STYLE: Reggae RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 23916-17262 LABEL: Ears & Eyes EER047 FORMAT: 12 inch vinyl Album RRP: £4.99
Reviewed by Mike Rimmer
Recorded shortly after Nigerian-born Benedict Chukwudebelu Okafor moved to the UK and released in 1985 by the short-lived Leeds-based Ears & Eyes label. Ben teamed up with Birmingham-based producer Bob Lamb (whose production credits include UB40 & Garth Hewitt) and the album also features guitar work from a young Paul Poulton. Okafor's debut sees him exploring themes that would recur across his entire recorded career - faith, justice, humanitarian issues. Standouts include the lilting "Why?" and the dramatic "Messiah Man". Musically this is very influenced by Okafor's early love of Bob Marley and it sees him beginning to define what would become his own style. At the time of release there wasn't anything else that sounded remotely like it in the whole of the Christian music scene. A groundbreaking album.
The opinions expressed in this article are
not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed
views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may
not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a
later date.
Interested in reviewing music? Find out
more here.