- Contributed

Ziggy Soul, the dreadlocked Christian singer, has the ability to lay excerpts from the Bible on to reggae rhythms without them sounding forced. He does this quite a few times in his new album Genesis (after all, 'Psalmist' precedes his name on the 13-track set), notably on the title track ('In the beginning God created the heaven and earth') and Hallelujah ('The Lord is my light and salvation, whom shall I fear...').

However, on the predominantly genuine, well-produced reggae album which has outstanding sound quality and harmony singing (I was looking for the musician credits by the second song, after the guitar solo on the opening Tell Me Who had hard), it is (Jesus is) Trench Town Rock that stands out for more than reason.

And it is not only because of the title, which may or may not be a rebuttal of, or development on, Marley's Trench Town Rock.

One is the lyrics, which are not a Bible verse take-off ('in my home town, there is a rumour going round/they say I've gone uptown wearing Jesus' crown/they can't understand what's come over me...')

Another is a helluva trumpet, played by Dwight Richards (and he gets a solo run too, starting as Ziggy sings 'new season, new sound'.) Then there is also (as it is on the rest of Genesis) the music and the harmony.

Joy

When this music hits you feel joy (and I come to this album from my firm stance as a non-Christian).

It is not only praises on the CD, as Ziggy Soul declares God is Justice ('God is justice, his mercy keep us from all condemnation') and blazes with Hell Fire ('someone will have to tell, nutten good no gwaan a hell'.)

The variety of pace is good, the uptempo Hallelujah followed by the slower My Soul, leading two songs later to the extra slow Honour The Son and picking up close to the end with the thumping Hell Fire (on which DJ Moses is one of two guests on the project) and a cruise to the end with the near R&B of Love (on which the harmonies are especially outstanding).

The other guest is a very effective DJ Gallimore on My Soul, who deejays 'now I can affirm what Ziggy Soul a express/a no overnight we find true happiness'.

Ziggy Soul is not an exceptional singer (when he goes high on 'you are my king forever' it shows up). He is, of course, competent, but what he possesses is an unmistakable conviction and intensity, which works very well to lead a well thought out and executed project.

Musicians on Genesis are Othneil Lewis (keyboards and strings), Michael Kennedy (bass), Kirk Bennett (drums), Rudy Valentino (leadand rhythm guitars, who also mixed the album) and Dwight Richards (trumpet).

Background vocals are done by Carlene Davis, Joel 'Bunny' Brown, Lymie Murray, Ryan Berry and Winsome Benjamin, with additional backing vocals by Angel and Joseph Roach.

Genesis is produced by Glory Music and distributed by VP Records.

Track listing

1. Tell Me Who

2. Genesis

3. I Can Do Anything

4. Proverbs

5. Hallelujah

6. My Soul (feat. DJ Gallimore)

7. There is a God

8. Honor The Son

9. (Jesus is) Trench Town Rock

10. God is Justice

11. Hell Fire (feat. DJ Moses)

12. Rescue Me

13. Love

- Mel Cooke