls on men to be more aware and compassionate. With Damian "Jr. Gong" featured on vocals, "Girlz 'Round The World," leans more to the hip-hop side of reggae.

THE FAMILY.

"We're family, straight up," says Lukes. "Sometimes it gets hard but at the end of the day, we squash all arguments right then and there. The advantage of being a family group is we come to decisions quickly, and it's easy to get us all together." Having played together since they were children, Morgan Heritage can't recall or imagine having bandmates other than their siblings. And you can hear the closeness of their bond in the way they sing and play together, throughout "Full Circle."

"It's a blessing," says Gramps. "Because you can hear the chemistry between us-we're like the 1997 Chicago Bulls: we've been singing together for so many years, we have a wonderful blessing."

"It helps because your business partners are your family so you can tell each other the truth," says Una. "Some people think we're crazy but for us, it's a plus, and as a female in the group, I've always got someone watching my back."

THE MISSION.

"The mission is all about trying to get a roots reggae artist back on the scene," says Gramps. "Sean Paul and Bounty Killa have done great things for dancehall reggae, but we want to bring roots back to a younger audience, like Bob Marley and Black Uhuru did."

"To me, the goal is just to display love, peace and unity," says Lukes, "and to help people realise that with all that happens in life, you still gotta have a good time. If the whole world was more like kids are today, there'd be no war."

"We're Rastafarians," says Mr. Mojo." "And we're not here to impose our beliefs on anyone but to share our message through music. And the message is, With love we can conquer all things."

"We just want to display that God really lives," says Una. "We show people through our music that it's all up to you."

"Our mission is just to uplift humanity," says Peter. "It's a mission of love and oneness for all people, no matter what walk of life."

THE BOTTOM LINE.

"The point of this album," says Gramps, "is the past, the present and the future of Morgan heritage, all in one album. In a "Full Circle," you come back to where you began. Growing up in America, moving to Jamaica, going on the Warped tours-this is the result you get. And it's full circle."