Reviewed by George Luke

I remember the first time I met Chevelle Franklin. It was in the offices of Island Records 11 years ago, when the local rag I wrote for back then dispatched me to interview the directors of the film Dancehall Queen, as well as Chevelle and Beenie Man, who had both contributed to the film's soundtrack. Halfway through my interview with her and Beenie Man, an extremely jet-lagged Beenie asked if he could take a nap. and promptly fell asleep in front of us! I met Chevelle again nine years later. This time she was outside the Houses of Parliament with thousands of other demonstrators, holding a placard condemning the Government's proposed (and subsequently defeated) Religious Hatred Bill. Neither of those stories bears any relevance to this album - but as I'm reviewing a Chevelle Franklin album, I might as well share my Chevelle Franklin stories! Actually, now I think about it, those stories do have some relevance, as they show the two essential components that make this album what it is: Chevelle's talent as a reggae singer, and the Christian faith she discovered in a rather dramatic style back in 1998 (two years after the Beenie Man incident, if you're interested). This is her second gospel album, and it's full of joy and bouncy basslines in equal measure. Chevelle's love for God shines through on tracks like "Love Can", "King Jesus" and "Jesus I Love You", and the tropical vibes never stop. Highly recommended.

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.

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