Format: CD album
Released: June
Label: Cool & Deadly
On first glance, or at least on hearing the first three tracks of this album ('Listen to Me', 'Naturally' and 'We Rise'), you'd be forgiven for thinking Black Canvas aka Mr Melody and Rider Shafique, was a fairly straightforward reggae project. Melody's vocals are deep and distinctive, laden with conscious lyrics, while the beats are laid back and stoner, Caribbean in flavour, leading to an inevitable comparison with Roots Manuva.
It's only once we get to 'we fear Not' and their roots sound gets catapulated into an altogether more modern, breakbeat arena that the album becomes a more interesting prospect, and by the time Chase and Status lend a distinctly old skool, jungle sound system vibe to 'Broken Dreams', you release that reggae culture is just a launchpad for all manner of other adventures. Adventures which are not entirely comuter-based either - there's lush guitar playing (see 'Let Love Be') and other live elements which lend the beats and bass a real live, improvised feel.
The closing tune, 'Psalm 23', which sees Melody reading the Lord's Prayer over more smokey, chilled beats, is a little cringeworthy, and you could accuse the lyrics throughout of veering towards cliche. That aside, though, and unlike this pun, it's far from dread-ful.
3&1/2 /5
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