Jahcoustix & Dubious Neighbourhood - Grounded

At first glance, this looks like the kind of album that one should avoid like the plague: acoustic roots reggae; derivative rasta twaddle without the dub production that offers something more than passé toasting about peace and brotherhood. It's a pleasant surprise that this album manages to rise above these clichés, incorporating elements of blues, deep roots, and classic Kingstown skank. The lyrics deal with the usual issues of African identity, Christianity, poverty and Jah conquering lion, but Jahcoustix delivers his message expressively and with a keen turn of phrase. There's a singer/songwriter element to Jahcoustix that's heavily indebted to blues guitarists, though he's equally adept at orchestrating more complex arrangements of guitars, mellotron and dub percussion. His absorption of varied influences is definitely Jahcoustix's strong point, but the album's failing is Salam Aleikum, which mingles Rai and reggae and ends up sounding bloody awful. Spiritual unity's great, but musical unity's not always so assured. [Liam Arnold]